Zoas disappearing

[Nate Chalk]

Hey all,
Posting my saga of the disappearing zoas....
And maybe we can put together a potential culprit or solution as a hive mind.

Fish:
Fox face
Orange shoulder tang
Blue Hippo tang
Purple tang
Tomini tang
Red coris
Clown
Flame angel (had for awhile)
Chromis
Anthias

Time line: my pretty zoa rock covered Jan 1-May 1 (top down shot)

May 1 discovered zoas slowly melting/disappearing/leaving

May 10 dipped coral rx grow out discs no real change

May 15 discovered flat worms on zoas and asternia stars

May 28 Treated flat worms and removed some starfish

May 30 no real real change. Discovered amphipods hosting zoas heavily. Suspicious. Decided to dip the entire rock.


Many opinions so far that pods are safe, stars are safe , the flat worms were photosynthetic. And many opinions they aren't safe.

Just seeing if anyone has other ideas. Now certainly could just need time to heal back.

Tank is stable enough for acros , and running 10+ nitrate and 0.1 phosphate.



Full system is 250 gallons , the rock grew over the past year.

Hopefully that's enough ! For now.

 

[Bo2022]

I doubt the asterina starfish are zoa safe, heard a few fellow said it will eat zoa.

 

[Nate Chalk]

I doubt the asterina starfish are zoa safe, heard a few fellow said it will eat zoa.

Right. I've heard it both ways now.

 

[SchrutesReefs]

Sad to see that, such a pretty zoa rock. I wonder if the stars bothered them enough to make their finicky bums melt. I don’t trust anything in my tank that I didn’t personally add.

 

[Nate Chalk]

Sad to see that, such a pretty zoa rock. I wonder if the stars bothered them enough to make their finicky bums melt. I don’t trust anything in my tank that I didn’t personally add.

Possibly. Yeah it'll grow back if I can find the cause :)

 

[littlefoxx]

Foxface nipping at it maybe? I have one thats a little crap and eats polyp corals.

 

[Nate Chalk]

Foxface nipping at it maybe? I have one thats a little crap and eats polyp corals.

Might be? Ive read that same for flame angel. but i have never seen them do it. 1 suggestion was setting up a camera.

Both have been in there for awhile prior, so it would be a new behavior.