Zoas receding

Lizzy_lray · 05/11/2015, 07:26 AM

My Eagle eye Zoas are not looking to hot lately and I noticed a few at the top receding. A friend of mine thinks maybe the light is to much since only the top portion are closed and the bottom still looks great. I've lowered my whites to around 60% and my blues to 80%. I'm going to see if this helps but in the meantime I wanted to ask about water flow. My current is very low where the Zoas are, could that also be the problem? I tested my water and everything looks good plus my other corals are thriving so I think it's probably the light. The Zoas are placed about 4-5" from the top.

JammyBirch · 05/11/2015, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzy_lray

My Eagle eye Zoas are not looking to hot lately and I noticed a few at the top receding. A friend of mine thinks maybe the light is to much since only the top portion are closed and the bottom still looks great. I've lowered my whites to around 60% and my blues to 80%. I'm going to see if this helps but in the meantime I wanted to ask about water flow. My current is very low where the Zoas are, could that also be the problem? I tested my water and everything looks good plus my other corals are thriving so I think it's probably the light. The Zoas are placed about 4-5" from the top.

I had similar problems with my Armor of God zoas...the light was fine the flow was too high, once i moved them to a low flow area they have tripled in size. From what i read, zoas can react differently than other zoas. If you're testing the light change then you'll want to leave them alone for a week or so. If nothing changes then you could try moving them to a higher or lower flow region.

If the light is not the issue make sure you bump the light back up to the previous settings, experiments on our systems need to be one variable at a time. Then move them.

syngraves · 05/11/2015, 07:55 AM

how recently have to added them? is there anything irritating them such as algae, nudi, asterina starfish, ect...? if they are new to the tank id suspect light shock.

post your tank parameters since even though the parameters look good there could be a sign in the numbers.

Flow could irritate them but ive never had an issue with flow causing them to recede. I lost one frag last year due to hair algae overtaking the frag despite peroxide dips.

JammyBirch · 05/11/2015, 08:23 AM

Mine showed no growth at all and the polyps were closed a lot of the time and very small. The coral will spend all of it's energy trying to move away from a flow that makes it unhappy. Once i moved it everything improved.

A predator being the problem is a good one to look into, especially the stars. I have 2 stars, cant think of the name of them, they are tiny and white. Suposedly they will eat zoas, i haven't had any problems yet with them but i'm always looking for signs. What fish do you have?

There are probably some fish that will eat them too.

whosurcaddie · 05/11/2015, 08:29 AM

Eagle Eyes like a good amount of flow. I've kept them in the highest flow area of my tank and they were always open and growing. They also don't need a ton of light. They may recede away from the light, but I would increase the flow first.

Lizzy_lray · 05/11/2015, 12:11 PM

Great advice all around, caddie I will increase flow since you have the same type of Zoas and you are seeing growth. I have 3 asterina stars that I know of, they are small but you are right they do pose a threat. I have one little gross aptasia growing in the colony but I doubt that has much of an effect. Other then that my tank contains

1 melanurus wrasse
1 coral banded shrimp
1 turbo snail then basic CUC

Jone · 05/11/2015, 05:55 PM

What is your Alk reading?? I always keep mine at 9.5-10.5,,my mannnnnynnyyyy zoa colonies like the higher Alk,,and moderate higher random flow..

Lizzy_lray · 05/12/2015, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jone

What is your Alk reading?? I always keep mine at 9.5-10.5,,my mannnnnynnyyyy zoa colonies like the higher Alk,,and moderate higher random flow..

Mine is around the same, it's a bit higher bc I frequent water changes and use the Red Sea pro.

05/11/2015, 07:26 AM	#1
Lizzy_lray Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 295	Zoas receding My Eagle eye Zoas are not looking to hot lately and I noticed a few at the top receding. A friend of mine thinks maybe the light is to much since only the top portion are closed and the bottom still looks great. I've lowered my whites to around 60% and my blues to 80%. I'm going to see if this helps but in the meantime I wanted to ask about water flow. My current is very low where the Zoas are, could that also be the problem? I tested my water and everything looks good plus my other corals are thriving so I think it's probably the light. The Zoas are placed about 4-5" from the top. __________________ Currently 20 gallon Nano 12lbs tonga liverock ~still cycling Current Tank Info: Established is December 2015 20 gal high nano reef. A beautiful mix of softies, LPS, SPS mix i love different textures and movements

05/11/2015, 08:23 AM	#4
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	Mine showed no growth at all and the polyps were closed a lot of the time and very small. The coral will spend all of it's energy trying to move away from a flow that makes it unhappy. Once i moved it everything improved. A predator being the problem is a good one to look into, especially the stars. I have 2 stars, cant think of the name of them, they are tiny and white. Suposedly they will eat zoas, i haven't had any problems yet with them but i'm always looking for signs. What fish do you have? There are probably some fish that will eat them too. __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

05/11/2015, 12:11 PM	#6
Lizzy_lray Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 295	Great advice all around, caddie I will increase flow since you have the same type of Zoas and you are seeing growth. I have 3 asterina stars that I know of, they are small but you are right they do pose a threat. I have one little gross aptasia growing in the colony but I doubt that has much of an effect. Other then that my tank contains 1 melanurus wrasse 1 coral banded shrimp 1 turbo snail then basic CUC __________________ Currently 20 gallon Nano 12lbs tonga liverock ~still cycling Current Tank Info: Established is December 2015 20 gal high nano reef. A beautiful mix of softies, LPS, SPS mix i love different textures and movements

05/11/2015, 07:55 AM	#3
syngraves Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Brick, NJ Posts: 151	how recently have to added them? is there anything irritating them such as algae, nudi, asterina starfish, ect...? if they are new to the tank id suspect light shock. post your tank parameters since even though the parameters look good there could be a sign in the numbers. Flow could irritate them but ive never had an issue with flow causing them to recede. I lost one frag last year due to hair algae overtaking the frag despite peroxide dips.

05/11/2015, 08:29 AM	#5
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Eagle Eyes like a good amount of flow. I've kept them in the highest flow area of my tank and they were always open and growing. They also don't need a ton of light. They may recede away from the light, but I would increase the flow first.

05/11/2015, 05:55 PM	#7
Jone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 517	What is your Alk reading?? I always keep mine at 9.5-10.5,,my mannnnnynnyyyy zoa colonies like the higher Alk,,and moderate higher random flow..