Weird growth over zoas

[ficertyn]

Hi Everyone,

I have a very small zoa colony that seems to have some weird growth around a few of the polyps. At first, I thought that these ones just weren’t opening up and were irritated by some bubble algae that I’ve since removed.

I got a different angle on them and noticed that they didn’t look like the normal zoa polyps. Any idea what’s going on here, and what I should do, if anything?

Thanks!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Can you circle or draw an arrow to what growths you mean? I don't see anything. Additionally , it will help if you can share the water parameters, type of lighting and flow, and how old is the tank, it will help us to help you if we have all the info we need.

 

[ficertyn]

Sure, here’s what I’m referring to.

The tank is about 10 months old. This frag was added about 4 months ago. Other zoas added at the same time are not exhibiting this. These particular polyps haven’t opened for a while, though it’s been about a month since I noticed and removed the bubble algae.

It’s a 15g nano with the power head (Nero 3) on the same side as this growth, but blowing over the top of it, not directly at it. Lighting is an AI Blade Glow 12”.

Parameters are:
NO3: 21.1
PO4: .26
KH: 6.4
Salinity: 34ppt

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Thanks. I had assumed those were closed up zoa's, but maybe not. Someone should ID it soon, cheers

 

[Chocka]

Anybody know what this is? Almost looks like a starfish is about to exit this one strange looking stalk on my Zoa. When it opens it has a completely different coloration and sticks out further than the rest of the colony.

 

[winzig]

Looks like a nice blue sponge to me

 

[CBonito]

Looks like a nice blue sponge to me

I think so. I have one in my tank too next to one of my m. digitata.
It was originally the bottom side of a rock, but so far it seems to be happy out in the open too.

 

[BonnieB]

First, your alkalinity is very low and that could be contributing to the closing of the polyps. It should be between 8-9dKH ideally. Second, most asterina starfish are reef safe and will eat algae and also dead/decaying tissue (although they can propagate very quickly and become an infestation). However, some are zoanthid eaters. I can’t identify this particular one, so you will need better advice than mine here. If it is staying on the zoas I would be suspicious that something else is going on. All that said, I can see the tentacles in one of them so it doesn’t look like a lost cause yet. I would start with slowly raising your alkalinity, no more than 1dKH at a time. Small water changes will probably will do that for you. Then see if it improves.

 

[Chocka]

Thank you appreciate your reply alk is not the problem as I have a consistent 11 dkh for last 4 months measure weekly. I have seen one of those little stars on my glass about a month ago then it simply disappeared. I have never seen one stalk of a zoa sticking out twice as far as the rest then when the lights come on it opens and the coloration has completely changed from the rest of the colony. Its almost like something is in that stalk and about to erupt like something out of alien.

 

[BryanM]

Sure, here’s what I’m referring to.

The tank is about 10 months old. This frag was added about 4 months ago. Other zoas added at the same time are not exhibiting this. These particular polyps haven’t opened for a while, though it’s been about a month since I noticed and removed the bubble algae.

It’s a 15g nano with the power head (Nero 3) on the same side as this growth, but blowing over the top of it, not directly at it. Lighting is an AI Blade Glow 12”.

Parameters are:
NO3: 21.1
PO4: .26
KH: 6.4
Salinity: 34ppt

Were those polyps before? If not, I think this is likely a sponge. If yes, then they look liked closed up polyps that are on their way out.