HELP me save my zoathids please

[andyITA]

Hello.
Lately I have a big problem with my pink zoathids. I used to have this rock full of them but one by one each week they disappear mysteriously. I cannot see any spiders/parasites + I have a six line wrasse to guard it.
My water conditions are very good + I have another colony of the same species in another place in the aquarium and it-s blooming....it reproduces and no sign of suffering. Also all my other zoathids are fine.

any ideas of how to save them ? PS they cannot be taken out of the water because the rock is part of a big module of rocks and cannot be taken out because it would ruin all the reefscape.



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and this is how my other corals look like:


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[Biocubehqi]

My zoas did the same thing, just waited it out and the strongest survived and recolonized. Did you look at certain diseases. My Palys had zoa pox, which I've heard Palys can't get but it happened...

[modernREEF]

I don't think there is anything you can do if you're not going to take the rock out of the water. If you decide there is a way to get it out, there are a number of dips that you can use depending on the exact problem. If you end up going in that direction there is good advice in the Zoanthid forum.

[ebacon]

What is your kh?

[andyITA]

my KH is 12.5
here is how my aquarium looks like


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[J2T]

Check in at night, I had some large amphipods chewing on mine and they seemed to target specific colonies until they were gone then on to the next. With a sixline I would be surprised that's the issue, but worth a check

[skykingcory]

I had similar problems with mine and never figured out the problem. All other corals flourished. Mine were also attached to the structural part of the rock work.

[ajcanale]

my KH is 12.5

That very well could be your problem. If that is accurate, I'm surprised your LPS look as well as they do. If your alk is that high... where is your calcium at?

With a sixline I would be surprised that's the issue, but worth a check

Wrasses burrow in the sand bed at night

[Robb in Austin]

Originally Posted by ajcanale

Wrasses burrow in the sand bed at night

Technically, six lines make a concoct of slime at night, not bury themselves as other wrasses.

[ACBlinky]

I think the point was that the wrasse won't be 'on duty' to guard the zoas during the night.

Have you tried using a small flashlight, very late at night, to see if you can catch someone in the act? There are loads of creatures -- some amphipods, some worms, crabs, fish, zoa 'spiders', possibly even nudibranchs -- that could be snacking on the colony during the hours between lights-off and lights-on.

Good luck, they're gorgeous, hope you find the culprit.

[Denzil]

Sucks to hear but I look forward to hearing you find out what the issue is/was.

[andyITA]

still haven`t found anything suspicious.....the pink zoathids are still disappearing

[ACBlinky]

have you been watching them at night? I know sometimes it's not really possible, some of us need sleep and all, but there's nothing like a 3am surprise visit with a flashlight to find elusive coral destroying creatures.

[danil]

It does look like some sort of parasite. Crabs, nudibranchs, worms all could be a problem. I would strongly recommend do a dip. Then change location of the colony.
Camping the colony at night (with flashlight) is a good idea too.
Let us know!
GL.

[andyITA]

I have been camping at night with my flashlight and I haven-t seen anything suspicious....
I only had 2 small crabs since the begining of the reef and they never did anything wrong + they don-t have pointy claws.

never had nudibranchs and neither worms that do harm....

it still remains a mistery for me....

[andyITA]

sucks

[chrisfont23]

Originally Posted by danil

It does look like some sort of parasite. Crabs, nudibranchs, worms all could be a problem. I would strongly recommend do a dip. Then change location of the colony.
Camping the colony at night (with flashlight) is a good idea too.
Let us know!
GL.

Crabs are evil. That's why they are all on my fuge.