Can't Win!

[fernalfer]

As we all strive to maintain good tank husbandry as i have done managing to get my tanks nitrates down to 2-5 consistently and phosphates at 0. (I bought Marco Dry rock and had it in Brute tubs soaking in RODI saltwater with a powerhead and heater dosing phosfree to rid the rock of leeching phosphates) which i believe what has helped me with the phosphates.

I bought 3 zoa colonies because of people saying they are better starter corals and can handle dirtier water. For the first 3 months in the tank they have done well but as i have been making my water cleaner I went out and bought a hammer coral which is thriving. It is out everyday, fully open. But my zoas are the opposite. Barely opening and just looking like crap. So like i said in the beginning, Can't Win. you want cleaner water but lose zoas and if you maintain dirtier water can't keep some LPS/SPS.

I loved my zoas but want to maintain good water so algae does not become a problem.

How is it that some of you keep zoas/palys and sps in same tank and they all thrive. I know it isn't flow because the zoas have been in the same spot from the beginning and have thrived until my water has become cleaner and they aren't anymore.

 

[TheEngineer]

In my experience hammers close from low nutrients before zoas do. Got any pics of the zoas?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Are you having po4 issues or alk swings?

 

[fernalfer]

In my experience hammers close from low nutrients before zoas do. Got any pics of the zoas?

i'll post others of zoas but here is one colony that used to be fully open for a good 2 months and have slowly looked like this on a daily basis while my hammer is doing great everyday.

 

[fernalfer]

Are you having po4 issues or alk swings?

none

 

[reeferfoxx]

Did you change lights, intensity or photoperiod?

 

[TheEngineer]

They look annoyed to me. Have you tried dipping them?

 

[fernalfer]

They look annoyed to me. Have you tried dipping them?

well i dipped them when originally bought 31/2 months ago but not since then.

Did you change lights, intensity or photoperiod?

same lights since the beginning. knocked 2 hours off 1 hour on each end. the lights come on an hour later and off an hour earlier

 

[TheEngineer]

If it were me, I'd do a furan-2 dip on all of your zoas

 

[Jakepen]

If it were me, I'd do a furan-2 dip on all of your zoas

What would that accomplish?

 

[Elementalj]

You might have introduced a hitchhiker with the hammer. I'd dip the zoa's and check them closely for creepy crawlies.

 

[TheEngineer]

What would that accomplish?

Zoas are quite resilient to most things. In my experience there are two things that make them do what they are doing in the picture: bacteria or a critter. They look in tact but annoyed to me so I'd guess bacteria first. Furan-2 will treat most.

 

[Jakepen]

Zoas are quite resilient to most things. In my experience there are two things that make them do what they are doing in the picture: bacteria or a critter. They look in tact but annoyed to me so I'd guess bacteria first. Furan-2 will treat most.

Oh alright, makes sense. When you say bacteria, what do you mean exactly? Like any specific name for a certain type of bacteria?

 

[ahiggins]

Tagging along for this, thats a really pretty hammer-I have a green one

 

[fernalfer]

Zoas are quite resilient to most things. In my experience there are two things that make them do what they are doing in the picture: bacteria or a critter. They look in tact but annoyed to me so I'd guess bacteria first. Furan-2 will treat most.

they look worse today. and all of a sudden today have some algae on them.

 

[TheEngineer]

Yep. Dip them. Looks like zoa pox in the one pic. Furan-2 can be found at most pet stores.

 

[fernalfer]

Yep. Dip them. Looks like zoa pox in the one pic. Furan-2 can be found at most pet stores.

problem is the green zoas are epoxied to the rock the eagle eyes are on a removeable rock

 

[TheEngineer]

Unless they are encrusted to the rock you can just pop them off. Don't dip the whole rock.

 

[Elementalj]

I've not had experience with Furan-2 but coralRX and brightwell medi-coral have been effective for me. The brightwell product contains a little iodine and the botanicals to help with infections.

Many options, much advice. We wish you the best of luck and are here if you should need further assistance.

J

 

[fernalfer]

Unless they are encrusted to the rock you can just pop them off. Don't dip the whole rock.

Well they were on a plug that i used super glue and epoxy to mount to the rock. So you are say just scrap the zoas off the plug and remount them to something else after dipping?

I've not had experience with Furan-2 but coralRX and brightwell medi-coral have been effective for me. The brightwell product contains a little iodine and the botanicals to help with infections.

Many options, much advice. We wish you the best of luck and are here if you should need further assistance.

J

I have CoralRX but not sure that helps for ZoaPox. i originally dipped them in CoralRX before putting them in the tank.