Trouble keeping zoas

pthoma79

pthoma79

Member
I have tried about 6-8 separate colonies of zoas at different times, and all of them have died on me. I have a mushroom colony, a colt and a Hyndophora that are doing very well in the tank.
I have a 34g tank with 40-50 lbs LR, about 30 lbs LS. My levels probably aren't the best right now, since I'm overdue for a water change (I know, I know. I'm doing a big one this weekend.) But, even when I'm on a regular WC schedule (5g monthly), I still have zoas dying. I have tried lots of different locations in the tank and the water column, so I'm not sure if there is something eating them, or if I should be adding something that I'm not, or what.
This really bums me out, because I have wanted to dedicate a corner of my tank and get a bunch of zoas in it. HELP!!
 
pthoma79

pthoma79

Member
Did a google image search, and I've never seen anything like that in there. I have seen a few nudi's in the tank, but I remove them as soon as I see them, and its been quite a while since I've seen one.
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
have you tried dipping the zoas? there might be something eating them. what are you water params and lighting?
 
small triggers

small triggers

Active Member
most likely is the areas you have left to put them have to much flow for them. Of the few zoa's i have NONE of them like direct flow,, and with such a small tank it may just have to much for them?
Thats really all i got,,,I dunno if there could be other reasons
 
posiden

posiden

Active Member
Originally Posted by pthoma79
http:///forum/post/3137151
I have a mushroom colony, a colt and a Hyndophora that are doing very well in the tank.
If you have a hyndophora in your tank and it is doing well.....my guess is your lighting. Are you aclimating them to your lights?
I went from 72 watts to 130 watts and lost one of my two zoas. The other ones are just about recovered as I went back to the old lights. The ones that I lost have never come back. They bleached out shrivled up and have slowly shrunk into nothing. Just a couple of stalks left and I don't see them coming around any time soon.
 
posiden

posiden

Active Member
It is best to aclimate any corals to your lighting if you are not for sure of the lighting they were in.
When you get them, do your dip and place them at the bottom of the tank. Or in an area that is shaded and see how they are doing. If that is not doing so well or isn't really possible due to your rock work, then only run part of the lights or run them for shorter periods a day.
If you can place them on the bottom and that is not where you want them, then about once a week move them up slightly. Watch them and if no ill effects then you can move them up again in a week or so. If you start to see signs of stress or they loose thier color then you need to move them back out of the more intense light.
You'll read about it on here or see threads about it. People call it bleaching. Help my corals are bleaching.
 
xcdennisx

xcdennisx

Member
it shouldnt be lighting you only have t5 i could see it if you had mh light it would be different. try raising the temp a bit that mite be a problem, i usually keep mine around 79-80 and my zoas have been muliplyin rapidly. mite be all the trace elements have been used up since you only change once a month. whats your calcium and ph levels?
 
pthoma79

pthoma79

Member
Calcium-400
pH-8.2
Only problem is, they die even when I'm on my normal water change schedule. I'll try the temp thing.
 
calbert0

calbert0

Member
5 gallons once a month is not enough in the water change department..
you should be doing that once a week...
and your calcium is a bit low..
 
asharp13

asharp13

Member
ive read that since most corals are from reefs around the equater, they like higher temps. when my temp falls to 76, all my corals close up and shrivel. when i maintain the temp around 80, (78-82) they all seem to come out. try increasing the temp. ive also seen that my zoas do not like much flow. they grow through photosynthesis not nutrients in the water so they dont need a lot of flow. when moving things around in my nano and messing up the water flow, like an arm redirecting water sidrectly to them they close up. that may be a problem also. zoas are pretty easy corals to keep and i think, very beautiful, id say increasing your temp would be your best bet. but keep trying to figure it out cuz they are awesome to watch open, close, and grow!!!
 
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