Question for the zoa experts

invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
So i've read so many times that zoas are a great starter coral. I guess this is why it's driving me nuts. About a week after I add zoas to my tank, they seem like they shrink and won't open. Hope someone can help.
30 gal tank
nova extreme 2-10,000 daylight/2-460 actinics
coralife super skimmer 65 gal rated
hob and aquaclear w/ 3 lbs nitrate remover
magnum 330 canister (cleaned every week)
2 hydor cor #2
60 lb lr and 2" sand bed
2 ocellaris clowns and a lawnmower blenny
3 fire shrimp--cuc(turbos-nass snails-sm hermits)
3 feather dusters--colt coral-cabbage leather--anthellia--
5 shrooms and a rock w/yellow polyps and a rock w/15 zoas
The yellow polyps and zoas look sick
temp-77/79 ph 8.4 ammonia and nitrites 0
calcium-500 magnesium-920 sg1.025 refractometer
alk 2.8 nitrates are high 80/100 no visible algae except on over flow box
5 gal water change every week
any thoughts why the zoas won't open
thanks in advance
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
If you have alot of water flow hitting them they will do this.
When I receive zoos from shipments they sometimes open within a few hours and others take a week.
Are you placing them on the bottom of the tank and slowly raising them if you have them higher in your tank?
There was talk about an iodine dip but I dont have the 'recipe' for that.
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
Thanks for the reply lil guppy. Yes I started them off on the bottom, after a week they started to close and not open so I started to move them up higher. they are mid way now but it's only a 30 gal 12"deep There is some flow but it's not that strong at all. Lfs had these on the bottom of a 150 w/ halides and they were open and full. These are the 3rd zoas and a piece w/ yellow polyps all with the same outcome. This is going to drive me to drink and it's going to be a short drive
 
jubbin2001

jubbin2001

Member
Keep in mind to that they are used to MH lighting and not T5. It might take longer to keep them open. Personally if it were me I would find a good spot for them and leave them alone. The more you move them the more they will close up.
I posted this on another thread, but it's a good example.
"I had some Tub's Blues that refused to open after I moved them. For 2 weeks I kept checking on them hoping to see something. One day I came home from work, and all the heads had popped open. Now they are just fine and spreading, so give it a little time."
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Your high nitrates may also be causing it... its one of those things you should have as close to 0 as possible.
 
J

jeremye83

Guest
I honestly highly doubt its the trates.... mine are prolly at 10 or so and my zoos are thriving that i have purchased over the last few months. Some of mine do not like direct sunlight... are they directly under the lights? possibly try moving them away... i have had some that the one ones open where the ones under shade.. moved all under shade and they all opened. so far zoos, rics and mushrooms are the easiest to keep for me hands down.
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
They are in my tank about a month and a half now. After the first week they closed up. I Have them shaded for about a week now.
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3012322
Your high nitrates may also be causing it... its one of those things you should have as close to 0 as possible.
I' working on the nitrates now as they were higher. I have 3lbs of nitrate remover in filters and doing 10 gal water change per week.
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
Originally Posted by loopy101
http:///forum/post/3012489
+1 i would work on lowering the nitrates. and find out why they are so high.
Working on the trates now. Only algae visible is on the over flow box and that is where the lawnmower eats all the time. The only other fish in there is a pair of ocellaris clowns and 3 fire shrimp so I cut back on the feeding and feed very little each day.
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
Originally Posted by Jeremye83
http:///forum/post/3012676
I honestly highly doubt its the trates.... mine are prolly at 10 or so and my zoos are thriving that i have purchased over the last few months. Some of mine do not like direct sunlight... are they directly under the lights? possibly try moving them away... i have had some that the one ones open where the ones under shade.. moved all under shade and they all opened. so far zoos, rics and mushrooms are the easiest to keep for me hands down.
I wish my trates were as low as yours. Mine are a lot higher. I don't get direct sun in the tank and I have them shaded for about a week now. Keeping my fingers crossed.
 
d-man

d-man

Member
can you post a pic? I 4 types and hey all do better the better the light for me but thy have survived in low light for a long time how much light do you have?
 
premilove

premilove

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jeremye83
http:///forum/post/3012676
I honestly highly doubt its the trates.... mine are prolly at 10 or so and my zoos are thriving that i have purchased over the last few months. Some of mine do not like direct sunlight... are they directly under the lights? possibly try moving them away... i have had some that the one ones open where the ones under shade.. moved all under shade and they all opened. so far zoos, rics and mushrooms are the easiest to keep for me hands down.
ok but 80 is not 10..
post a pic..+1---some zoas are not as light dependent as others..
it has to be your nitrates..what's inside your canister filter? are you able to invest into a sump/fuge?
they will get used to your lights over some time..when they open up, if it looks like the zoas are growing towards the light, then move them up in your tank..
 
jeremye83work

jeremye83work

New Member
Bah sorry, I cant believe i missed the 80-100 nitrates.. check the water thats going in? I had high nitrates in the water i was putting in my tanks years ago and thats why i could never get them down.
 
premilove

premilove

Active Member
yeah your trates at 10 is nothing bad, even tho they are supposed to be at 0. mine are at 5 and i cant get them down!
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
Originally Posted by d-man
http:///forum/post/3014956
can you post a pic? I 4 types and hey all do better the better the light for me but thy have survived in low light for a long time how much light do you have?
It's a nova extreme 2/10,000 and 2/actinics-- tank is 12" deep
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
Originally Posted by premilove
http:///forum/post/3015125
ok but 80 is not 10..
post a pic..+1---some zoas are not as light dependent as others..
it has to be your nitrates..what's inside your canister filter? are you able to invest into a sump/fuge?
they will get used to your lights over some time..when they open up, if it looks like the zoas are growing towards the light, then move them up in your tank..
If I post a pic all you would see is a piece of rock. A rock w/zoas and a rock w/ yellow polyps lasted 2 months. The rocks are bare now.
The canister is an old magnum 330- inside is a container that holds 2 cups of carbon and a filter sleeve slides over the carbon container. The filter is cleaned every week
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
Originally Posted by Jeremye83work
http:///forum/post/3015189
Bah sorry, I cant believe i missed the 80-100 nitrates.. check the water thats going in? I had high nitrates in the water i was putting in my tanks years ago and thats why i could never get them down.
I test the water going into the tank and always reads trates 0 phos 0. Even had lfs test with same results.
was doing a 5 gal water change every week, i'm doi9ng 10 gals now to try to get the nitrates down. I also have 3.3 lbs of nitrate remover in.
 
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