Zoas declining! HELP!

[Matt Dean]

I LOVE my zoas. In the last month I have lost several frags and colonies and more are declining. I have tried dipping in Coral Rx, but they seem to decline even faster after doing so. I am thinking it may be nudibranches, but can't seem to get a definitive diagnosis or remedy.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here are the best pics I could get of the zoas that are closing. To be honest, my eyesight is not what it used to be and I simply can't see any nudi's or other pest.

http://www.mattdean.com/build/z1.jpg
http://www.mattdean.com/build/z2.jpg
http://www.mattdean.com/build/z3.jpg
http://www.mattdean.com/build/z4.jpg

[Zoalander]

In the first pic it looks like they are melting. Give us some info about your tank and water chemistry. One day I came home and a bunch of my zoas were closed and it was just very odd, I did a water change and started running carbon and they were fine the next day. Have you checked your PH? Stray current? There is a very good post somewhere here with 25 reasons your polyps aren't open. I would search for that and start crossing things off as you check them. Keep us posted.

[Matt Dean]

Hey Zoalander,

I have that post and, except for unconfirmed predators, I can't see any of those reasons in my tank.

My water parameters are all good, short of slightly low calcium due to everything growing like crazy in my tank. I dose a crap load of Ca every day to keep up. Ca - 380, Alk - 9, Mg 1400,P04 - o or No3 - 0, PH 8.2 to 8.4. I have excellent filtration: Bubble King 200 Skimmer, Bio - Pellets (which may be the problem - I am considering taking my Bio-Pellets offline to give more nutrients to the tank), GFO, GAC, UC, Fuge, excellent varied flow and good lighting (8 54W T5's). I use Royal Nature Salt.

The first pic, is a colony I have had for 3 years that survived a tank crash a year ago and has been, until yesterday, been very healthy and growing very well. No indication of stray current. but I have no way of testing for that at the moment.

[DEEC77]

Not really sure about pests. There does appear to be damage in the second picture but it could be clean up after tissue death.

It really looks more like a melting event.

I would recheck my Alk as Alk swings can cause close up/ and or melting events

Do a water change ASAP.

Try adjusting flow in that area. Higher flow for a while

Try taking the bio pellets off line. I'm not familiar with that particular product but stripping all the nutrients from your system could be the problem

Last run some new carbon

Good luck!

[gh0st]

I'll second removing the BioPellets.

I've talked to a bunch of folks who experienced SPS RTN'ing and many other mysterious coral mortalities.

BioPellets fuel bacterial growth, but they aren't particular about what type of bacteria, good bad or otherwise.

Overproduction of mucus is often caused by bacteria or other pathogens.

I've had some success with melting by dipping in a Furan 2 dip. Doesn't always save them, but it's worth a try.

[DanRhomberg]

wow...sorry for the loss so far Matt. From your pics the open ones look really nice.... :(

I'm currently suffering from my second tank wide melt in 1 year. Same for me too, paramaters are fine, no visable pest, zoa ich, ect....(cant measure for leakage either)

both times carbon change(even though it was new) and flow adjustment helped a tiny bit. I dont run pellets so I dont know there.

to stop the melt in my case both times I went to the extreme and fragged disguarding the melt areas at a loss for any other treatments. It worked for me and growth returned both times.(frags this time are stable but too soon to see growth yet)

the first time I left one melting area alone and lost the hole colony.over 50+.:(

you know it seems to me we have come so far in this hobby with our knowledge, yet have so much more to learn.

control is an illusion in this hobby as all things in life...lol.....JMO.
I swear there is some sort of Zoa virus like a flu or something.(different than Zoa-pox)

truly wish you best of luck.....

[Matt Dean]

Thanks. I think I may scrape off the melted parts. That sounds like a good idea.

I already yanked the pellets this morning. I wasn't running a LOT of pellets. About 300 or 400ml for my 125, so I don't think it should affect the tank that much.

I'm going to feed the zoas and do a water change. I am good at regular water changes. Pretty much every week I do 15 to 2o gallons. I have never had P04 and rarely have more than 2 to 5 N03, so I am not too worried about getting TOO high nutrients in the tank. I will be changing out the carbon tonight.

I am afraid to dip them anymore, as it seems when I do they decline even quicker.

Appreciate the input. Cheers

[DEEC77]

Don't forget to up the direct flow a bit

~Dee~

[Matt Dean]

Thanks for the reminder. I have quite a bit of flow already, but going to try and give them a little more.

Cheers

[Jarred1]

When I find my zoas aren't looking so great I put them in high flow, the more flow keeps them cleaner and brings them more nutrients.

[Matt Dean]

Excellent point

[wholelottawater]

+1 on increased flow. Recently had success with Furan 2 dips. Particular Zoa has become my best reproducer.