Problems with Zoas

Reef_Collector9 · May 7, 2016

Hello Fellow Reefers,
Recently I've been dealing with my zoas growing brown stuff on them causing them to close up and deteriorate over time. This has started ever since my pump broke down. I was wondering if you guys had any idea what is this and how to treat it. I always keep alk at 9dkh , Calcium at 425ppm, Magnesium at around 1350ppm. First time I've ever dealt with something like this.
I have adequate flow for them now as I have replaced the pump that has broke down. I have them under 8t5's and I'm changing the bulbs currently as they are around 8 months old. I have dipped them in coral rx 2x over a course of a week but didn't change that much. I also have just started dipping them in bifuran today. If it does anything but i'll post the results it turns for the best. Let me know if you guys need any more information. Any help is greatly welcomed ;) Thanks

ESVAreefer · May 8, 2016

I had issues with the same thing. I heard the brown film like stuff was fungus I heard it was film algae. I had more luck dipping it with hydrogen peroxide. It will peel off if it's anywhere near the stuff I had. Also helped me a ton to stabilize alk.

samba_dad · May 8, 2016

How is the flow in the tank around the zoas? I have had some close and die when flow was increased in the tank beyond what they wanted. Lost a beautiful colony of eagle eyes when I added my gyre.

Reef_Collector9 · May 8, 2016

@ESVAreefer I will give H2o2 a try after i try the bifuran dip to see if that makes a difference. I plan on doing it for four days straight to see what will happen and then a week later I will proceed with a H2o2 dip.

@samba_dad the flow around the zoas are somewhat slow-medium I would say. I had them in a 48in frag tank with 2 wp25 jebaos pulse mode with the highest setting, sitting at the opposite side of the tank. So pretty much they would receive the "short end of the stick"

I kinda wonder if it had been my old t5 lights that had a factor.... even though they are 8months old :(

Zero Nitrates · May 8, 2016

How high is the 8 bulb fixture?

Reef_Collector9 · May 8, 2016

@Zero Nitrates around 14-15 inches off the waterline. Then the zoas are probably another 5-6inches below the waterline.

Zero Nitrates · May 8, 2016

If you have access to a PAR meter, I wound check the PAR level. That 8 bulb fixture probably needs to be 30 inches above the water to get the zoas at around 150 PAR. IMO

Reef_Collector9 · May 8, 2016

@Zero Nitrates Ok I will move up the fixture. Have you seen your zoas and palys react like this when they recieve too much PAR?

Zero Nitrates · May 8, 2016

Yes, I had a 8 bulb t5 frag tank about 6 inches off the water. I had to move it up. I was burning up my zoas at 600+PAR. They seem to do better around the 150ish PAR.
A PAR meter will help you out the most because every fixture is different and your combination of T5 bulbs is probably different than other people's.