Whats up with starter zoas?

[Reef Quest 11]

Been moving these zoas all over my tank. Started them on the sand bed, they seemed to be reaching, moved them up, still reaching, now they are close to the top of the tank.

They never fully opened and this clip, today is actually the most opened up they've ever been.

The two on the back side look incredibly grumpy, the top of the polyp seems to be curling up protectively, but the front side four look the best ive ever seen them.

The zoas on the bottom seem to be opening fully and I picked them up yesterday.

Whole tank is 8 days old and the top zoas have been in since day one.

Any advice on what's going on with these purple zoas on top? I've grown very fond of them and want them to be happy, half seems happy than ever and the other seems more upset than ever.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It looks like zero water movement in the tank, all corals need some water movement it’s very important

 

[John Bolden]

Were they reaching like that when you bought them? I have had some where they were reaching at the LFS and gradually sank back down once they acclimated to my lighting.

 

[jitgobbler]

Been moving these zoas all over my tank. Started them on the sand bed, they seemed to be reaching, moved them up, still reaching, now they are close to the top of the tank.

They never fully opened and this clip, today is actually the most opened up they've ever been.

The two on the back side look incredibly grumpy, the top of the polyp seems to be curling up protectively, but the front side four look the best ive ever seen them.

The zoas on the bottom seem to be opening fully and I picked them up yesterday.

Whole tank is 8 days old and the top zoas have been in since day one.

Any advice on what's going on with these purple zoas on top? I've grown very fond of them and want them to be happy, half seems happy than ever and the other seems more upset than ever.

Your tank probably in the beginning to early nid process of the cycle and parameter swings are upsetting them…they can survive through so don’t worry too much just watch your parameters, what are they right now?

 

[John Bolden]

Your tank probably in the beginning to early nid process of the cycle and parameter swings are upsetting them…they can survive through so don’t worry too much just watch your parameters, what are they right now?

I second this 8 days old your just starting the cycle they can survive but they will struggle. I would live and die by the weekly waterchanges. Good luck!

 

[exnisstech]

Whole tank is 8 days old and the top zoas have been in since day one.

Is this a typo

 

[mfinn]

Whole tank is 8 days old and the top zoas have been in since day one.

8 days?

 

[Reef Quest 11]

Were they reaching like that when you bought them? I have had some where they were reaching at the LFS and gradually sank back down once they acclimated to my lighting.

They were given to me by the LFS when I set up the tank and I never got to see them open.

 

[Reef Quest 11]

I just had the lfs test ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, alkalinity and ph.

Everything was ideal except nitrites were a little high and PH was a little low.

We've added more life rock since then.

Started with a ton of live rock from someone else's tank, live sand, starter bacteria, and filtration media from someone else's tank.

 

[Reef Quest 11]

It looks like zero water movement in the tank, all corals need some water movement it’s very important

There is definitely SOME flow, but zoas dont really seem to ripple like other stuff so its kind of hard to tell how much the zoas are getting themselves.

Any way to test/guidelines to use for how to make sure they are getting the right amount of flow?

 

[John Bolden]

The live rock sand and filter media will jump start or even skip the cycle though the presence of nitrites shows the cycle isnt entirely done they should be 0 and you should be looking for nitrates. I would give them time and aslong as they arnt staying closed or regressing they should acclimate. I go by the rule of thumb to give them 2-3 weeks in a spot before I move them given obviously that they arnt showing that they are dying for whatever reason. For flow you might be able to turn up your pump or you may want to get a power head. Zoas dont need a ton of flow by any stretch but they cant have zero.

 

[Tahoe61]

I just had the lfs test ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, alkalinity and ph.

Everything was ideal except nitrites were a little high and PH was a little low.

We've added more life rock since then.

Started with a ton of live rock from someone else's tank, live sand, starter bacteria, and filtration media from someone else's tank.

Welcome to Reef2Reef.

Remember some fish stores might feel inclined to sell a newer hobbyist live stock too soon, it's pretty common.
The best way to learn the chemistry component of your tank is for you to do the testing.
The way to proceed is to keep posting questions. You will find very knowledgeable people on Reef2Reef.

 

[Reef Quest 11]

Welcome to Reef2Reef.

Remember some fish stores might feel inclined to sell a newer hobbyist live stock too soon, it's pretty common.
The best way to learn the chemistry component of your tank is for you to do the testing.
The way to proceed is to keep posting questions. You will find very knowledgeable people on Reef2Reef.

There is seemingly an infinite amount of knowledge not just about reefs but about every single individual component.

Reef2reef has been a wonderful resource for me so far in terms of advice, guidance, and general promptly responsiveness. I will certainly be sticking around =)

 

[Tahoe61]

There is seemingly an infinite amount of knowledge not just about reefs but about every single individual

Yup, and contradictory at times.

 

[Reef Quest 11]

Yup, and contradictory at times.

Ha. That has been the hardest part so far.

There's a ton of information that is just 180 from something else. And everyone has a way that they do things and swear by it and other people do the exact same thing for an entirely different method.

Parsing through this has been the most difficult thing so far!