Zoathids seem to be dying

[Camcrick18]

Hi guys

As seen in the picture my zoathid seems to be dying slowly. Do not know what it is.. Parameters are stable and have been for the last month as I test twice a week. All corals are looking normal bar this zoathid.

 

[will25u]

Can you post your parameters? Have you seen any asterina starfish?

 

[Camcrick18]

No star fish.

Alka sits between 9 and 9.5
Cal 420
Nitrate around 3-4
Phosphate around 0.02-0.05
2 Clownfish and a coris wrasse.
2 Hermit crabs and one trochus snail

 

[bacc2bacc]

That’s just how some zoas are I think? Some seem to require different lighting and flow requirements than others. I have some grouped up and some just close up and melt away, it’s very frustrating. I try to move them to higher or lower light and flow and nothing. Some zoa guys have told me to dip in iodine, maybe you can try that.

 

[HAMMERofGold]

I've noticed Magnesium levels can impact certain species, might want to check that next

 

[Camcrick18]

Okay I've got to go to work. Working nights so will check when I'm home

 

[LegendaryCG]

Iodine is good to add if you aren't.

 

[jeffchapok]

How old is this tank? I couldn't keep zoas until after 9 months. Now they grow fine.

 

[Camcrick18]

I have never added iodine. Does Red Sea trace elements have iodine in as I can easily pick them up. However I'm not dosing calcuim so I can't dose trace as it is based of calcuim dosing

 

[Wee Mad Arthur]

Do you have any peppermint shrimp? I had my gatorade zoa plug just outside a cave where my peppermints liked to hide out. It looked fantastic before I added the shrimp and then gradually I noticed them looking sparse and what was left stopped opening. The zoas are in a new tank now with no shrimp and are getting back to they used to look. I never caught them at it but I’m pretty sure the shrimp were eating them.

 

[Keen4]

Do you have any peppermint shrimp? I had my gatorade zoa plug just outside a cave where my peppermints liked to hide out. It looked fantastic before I added the shrimp and then gradually I noticed them looking sparse and what was left stopped opening. The zoas are in a new tank now with no shrimp and are getting back to they used to look. I never caught them at it but I’m pretty sure the shrimp were eating them.

Peppermint shrimp eat zaos?!?!?

 

[Wee Mad Arthur]

Peppermint shrimp eat zaos?!?!?

Pretty sure they’ll eat anything they fancy when they want. In addition to the zoas mine also ate stomatella snails, asterina starfish and the final straw was that they pulled 2 Trochus snails out of their shells. They did also eat the Aiptasia but I guess they wanted to supplement their diet. These were guaranteed true peppermints as well.

 

[Camcrick18]

No peppermint shrimps. Woke up today and frag seems to be getting worse. What are the signs of zoathid pox as could it be that. I really don't know.

 

[Camcrick18]

So I have retested everything today.

Alka 9.6
Cal 450
Mag 1450
Phosphate 0.043
Nitrate 4

Coral seems to be getting worse.

 

[Camcrick18]

This is what the zoathid looked like 4 days ago and now it looks like the picture above

9

 

[Keen4]

This is what the zoathid looked like 4 days ago and now it looks like the picture above

9

Same with mine. Maybe I’ll get rid of my peppermint shrimp and feed them to my Indonesian day ours in my fresh water tank.

 

[Keen4]

Pretty sure they’ll eat anything they fancy when they want. In addition to the zoas mine also ate stomatella snails, asterina starfish and the final straw was that they pulled 2 Trochus snails out of their shells. They did also eat the Aiptasia but I guess they wanted to supplement their diet. These were guaranteed true peppermints as well.

I think I’ll feed them to my datnoids

 

[Twisted1990s]

Lighting maybe an issue here.I would try relocating.

 

[Camcrick18]

Lighting maybe an issue here.I would try relocating.

As in upping the light or decreasing it

 

[NS Mike D]

I have never added iodine. Does Red Sea trace elements have iodine in as I can easily pick them up. However I'm not dosing calcuim so I can't dose trace as it is based of calcuim dosing

I don't understand the logic of dosing an element if one doesn't know the current level and a target level and why to dose

Iodine is essential for growth, especially soft corals. It's also in most salt mixes, fish food and trace elements. Water changes are usually sufficient to maintain acceptable iodine levels. It is also toxic which is a risk if one blindly doses.

There are test kits for Iodine and different ways to add it if you are low.