Calling all people eater paly growers!

Lee_is_007 · 03/02/2013, 01:05 AM

I have a zoa dominated tank and I can grow zoas with the best of um. But, when it comes to people eaters I have no luck at all. People eaters just happen to be my favorite kind of zoas.

Can any people eater growers give me some tips or post your tank parameters/lighting?

My parameters are: PH 8.0, 1.025 salinity, 9 dKH, Calcium 400

I recently started to dose iodide and have seen some awesome results! Is this the reason why or am I missing something?

Lee_is_007 · 03/02/2013, 01:07 AM

My lighting is 4 HO T5 ATI bulbs

1 blue plus
1 coral plus
1 purple plus
1 actinic

BubbaBoBobBrain · 03/02/2013, 07:24 AM

I have purple, red, and soon to have red devil people eaters in both of my tanks and haven't had much problem keeping them (probably just luck, lol). My dt is a rr75 with a 6 bulb t5 and my frag tank is a 40 breeder with a reefbreeders led over it. I keep params the same in both tanks. 1.025 salinity, Ph 8.0-8.3, Cal 440, mag 1325ish, alk 7-8, nit 3-5ppm, phos .08-.10 not sure if that will help at all but good luck nonetheless

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

got2envy · 03/02/2013, 07:59 AM

I can't keep these either...they do great for a while and then *poof* they are gone.
Also my favorites.

Chriskid · 03/02/2013, 05:03 PM

i have been trying to test tanks that do and dont...... im testing silica next. my local reefers that can keep them happen to have high readings in this area.

650-IS350 · 03/02/2013, 05:48 PM

I tend to drop a drop or 2 of lugols every 2-3 weeks for iodine

Lee_is_007 · 03/02/2013, 08:32 PM

I just tested my tank. pH around 8.0-8.1, dKH 9, Cal 420, Nitrates 0, Phosphates almost 0.

I dose DT's phytoplankton and Oysterfeast with Phytofeast. (I change it up not all at once)

I have just recently started to does Brightwell Iodion for the iodine (water changes are not enough) and I have notice a huge difference. Polyps look way better and the growth is insane. I'm still waiting on the people eaters though. Time will tell I guess... If it's not the iodine dosing then I don't know. Maybe they like a lower alkalinity? Like around 7.5 or 8?

Chriskid · 03/02/2013, 08:52 PM

i personally don't see iodine, potassium, or 7.5 alk to be any different. over the last few months if tryed these thoughts.but to no avale. but thats me.

Lee_is_007 · 03/02/2013, 09:43 PM

Well Chris we need to get to the bottom of this lol.

I keep you updated on what I come up with. Iodine first, then I'll see what else I can try/change.

Chriskid · 03/02/2013, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee_is_007

Well Chris we need to get to the bottom of this lol.

I keep you updated on what I come up with. Iodine first, then I'll see what else I can try/change.

im just as interested as you..lol I have been searching for a reason for a while also. over feeding, under skimming multiple levels....bla,bla ,bla ill keep posting here after i try whats next on my list

and looking for your updates aswell

SushiGirl · 03/03/2013, 01:58 AM

Have you tried feeding them directly? We bought one at MACNA back in September. I feed it a small piece of mysis any time it will take it & we have 4 now. We don't dose anything because we use ESV 4 part salt mix & I haven't tested parameters in probably 4 months in that tank. We have LED lighting & just recently dimmed the whites some due to some zoas not doing to well (which helped the zoas). Be careful dosing iodine, easy to overdose & will kill if it is overdosed. Regular water changes with good salt should negate the need to dose trace elements. We change water every 2 weeks.

650-IS350 · 03/03/2013, 03:12 AM

I used to feed palys, protopalys n neozanthus with soft sinking pellets that I mush up and spray on them

danimal1211 · 03/03/2013, 06:51 AM

I have a couple morphs they open up great every day but so far no growth. The greens I've had for over three months with no growth, the oranges I've had for about a month and a half. They had a baby attached which has been growing very slowly. The pic of the oranges was the second day I had them so they weren't fully open yet.
IMG_2816.jpg

IMG_2722.jpg

Chriskid · 03/03/2013, 07:53 AM

these types never seem to accept food for me. dont know why, others yes

BubbaBoBobBrain · 03/03/2013, 08:54 AM

All the people eaters I have also do not accept food. They also grow very slow but all seem very healthy

danimal1211 · 03/03/2013, 11:49 AM

Mine will accept food the oranges especially have a quick feeding response.

Lee_is_007 · 03/03/2013, 10:00 PM

As far as spot feeding I will try it and see what I can get them to eat. I have 3 different types of people eaters all with two polyps. All have been two polyps for too long lol. I will say though that all the locals here who can grow them don't spot feed them so there has to be something else I'm missing.

I'm going to get an Iodine test kit tomorrow and see what the rate of consumption is in my zoa/paly dominated tank.

650-IS350 · 03/03/2013, 11:50 PM

As long as they exibit prey catching ability n not just close due to scare response u can try to feed it
Hell even my mohawks feed

Lee_is_007 · 04/17/2013, 10:10 PM

OK! I think I have found the reason. I never used to test my Mg. I finally got a test kit and my tank tested at 1080??? I couldn't believe it. I just did a 20 percent saltwater change with reef crystals too. Since correcting my level back to 1350 and dosing a tiny bit of iodide my Hawaiian people eaters now have 2 babies growing!! Everything looks waaaay better too. I may be looking into other salt mixes as I have been told some can be Mg deficient.

What salt mix do you guys use?

650-IS350 · 04/17/2013, 10:20 PM

D&d

jrdn_fox · 11/15/2013, 08:31 PM

I know I'm a late post to this, but I figured it would be a good place to ask. I have a small colony of purple people eaters and they seem to be doing pretty good! My only concern is that some of them implode down (sometimes) and other stay point upwards. Does this mean the upwards ones are getting too much light or too little?? Do they usually implode with more light or less light?? I assume more, right??

A. Grandis · 11/15/2013, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrdn_fox

I know I'm a late post to this, but I figured it would be a good place to ask. I have a small colony of purple people eaters and they seem to be doing pretty good! My only concern is that some of them implode down (sometimes) and other stay point upwards. Does this mean the upwards ones are getting too much light or too little?? Do they usually implode with more light or less light?? I assume more, right??

I don't remember this thread! It's a good one!
Maybe I was crazy working when they first posted.

Would you be able to share a picture? I'm kinda confused.
Also, try to explain more about your system.
The more info the better for people to try helping you out.
Tell us everything you can… maintenance, params, lights, etc...
Each case is a different one.

Grandis.

charliet21 · 11/19/2013, 07:04 PM

I havnt had any promblems witj pe or zos at the matter. Ive been dosing fuel since day one. It really help with zoas and palys. Try it ibe had green pe that my jswfish buried for a couple of feeks before i found them. They were bkack with green mouths for about a month, kinda look cool

charliet21 · 11/19/2013, 07:08 PM

Also i run 2x 150 mh with pc over a 55g. And change 10g weekly. No skimmer and have about 8 fish. So all my zoas and paly eat well

YoYoGaming · 03/02/2015, 08:07 AM

Ok so let me start by asking everyone who has trouble with People Eaters 1 very important question... Do you have little white asterina starfish in your tank? If you have answered yes, you have probably just answered your question of why wont your PEs grow. ASTERINA STARFISH EAT CERTAIN ZOA AND PALLY POLYPS!!!! I am very sick of those who say that they do not. I have watched many a green people eater colonies in my previous tanks be eaten away by these pest starfish. When your lights go out you would be surprised to see these little buttholes attatched firmly to the top of a closed polyp. What they do is basically shove their stomach into the polyp where it digests it from the inside out. You may never notice anything wrong on the outside of the polys besides the fact that it never opened again. I wish i still had the pictures to proove it, but i assure you, the asterina starfish eats Zoanthids...

P.S. I have also documented them eating Green Star Polyps. Witnessing this first hand , the purple bubblegum looking mat was apparently its target as i saw blackened holes eaten straigh through the mat.

03/02/2013, 01:05 AM	#1
Lee_is_007 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	Calling all people eater paly growers! I have a zoa dominated tank and I can grow zoas with the best of um. But, when it comes to people eaters I have no luck at all. People eaters just happen to be my favorite kind of zoas. Can any people eater growers give me some tips or post your tank parameters/lighting? My parameters are: PH 8.0, 1.025 salinity, 9 dKH, Calcium 400 I recently started to dose iodide and have seen some awesome results! Is this the reason why or am I missing something?

03/02/2013, 07:24 AM	#3
BubbaBoBobBrain Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Thompson, CT Posts: 5,937	I have purple, red, and soon to have red devil people eaters in both of my tanks and haven't had much problem keeping them (probably just luck, lol). My dt is a rr75 with a 6 bulb t5 and my frag tank is a 40 breeder with a reefbreeders led over it. I keep params the same in both tanks. 1.025 salinity, Ph 8.0-8.3, Cal 440, mag 1325ish, alk 7-8, nit 3-5ppm, phos .08-.10 not sure if that will help at all but good luck nonetheless Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ My fish swam away with my 401k, lol Bob

03/02/2013, 07:59 AM	#4
got2envy hello fishy fishy Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mid-Cities, TX Posts: 899	I can't keep these either...they do great for a while and then poof they are gone. Also my favorites. __________________ January RC 2011 NTOTM Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. Current Tank Info: 28g JBJ HQI, 40g Long Mixed Reef

03/02/2013, 05:03 PM	#5
Chriskid Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: plainfield, CT Posts: 4,153	i have been trying to test tanks that do and dont...... im testing silica next. my local reefers that can keep them happen to have high readings in this area. __________________ 2014 CTARS prez This hobby will only take you as far as you let it. When people ask dumb questions, I feel obligated to give sarcastic answers. Current Tank Info: 210g mostly sps(1/3 top to bottem zoa, paly display),20gal frag tank .just added a 40gal breeder frag tank

03/02/2013, 05:48 PM	#6
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	I tend to drop a drop or 2 of lugols every 2-3 weeks for iodine __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

03/02/2013, 01:07 AM	#2
Lee_is_007 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	My lighting is 4 HO T5 ATI bulbs 1 blue plus 1 coral plus 1 purple plus 1 actinic

03/02/2013, 08:32 PM	#7
Lee_is_007 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	I just tested my tank. pH around 8.0-8.1, dKH 9, Cal 420, Nitrates 0, Phosphates almost 0. I dose DT's phytoplankton and Oysterfeast with Phytofeast. (I change it up not all at once) I have just recently started to does Brightwell Iodion for the iodine (water changes are not enough) and I have notice a huge difference. Polyps look way better and the growth is insane. I'm still waiting on the people eaters though. Time will tell I guess... If it's not the iodine dosing then I don't know. Maybe they like a lower alkalinity? Like around 7.5 or 8?

03/02/2013, 08:52 PM	#8
Chriskid Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: plainfield, CT Posts: 4,153	i personally don't see iodine, potassium, or 7.5 alk to be any different. over the last few months if tryed these thoughts.but to no avale. but thats me. __________________ 2014 CTARS prez This hobby will only take you as far as you let it. When people ask dumb questions, I feel obligated to give sarcastic answers. Current Tank Info: 210g mostly sps(1/3 top to bottem zoa, paly display),20gal frag tank .just added a 40gal breeder frag tank

03/02/2013, 09:43 PM	#9
Lee_is_007 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	Well Chris we need to get to the bottom of this lol. I keep you updated on what I come up with. Iodine first, then I'll see what else I can try/change.

03/03/2013, 01:58 AM	#11
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Have you tried feeding them directly? We bought one at MACNA back in September. I feed it a small piece of mysis any time it will take it & we have 4 now. We don't dose anything because we use ESV 4 part salt mix & I haven't tested parameters in probably 4 months in that tank. We have LED lighting & just recently dimmed the whites some due to some zoas not doing to well (which helped the zoas). Be careful dosing iodine, easy to overdose & will kill if it is overdosed. Regular water changes with good salt should negate the need to dose trace elements. We change water every 2 weeks. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

03/03/2013, 03:12 AM	#12
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	I used to feed palys, protopalys n neozanthus with soft sinking pellets that I mush up and spray on them __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

03/03/2013, 06:51 AM	#13
danimal1211 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 88	I have a couple morphs they open up great every day but so far no growth. The greens I've had for over three months with no growth, the oranges I've had for about a month and a half. They had a baby attached which has been growing very slowly. The pic of the oranges was the second day I had them so they weren't fully open yet. IMG_2816.jpg IMG_2722.jpg

03/03/2013, 07:53 AM	#14
Chriskid Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: plainfield, CT Posts: 4,153	these types never seem to accept food for me. dont know why, others yes __________________ 2014 CTARS prez This hobby will only take you as far as you let it. When people ask dumb questions, I feel obligated to give sarcastic answers. Current Tank Info: 210g mostly sps(1/3 top to bottem zoa, paly display),20gal frag tank .just added a 40gal breeder frag tank

03/03/2013, 08:54 AM	#15
BubbaBoBobBrain Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Thompson, CT Posts: 5,937	All the people eaters I have also do not accept food. They also grow very slow but all seem very healthy __________________ My fish swam away with my 401k, lol Bob

03/03/2013, 11:49 AM	#16
danimal1211 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 88	Mine will accept food the oranges especially have a quick feeding response.

03/03/2013, 10:00 PM	#17
Lee_is_007 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	As far as spot feeding I will try it and see what I can get them to eat. I have 3 different types of people eaters all with two polyps. All have been two polyps for too long lol. I will say though that all the locals here who can grow them don't spot feed them so there has to be something else I'm missing. I'm going to get an Iodine test kit tomorrow and see what the rate of consumption is in my zoa/paly dominated tank.

03/03/2013, 11:50 PM	#18
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	As long as they exibit prey catching ability n not just close due to scare response u can try to feed it Hell even my mohawks feed __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

04/17/2013, 10:10 PM	#19
Lee_is_007 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	OK! I think I have found the reason. I never used to test my Mg. I finally got a test kit and my tank tested at 1080??? I couldn't believe it. I just did a 20 percent saltwater change with reef crystals too. Since correcting my level back to 1350 and dosing a tiny bit of iodide my Hawaiian people eaters now have 2 babies growing!! Everything looks waaaay better too. I may be looking into other salt mixes as I have been told some can be Mg deficient. What salt mix do you guys use?

04/17/2013, 10:20 PM	#20
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	D&d __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

11/15/2013, 08:31 PM	#21
jrdn_fox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 9	Purple people eaters I know I'm a late post to this, but I figured it would be a good place to ask. I have a small colony of purple people eaters and they seem to be doing pretty good! My only concern is that some of them implode down (sometimes) and other stay point upwards. Does this mean the upwards ones are getting too much light or too little?? Do they usually implode with more light or less light?? I assume more, right??

11/19/2013, 07:04 PM	#23
charliet21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: earth Posts: 160	I havnt had any promblems witj pe or zos at the matter. Ive been dosing fuel since day one. It really help with zoas and palys. Try it ibe had green pe that my jswfish buried for a couple of feeks before i found them. They were bkack with green mouths for about a month, kinda look cool

11/19/2013, 07:08 PM	#24
charliet21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: earth Posts: 160	Also i run 2x 150 mh with pc over a 55g. And change 10g weekly. No skimmer and have about 8 fish. So all my zoas and paly eat well

03/02/2015, 08:07 AM	#25
YoYoGaming Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 2	Ok so let me start by asking everyone who has trouble with People Eaters 1 very important question... Do you have little white asterina starfish in your tank? If you have answered yes, you have probably just answered your question of why wont your PEs grow. ASTERINA STARFISH EAT CERTAIN ZOA AND PALLY POLYPS!!!! I am very sick of those who say that they do not. I have watched many a green people eater colonies in my previous tanks be eaten away by these pest starfish. When your lights go out you would be surprised to see these little buttholes attatched firmly to the top of a closed polyp. What they do is basically shove their stomach into the polyp where it digests it from the inside out. You may never notice anything wrong on the outside of the polys besides the fact that it never opened again. I wish i still had the pictures to proove it, but i assure you, the asterina starfish eats Zoanthids... P.S. I have also documented them eating Green Star Polyps. Witnessing this first hand , the purple bubblegum looking mat was apparently its target as i saw blackened holes eaten straigh through the mat.