Why do my zoas look like this ?

[shadow_k]

Hey guys
My zoa frag has not been opening for a while but the stalk is extended , any idea on why ?

20 gallon high tank

salinity 1.025
Phosphates: .05
Alk: 10
Temp is 78°
Calcium:460
Nitrates: 0

I use instant ocean (reef crystals)
I have 1 AI prime HD light
1 jaebo 0W 10
Here is a pic of the zoas

 

[shadow_k]

And here is my AI prime settings

 

[ATAquariums]

Looks like they are stretching for light.

 

[Born2beblack]

Watch bulk reefers video on the ai prime. They helped me set mine up and ive never had a zoa stretch yet lol

Mounting height could be it

 

[shadow_k]

Watch bulk reefers video on the ai prime. They helped me set mine up and ive never had a zoa stretch yet lol

Mounting height could be it

I loved that video from BRS bout the AI prime the settings I have are the settings they recommended for a 25 gallon tank at 10” mounting height

 

[shadow_k]

Looks like they are stretching for light.

But would that keep the polyps from opening ?

 

[ATAquariums]

But would that keep the polyps from opening ?

Yes

 

[Born2beblack]

But would that keep the polyps from opening ?

Sadly you may need to cranck it more
They def want more light
But easy fix and dont just cranck it lol even thou i said to do it, 9d slowly add more and see what happend. Worst to have another coral go down hill due to the change

 

[danschoenherr]

New tank? Zoas are going to need some nitrates also and you are showing zero. You are going to have to get those up and in balance with your phosphates. Thats the so called "dirty water" that everyoner says that zoas like......just can't let it get too dirty then you have other issues like algae. Don't let them bottom out to zero either or there are other problems like dinos that may show up. Just a balancing act that you need to watch early in a tanks growth.My tank took over a year before zoas were happy.

 

[shadow_k]

New tank? Zoas are going to need some nitrates also and you are showing zero. You are going to have to get those up and in balance with your phosphates. Thats the so called "dirty water" that everyoner says that zoas like......just can't let it get too dirty then you have other issues like algae. Don't let them bottom out to zero either or there are other problems like dinos that may show up. Just a balancing act that you need to watch early in a tanks growth.My tank took over a year before zoas were happy.

And they say zoas are easy lol , how do I raise nitrates safety? Rn I have 2 clowns in the tank they have been in there for 5 days. I’m thinking of just waiting and testing

 

[PicassoClown04]

Hi! Let’s sort some stuff out!

these zoas are definitely stretching for light. BRS is a good source for learning but each tank is still different. I have 2 AI Prime HDs over my 20 gallon long using these settings. The lights are mounted one water bottle height from the water’s surface. Please use the acclimation feature built into AI primes to avoid light shock and bleaching

people are right, you need some nutrients in the water. The easiest way it to feed more. Since you don’t have a lot of fish, I would recommend feeding your normal amount twice a day so no food goes to waste. It won’t be an overnight fix but it will naturally be increased so nothing gets shocked.

 

[danschoenherr]

Feeding and fish poop are going to be your main sources, but overfeeding is going to result in algae issues if not kept under control. If it is a newer tank as I suspect by the looks of the rocks, the safest way is to slowly let it mature. These small tanks have limited ways of nutient control. I have an IM20 Dropoff tank that I just put water in 2 weeks ago and will have 2 clowns in it also, but am unsure how soon I will be adding corals due to the same reason.

 

[shadow_k]

Hi! Let’s sort some stuff out!

these zoas are definitely stretching for light. BRS is a good source for learning but each tank is still different. I have 2 AI Prime HDs over my 20 gallon long using these settings. The lights are mounted one water bottle height from the water’s surface. Please use the acclimation feature built into AI primes to avoid light shock and bleaching

people are right, you need some nutrients in the water. The easiest way it to feed more. Since you don’t have a lot of fish, I would recommend feeding your normal amount twice a day so no food goes to waste. It won’t be an overnight fix but it will naturally be increased so nothing gets shocked.

Thank you for sharing your settings ! Why so high on the red ? I’ve read that the red cause algae ? I have my light 10 inches off the waters surface

 

[shadow_k]

Feeding and fish poop are going to be your main sources, but overfeeding is going to result in algae issues if not kept under control. If it is a newer tank as I suspect by the looks of the rocks, the safest way is to slowly let it mature. These small tanks have limited ways of nutient control. I have an IM20 Dropoff tank that I just put water in 2 weeks ago and will have 2 clowns in it also, but am unsure how soon I will be adding corals due to the same reason.

Yes the tanks but up for 2 months I got the zoa frag , and ricordea mushroom as well , mushrooms doing great

 

[PicassoClown04]

Thank you for sharing your settings ! Why so high on the red ? I’ve read that the red cause algae ? I have my light 10 inches off the waters surface

The red does cause algae! I meant to explain that, I have a lot of mangrove propagules in my DT that I’m trying get leaves on for a mangrove lagoon tank

 

[shadow_k]

The red does cause algae! I meant to explain that, I have a lot of mangrove propagules in my DT that I’m trying get leaves on for a mangrove lagoon tank

This tank is gorgeous I can’t wait for my tank to mature to look as beautiful as this.
So I’ll raise my lights up but use the acclimation mode at 70% to increase over the next 2 weeks

 

[shadow_k]

The red does cause algae! I meant to explain that, I have a lot of mangrove propagules in my DT that I’m trying get leaves on for a mangrove lagoon tank

This tank is gorgeous I can’t wait for my tank to mature to look as beautiful as this.
So I’ll raise my lights up but use the acclimated

 

[PicassoClown04]

This tank is gorgeous I can’t wait for my tank to mature to look as beautiful as this.
So I’ll raise my lights up but use the acclimation mode at 70% to increase over the next 2 weeks

Thanks! It’s a year old today!!

 

[shadow_k]

Thanks! It’s a year old today!!

Do you dose your tank at all ?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Do you dose your tank at all ?

I do! This is the only thing, just a capful whenever it needs it