Zoas open but not the edge

[Philly Reefer]

Hello All,

It's been couple weeks for my zoas to do this.

The 3 I am having concerns are the Sunny D, Rainbow, and Fire&Ice.

The funny thing about the fire&ice. I have a frag of it and its open up fully.

My other zoas are looking fine.
(The eagle eye on the bottom left closed up cause of a hermit crab bothered them)

Water parameters:

• Salinity: 35.3(apex) checked with a calibrated refractometer
• Temp: 78.1F
• pH: 7.98 to 8.1
• Alk: 8 (hanna) dosing manually with soda ash
• Phosphate: 0.02(Hanna)
• Nitrate: 3(Nyos)

Lights are 2 AI Primes 16HD using David Saxby template. Not too bright
Flow are 2 MP10s on 50% max

I am battling GHA and bryopsis. On the 2nd week of reefflux treatment at this time. I am going to aim for below 0.1 Phosphate and 10 nitrate.

But the zoas have been in the tank since Sept.
At one point, they all opened up normally.

This has been 3 weeks or so that they are doing this opening.

Any ideas?

 

[tnewell]

They look a little ticked, you need to reduce that ammonia a tad bit. I don’t see any algae on the plugs so that leads me to think it’s your water params.

 

[Philly Reefer]

They look a little ticked, you need to reduce that ammonia a tad bit. I don’t see any algae on the plugs so that leads me to think it’s your water params.

Hey. Sorry. I don't understand. I don't have ammonia in the tank. The tank has been up for around 5-6mths.

 

[moz71]

Following as well as mine are doing the same thing. I was attributing to a little Dino’s I still have in my tank. I see tiny strings attaching and bothering them a little. I take a turkey blaster to blow them off and seems to help but still do close at edges maybe it’s something else

 

[tnewell]

Following as well as mine are doing the same thing. I was attributing to a little Dino’s I still have in my tank. I see tiny strings attaching and bothering them a little. I take a turkey blaster to blow them off and seems to help but still do close at edges maybe it’s something else

I must have misread your post, my bad, your params look fine, my zoas do that sometimes for absolutely no reason, it’s weird but by the next day they are usually open again

 

[Philly Reefer]

I must have misread your post, my bad, your params look fine, my zoas do that sometimes for absolutely no reason, it’s weird but by the next day they are usually open again

All good.
I think it need more nitrate and phosphate.

Btw I dont have any refugium and the filter socks has not been replaced for 2 weeks. Its so frickin dirty.. but somehow I cant get more nitrate and phosphate..

 

[terraincognita]

Try increasing the "dirtiness" just a little.

Also they are definitely stretching, but hard to say if it's for light or just cuz...

Where the stalks always so extended?

 

[Philly Reefer]

Try increasing the "dirtiness" just a little.

Also they are definitely stretching, but hard to say if it's for light or just cuz...

Where the stalks always so extended?

The 1st two were always long like that. Hence I place them in middle of my scape. Granted it still in the bottom part of the rock. I thought they need more light

The fire&ice didn't start that way. But it is stretching. So I just move them on this one. But.. the frag is doing fine. LoL

 

[terraincognita]

The 1st two were always long like that. Hence I place them in middle of my scape. Granted it still in the bottom part of the rock. I thought they need more light

The fire&ice didn't start that way. But it is stretching. So I just move them on this one. But.. the frag is doing fine. LoL

is the frag farther from the light?

Same exact Zoa?
If you have other zoas on a frag rack in the same exact tank in lower lighting not doing what those ones are doing I suggest to turkey baste your rock work then maybe?

thays weird.

maybe rocks are leaching slightly and it’s not effecting the zoas not near them.
Idk

 

[Philly Reefer]

So the 2 on the front right are the sunny d and rainbow.
The zoa garden rock(middle of this pic) is where the fire and ice is.

The fire and ice looked closed from this angle.

On the top left of the pic. Thats my frag rack where the fire and ice frag is currently open wide. And yes it's from the same frag. I cut it because 1 head was dangling freely. I just had to cut the body and glue it on the new plug.

PS: the rest of the zoas that are growing and fully open.
Blondie
Eagle Eye
Red Hornet
Purple Heart
Green Goblin
And... the biggest one of all.. Purple Death. (Top middle)

 

[Philly Reefer]

They are kinda directly under the light

 

[tnewell]

To raise my nitrates i over feed reef roids, usually does the trick

 

[terraincognita]

They are kinda directly under the light

Do you keep moving them around?

If you recently put them in that spot and they recently started behaving this way it could also just be them trying to adjust to the light.

I'd suggest trying to find a spot for them and just let them be for a bit.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Do you keep moving them around?

If you recently put them in that spot and they recently started behaving this way it could also just be them trying to adjust to the light.

I'd suggest trying to find a spot for them and just let them be for a bit.

Well.. the last move was 2 weeks ago. I thought it need more light. It was in the sands prior to that. But nope. Same results.

 

[terraincognita]

Well.. the last move was 2 weeks ago. I thought it need more light. It was in the sands prior to that. But nope. Same results.

A lot of motion for an animal that's entire goal is to root and foot itself into a colony.

Kidding, It's really not that much motion, but just let them be for a few more weeks, my instinct says they'll open up once properly settled and comfortable.

Let them adjust a little longer.