Zoas not opening

[bokhesh]

Hey reefers,
I recently added a zoa and hammer to my 30g tank 2 days ago but my zoa keeps opening a few polyps then closes, hammer looks good. Im currently running the saxby preset, I think at 75-80% intensity, im not sure how to tell, I haven’t adjusted it kept the preset as is. Light is 10” from water surface. The tank is used but I had it running for 5months. Using same substrate from previous owner who had it for 2 years. My parameters are all good however my phosphate is 0.25.
Should I increase my intensity or does it need a few days to adjust. Also im not sure if its getting too much flow. I have 2 powerheads on each side, the tank is 36”w. The red circle is the zoa and blue is the hammer, are they too close to the powerheads?? Also my return nozzle broke i ordered new ones.

 

[bokhesh]

I just noticed these little tenticle thingies on it could be a hitchiker however I did dip them. Should I redip it and use a turkey baster to push it off would that be safe? Its sticking out more now looks like a little starfish. These are best photos I could take .

 

[GSPClown94]

The tentacles between the zoa polyps looks like aiptasia, also to the right of that it looks like a vermetid snail, both of which will irritate the zoas. I’ve found dips to be pretty ineffective for both of these hitchhikers. You can try manual removal first, there are also plenty of other removal/treatment options out there you can explore.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Indeed looks like aiptasia. But just to confirm give it a poke. If they retract quickly. Its confirmed.

This can irritate those pylops and eventually kill them. Though zoas are pretty hardy even against aiptasia.

Dipping will not kill it. You can try aiptasia x. Its a hit or miss personally.

 

[bokhesh]

Indeed looks like aiptasia. But just to confirm give it a poke. If they retract quickly. Its confirmed.

This can irritate those pylops and eventually kill them. Though zoas are pretty hardy even against aiptasia.

Dipping will not kill it. You can try aiptasia x. Its a hit or miss personally.

Okay thank you guys si much, its does retract when I poke it so I will buy the aiptasia x
Thank you :)