Why Can't I Keep Zoas?

[Reefer37]

I just want to know the secret. I've had my tank running a year now and I can successfully keep most everything I've tried except zoas and acans. I'm not sure what it is with my zoas but getting them to grow is like pulling teeth. I'll be lucky to get a new polyp every month or so. It's been really irritating and at this point I don't know what to do. And now I suspect there might be something irritating them because I'll see part of a skirt missing from a few polyps here and there. Not sure what is causing that, but I have a suspicion of it being my emerald crab due to other people's stories on them. Though I've never caught him messing with coral, it's the only thing in my tank I can think of that would mess with these two.

Here's my tank parameters:
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 15
Calcium: 440
Alk: 8.8
Mag: 1290
Phosphate: .006

Any tips?

I feed daily, use Red Sea A+B about twice a week, Algae Barn Oceanmagik about every other day, and feed Rods to all fish and corals about every 3 days.

 

[BlennyTime]

Do you have any little white starfish in your tank? Some species of those will go after zoas.

 

[Reefer37]

Do you have any little white starfish in your tank? Some species of those will go after zoas.

Haven't seen asterina in a while, when I see them I take them out, but haven't seen any in months.

 

[LesPoissons]

What fish do you have? My tangs eat any and all zoas and my angels eat any acans.

 

[Reefer37]

What fish do you have? My tangs eat any and all zoas and my angels eat any acans.

Two clowns and a bicolor blenny, never seen any behavior like that with them.

 

[NeSsyAqua]

What is your light? and what percent do u run it?

 

[Reefer37]

What is your light? and what percent do u run it?

Hydra 52 at about 20%

 

[Roosterjack]

I had a tiger cowrie that devastated my zoas...

 

[un5tab1e]

Don't feel bad. That's one thing I can keep alive but, can never get growth from.

 

[Reefer37]

I had a tiger cowrie that devastated my zoas...

Nothing like that in the tank. Inverts are just some red legged hermits, various snails, an emerald crab, and a conch.

 

[Roosterjack]

Nothing like that in the tank. Inverts are just some red legged hermits, various snails, an emerald crab, and a conch.

Do the zoa’s vanish or fade slowly?

 

[NeSsyAqua]

Where do u place them? I find that Zoas don't really like too much flow. and your hydra only at 20%, how big is ur tank?

 

[Reefer37]

Do the zoa’s vanish or fade slowly?

You can kinda see what I'm talking about with my rastas. Some have their skirt torn like that.

 

[Reefer37]

Where do u place them? I find that Zoas don't really like too much flow. and your hydra only at 20%, how big is ur tank?

It's a 45g cube. You can see them on the bottom right on an island.

 

[NeSsyAqua]

see them stretching, they are reaching for the light.

 

[NeSsyAqua]

try putting them in more light or up ur percentage on ur lighting

 

[Johniejumbo]

I agree with them possibly wanting more light.

 

[Reefer37]

try putting them in more light or up ur percentage on ur lighting

I agree with them possibly wanting more light.

Cool, I'll increase it up like 10% and go from there. Thanks y'all!