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02/01/2013, 01:25 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bailey, Colorado
Posts: 207
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Zoas Dying...
Hello all,
I have had a tank for about 10 months now. I am having some issues with a couple different species of Zoas. It seems like some of the polyps are dying off. I sometimes find heads that are floating around the tank. They appear as though they were pinched off. I have some that have not opened at all for about 2 weeks. The rock I have has a variety of zoas and most of them look to be doing well and thriving. I have one rock colony that appeared as though it may have had a fungus so I dipped it in Reef Dip by Seachem. This colony seems to be doing better since the dip a week ago. The colony that I am having problems with now does not appear to have any fungus on it nor any spots that would suggest pox. I do not have any nudibranches that I can tell. I have looked at night with the lights off for an hour or more using a flashlight. I do have many asterina starfish in there and sometimes they are in the zoas but I don't believe they are eating them. I have included a couple of photos, my tank parameters, and my stock list below. Any suggestions? I would obviously like to save the colony if possible. I am thinking of doing a coral dip or freshwater dip on the colony I am currently having issues with but it will be a pain for me to get them out of the tank. My tank parameters are Temp 79.5 Alkalinity 9 Ph 8.2 Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 3-5 Phosphates 0 Calcium 420 I use the Kessil Tuna Blue 350w for my light source. I don't have any filtration except for live rock/sand and 20% water changes every 7 days. I add Brightwell Aquatics Nano Code A and B as needed. A is not often and B is every other day. I use Instant Ocean Reef Salt. Stock List Lavender mushroom Zoas Star polyp Waving Xenia Pulsing Xenia Orange montipora Jedi mind trick Unidentified acro B&W clownfish Pajama Cardinal fish Peppermint shrimp Bunch of hermits and snails Please help. Any and all suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
02/01/2013, 02:08 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bailey, Colorado
Posts: 207
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Update
The corals were looking worse this morning and since I have not heard any responses, I took matters into my own hands and did a coral dip and then did a freshwater dip. The zoas are back in the tank and haven't opened up yet though it has only been about an hour since the dip. Hopefully this helps. I did not see any nudibranchs come out, just some copepods, asterina starfish and small white brittle stars. I will keep everyone posted. Any tips or suggestions are also welcome.
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02/18/2013, 08:54 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 117
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any updates? I have just started to have the same problem with a colony of zoas,
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02/18/2013, 03:14 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: plainfield, CT
Posts: 4,153
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flow or light change?
alk alittle high for zero,zero readings. 7.5 is ideal for low nutrients
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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 |
02/18/2013, 03:51 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 14,555
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BTW- There ARE Asternia Stars that DO EAT Zs and Ps. There are some species that also eat SPS.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/in...efkeeping-101- http://www.reefs.com/blog/2011/05/03...na-conspiracy/ http://www.reefs.org/forums/topic129808.html Anytime I see one of these of new frags or on my tank its in the trash right away
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*** RETIRED FROM REEFING *** Just enjoying the box of water from afar |
02/19/2013, 06:08 AM | #6 |
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Location: Brooklyn,NY
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In the article I wrote for reefs.com I've had an invasion of asterina stars that were grayish in color and had irregular shapes. I've seen them personally munching on zoas and they've looked similar to your pics. Harlequin shrimp is an awesome creature and well worth adding, but remember that eventually you're gonna have to supplement it's diet with chocolate chip starfish, otherwise it will die of starvation (unless your tank is in the ~300g volume and mature). I feed mine one CC per 3 weeks.
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02/19/2013, 06:11 PM | #7 |
skimmer freak
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: peekskill, ny
Posts: 1,209
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ive also found out usualy twice a year around the same time i start to get a melt off on zoa's, no explained reason nor changes in anything in the tank
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custom 45g cube all in one, ai hydra 26, 2 mp10w, ac jr. ,bubble magnus triple doser, bm nac5 hob skimmer My dad always said the only stupid questions are the ones not asked Current Tank Info: custom 45g cube AIO |
02/25/2013, 10:35 AM | #8 |
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Location: Bailey, Colorado
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My lighting and flow are the same but I did just re aquascape. However, the problems began before the aquascaping. I have changed my water changes from 20% per week to 10% per week.
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02/25/2013, 10:39 AM | #9 | |
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Location: Bailey, Colorado
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Quote:
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02/25/2013, 10:45 AM | #10 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bailey, Colorado
Posts: 207
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Quote:
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02/25/2013, 10:48 AM | #11 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bailey, Colorado
Posts: 207
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Here is the before photo of the eagle eyes and other zoas.
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02/25/2013, 10:50 AM | #12 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bailey, Colorado
Posts: 207
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Quote:
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02/25/2013, 10:52 AM | #13 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bailey, Colorado
Posts: 207
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Here is my tank after the aquascape
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02/26/2013, 11:00 PM | #14 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bailey, Colorado
Posts: 207
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Update...
After a freshwater dip for 10 minutes and placing the eagle eyes on the bottom and to the left most corner of the tank and a few couple days of rest, I am beginning to see improvement. I have a feeling that the lighting was too strong for the eagle eyes. I have since turned the lights down to 75%. I have not seen any pests on the zoas but I did order a harlequin shrimp just in case. I should have it by Thursday or Friday. I will post updates if anything else changes. |
03/02/2013, 11:11 AM | #15 |
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Location: Bailey, Colorado
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With the exception of the eagle eyes that fell off or melted away, they have come back completely. Yay!
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03/03/2013, 03:17 AM | #16 |
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Location: Bay Area
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Always gradually aclimate all new polyp to ur lighting slowly
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*** RETIRED FROM REEFING *** Just enjoying the box of water from afar |
03/03/2013, 11:25 AM | #17 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bailey, Colorado
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Yes. Thank you. I have had the same lights for 6 months now and the eagle eyes have been in my tank for about 10 months. I hade moved the eagle eyes down 3 inches and closer to the middle by 4 inches. I didn't think that would be enough of a change to cause any problems.
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