Please Help Me Out I'm New To This

[Hmoney720]

So I posted on here for the first time ever a few weeks ago. My Zoas had pineapple sponge growing in the middle of them. I removed the sponge gently, and ever since then my middle few zoas have closed and will not open! I have tried lightly brushing the algae off of them, changing my flow, and testing my water.

PS: I dont have all of my water parameters, but I get my water tested by my lfs and they have said everything is great with my levels. I keep my salinity at 1.024 - 1.025. I water change and change filter floss once a week. They have always been super happy until I removed that sponge. My other corals are all doing great.

 

[KrisReef]

I don't think those middle zoa's considered the operation gentle enough, based upon your results. Be glad the others are not impacted.

 

[Hmoney720]

I don't think those middle zoa's considered the operation gentle enough, based upon your results. Be glad the others are not impacted.

If the zoas keep growing besides those middle ones, would new zoas eventually take over that dead area?

 

[Who me?]

If the zoas keep growing besides those middle ones, would new zoas eventually take over that dead area?

I'd remove the dead ones.

 

[Derrick0580]

Just give them time, zoas can remain closed for quite some time with out ill effect.

 

[vetteguy53081]

There are various reasons why zoa close up. Just assure light and water flow are moderate level. Zoas do not require the consistent high flow conditions that SPS corals do. I would consider a moderate flow environment ideal but Zoanthids, like most corals, can adapt to low or high flow. In high flow, you will typically see polyps grow closer to the rock with shorter stalks. Another is lack of feeding and food as infrequent feeding and ultra low nutrient conditions can lead to entire colony meltdowns. Target feeding is not a requirement as Zoanthids are photosynthetic. I have found that target feeding Zoanthids always provides mixed results, when a food particle falls onto the polyps.

As to parameters, good water quality is a must.
Alk: 8.0 - 11.0
Calcium: 400 - 440
Mag: 1300 - 1350
Iodide: Maintained via regular water changes or manually at small dosages
Temperature: 77-79 degrees
pH: 8.1- 8.3
Phosphates: .04 - .06
Nitrates < 10

Asterina stars, little tiny tiny spiders and nudibranchs also will make them miserable to point of death as will aptasia, worms like spinoids or vermetid snails. A few things to look for. Hope this helps

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Just give them time, zoas can remain closed for quite some time with out ill effect.

^^this. I had a frag that stayed closed for 2 weeks after I put it in my tank. And yes, if some of the polyps end up dying, the new ones will gladly fill in the empty spot :)