Zoo discoloration help.

reefer545

reefer545

Member
I have had a colony of "eagle eye" zoas for two years, and they have grown from the size of a quarter diameter to larger than a softball diameter. About 6 months ago I switched from pc to MH. Since then, they have actually slowed the growiung process, and what's worse, they have what looks like green coraline growing on them. It has seemed to significantly dull their colors. They still open and close normally, but the color difference is substantial. My water params are all extremely close to perfect less phosphate which has a SLIGHT reading. I have also experienced a burst in hair algae growth, but I attribute it to the new lights, and the phosphate. My frogspawn has also stopped opening to its full glory, which I have also had for two years. Started with 4 heads, and grew to 8, now it barely opens. I believe that is a flow issue, as that started when I added a PH probably a little too close to it about 2 months ago. Any ideas? I would hate to lose that colony of zoas. Anybody have a similar experience? The part that is extremely wierd to me is that the zoas are the only ones this is happening to. All sps, hard corals (less frogspawn), clams, tubeworms, are growing much fast and no algae comes near them. Even the two fans I have are growing fast. Any insight would be GREATLY appreciated.
Reefer
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
ehh, i've heard of zoas floating up near the top of water (when they get dislodged) and getting fried by mh's but still living (imagine low tide and the sun).
it may be that your zoos are too high up in the water column. it may be what i'm going through now....
when they close up, do you see little white dots on the stalks? if so, look up zoo pox. it's a pretty horrid little disease.
 
reefer545

reefer545

Member
Thanks for postin Ren. There are no white spots. It is a thin speckled green coating over everything but the polyp heads. I have tried to wipe it off, but it doesnt budge, which is what makes me think it is corraline (it certainly looks like greeen coraline). I cant find anything similar in any of the books I have. They are not dislodged at all. They still are spreading (growing) but not nearly as fast. They still flouresce under the actnic, but the colors have become drab. Huh.
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
did you acclimate the lights to your tank? it could be that those corals that are not doing as well just have to take a bit more time getting used to the new intensity...and the algae growing around them could just irritate them enough to make them change, but still let them live like normal...have you tried moving the zoos lower to adjust to the lighting?
or how about flow, is it pretty low on the zoos to also allow for the algae to grow a bit easier then other places where the flow is higher?
just options
 
reefer545

reefer545

Member
Originally Posted by Bronco300
did you acclimate the lights to your tank? it could be that those corals that are not doing as well just have to take a bit more time getting used to the new intensity...and the algae growing around them could just irritate them enough to make them change, but still let them live like normal...have you tried moving the zoos lower to adjust to the lighting?
or how about flow, is it pretty low on the zoos to also allow for the algae to grow a bit easier then other places where the flow is higher?
just options
I acclimated the lights over a 3 month period. I only increased the photoperiodicity by 15 minutes every 2 days. Then I slowly Lowered the lights closer to the water surface over an additional 3 weeks. As well, the flow rate in the area of the zoas is particularly high (consider the new PH I put in for the sps, which ended up too close to the Frogspawn). The PH directs flow over the area the zoas are actually growing on. Flow cant be it. Thanks for postin, but I just dont think that is what the problem is. I may be wrong. But when I put food in the water over them it moves FAIRLY fast. about 2 inches per 1 to 1.5 sec. The zoas are about 17 inches from a 150 w MH. The MH started at about 25 inches above the zoas. Does any of that help?
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
well then lighting definitely is not a problem besides the fact that zoos will change their morph light to light...so it could be just the light bulb coloration that you have....but its not too intense, i have 400w bulbs over mine and are about the same distance and some closer with great color.. what bulb setups are you using, kelvin wise etc? and what setup did you come from coloration wise?
it could be just that theyve decided to change with the lighting...you could try and move the colony and see what happens
 
reefer545

reefer545

Member
I have a JBJ nano cube. I HAD the original lighting when I first got the zoas. I switched the lights our to a pendant 150 W MH called Sundial. I am dont like the 10k bulb it came with, but havent spent the money yet to buy a 14 or 20 k. Maybe for Christmas. It also runs two 32 w actnic flourescents. The worry I have is that there is definitely something GROWING on their stalks and bases, and I dont know what it is.
Thanks for the post Bronc.
 
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