Zoas Won't Thrive!!!! Please Help!

NanoDJS · Oct 1, 2016

I run a 4 bulb 24" ho with a fluval 2.0 2" off the water on a 20L tank we have and the zoas still stretching for light lol and that tank is 12" high I grow my zoas in my main system under "overkill" lighting 2 x AI prime 24x24x12 tank @ 10" off water then they settle in and color up . also most places keep there zoas under LED now so putting them into a t5 system I also experience the same either they shrivel and die immed or they take off and fatten up I think its more a lighting thing after seeing that pic of your setup, oh and quit dosing that junk there is the source of your trate problem your also risking "green" water then you can pack it up and start over

A. grandis · Oct 1, 2016

Hummm...

Ok, first... I know your fixture could offer the very best light for your set up. Better than LEDs!
The questions are:
1) What are your bulbs and in what order?
2) What brand is your fixture?
3) How often do you change bulbs?
4)When was the last time you've changed those bulbs?

You can bring that fixture closer to the surface, by the way!!!

When you buy the zoas you need to adapt them well to the better light you've got. They probably come from tanks lit by LEDs.

Nitrates are too high. Make sure your nitrate test is ok and not expired!! Check it with another test kit.

Water changes will help very much to lower the nitrates.
Remove that canister from the system!! You don't need that at all!!

Don't use GFO. No need!!
Don't feed the invert until you fix your nitrate problem!!

Make sure you look for predators really well!!! Look at night too!!

This is what I would start with!!
There are so many more questions I would like to ask, but if these basic steps aren't checked out it would be a waste of time...
Keep us posted...
Aloha,
Grandis.