Zoas Scrunched - GFO, dkH, Something Else?

[Jers_Reef]

Problem:
~ 2wks now zoas not opening like used to, and appear to be dying. Tops of open ones all scrunched like broccoli. Situation declining.

Hypotheses:

1. lowered phos too fast w/ recent added BRS GAC/GFO reactor
2. Reaction to dkH fluctuation
3. Reef Roids doing something bad?
4. Other chemistry related problem

Hardware:
30g Aquatop AIO
Reefi Uno (dialed back)
Media: bio balls and floss
BRS GFO & carbon mini reactor w/ Sicci 1.5
Coralife protein skimmer (seems pretty worthless)
EXO ATO

Specs:
77F
1.025 (Red Sea CoralPro)
*dkH 8-9, pH 8
*Phos (PO4) per Hannah ULR
Was ~15-20 P (PO4 ~0.050ppm)
Recent < 5 (PO4 ~0.010ppm)
Calcium 440ppm
NO3 2ppm / NO2 undetectable
NH3/NH4 undetectable

History
1yo tank
Lost an acropora and bubblegum digi, decided to install carbon/GFO reactor (sicci 1.5 in the last chamber, dumps back to same). Running ~6wks now. Lowered phos as intended, and with GAC more confident I’m addressing any chems from leathers in the mix. Used to run phos ~20ppb on the Hanna ULV, dropped to 5 a week ago, 3 this week. Too much too fast?

Read dkH 8 or less bad for SPS. Is this why my acro and digi died? Baked soda to make soda ash, been mixing small amounts into DI when filling ATO res. Raised 8 to 10 slowly over a month (overshot), slowly lowered back to 9. Tried to avoid sudden swings, but realized I wasn’t adding soda ash to new mixed saltwater @ 20% changes. Few times 5gal load @ 8 went into tank at 9. Would this kill zoas?

Current status:
Couple small digi frags added about 3 months ago look decent, and seem to be growing. Montipora and gsp going wild. Zoas were multiplying and doing great up to now. Acans also not doing great, but this is likely bc the dang condi nem keeps moving too close and stinging then, or could something picking at them (reef beauty, canary wrasse, red leg hermit frequently seen on them)

Nutrients
- Tropic Marin All-for-Reef dosing 3x daily
- Red Sea AB+ 3X/week
- Reef Roids, started using 2-3 X/week when got the GFO running thinking could handle the extra phos and could help the acans.
- also increased feeding the fish a little after reading multiple threads saying might need more NO2 to feed corals if running GFO and moving into nutrient deficient regime. Bad idea? (alternate days btw krill flakes vs. frozen Hikari Mices and brine, plus some Omega One nori for the reef beauty dwarf and lawnmower blenny)

Pretty new in the reef game! Fun stuff. Let me know if any idea how to save these zoas!

note: Pic from August shows the zoas at top right and bottom left that were growing and multiplying well, also acros before I lost em (and the dead digi I tried moving down to recover before I pulled it).

 

[blaxsun]

Looks like they're reaching. How are your PAR levels?

 

[Jers_Reef]

Looks like they're reaching. How are your PAR levels?

Thanks for quick reply! Interesting. Need to borrow the meter from LFS. Been erring on low side for fear of overdoing it. Think I can increase? Light has been constant, and LFS has about same power seeing on a nano that’s beautiful, advised the power setting I’m currently running. Also, zoas were pretty good before and now not, so thought could rule that out. Would I need more light if more nutrients now with the intro of reef roids?

Here’s my light schedule and peak spectrum:

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

I had something similar happen and it ended up being low iodine. Any chance you could send out an icp? 0.01 is a bit low of phosphates for zoas as well. It could be shock from it dropping so fast.

 

[TokenReefer]

Ever see the angel nip at them?

 

[Jers_Reef]

Ever see the angel nip at them

Yes, and I think it’s the primary reason my acan is tending the wrong direction. I feed nori multiple times a day to discourage that behavior. But I’ve always “broken the rules” with keeping dwarf angels in my nano - they’re just too beautiful to not at least try. I could see nipping here and there killing a few zoa flowers, but not two whole colonies. Right? Or am I missing something?

 

[Jers_Reef]

I had something similar happen and it ended up being low iodine. Any chance you could send out an icp? 0.01 is a bit low of phosphates for zoas as well. It could be shock from it dropping so fast.

Not opposed to sending out for water analysis. Anyone have a suggested reef specialist lab for ICP? I’m in Portland, OR.

I removed the gfo from the mini reactor and replaced the volume with fresh carbon yesterday. Did another 20% water change today. Zoas still look terrible.

Iodine, eh? I have Seachem iodine coral dip for when I add new frags. Guessing I can’t add a dilute shot of that to supplement my way out of this as a quick fix!? Y’all testing iodine on a regular basis? About to buy a Hanna Mg meter. Grab iodine too, or prefer cheap liquid titration color matching kit for iodine?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Problem:
~ 2wks now zoas not opening like used to, and appear to be dying. Tops of open ones all scrunched like broccoli. Situation declining.

Hypotheses:

1. lowered phos too fast w/ recent added BRS GAC/GFO reactor
2. Reaction to dkH fluctuation
3. Reef Roids doing something bad?
4. Other chemistry related problem

Hardware:
30g Aquatop AIO
Reefi Uno (dialed back)
Media: bio balls and floss
BRS GFO & carbon mini reactor w/ Sicci 1.5
Coralife protein skimmer (seems pretty worthless)
EXO ATO

Specs:
77F
1.025 (Red Sea CoralPro)
*dkH 8-9, pH 8
*Phos (PO4) per Hannah ULR
Was ~15-20 P (PO4 ~0.050ppm)
Recent < 5 (PO4 ~0.010ppm)
Calcium 440ppm
NO3 2ppm / NO2 undetectable
NH3/NH4 undetectable

History
1yo tank
Lost an acropora and bubblegum digi, decided to install carbon/GFO reactor (sicci 1.5 in the last chamber, dumps back to same). Running ~6wks now. Lowered phos as intended, and with GAC more confident I’m addressing any chems from leathers in the mix. Used to run phos ~20ppb on the Hanna ULV, dropped to 5 a week ago, 3 this week. Too much too fast?

Read dkH 8 or less bad for SPS. Is this why my acro and digi died? Baked soda to make soda ash, been mixing small amounts into DI when filling ATO res. Raised 8 to 10 slowly over a month (overshot), slowly lowered back to 9. Tried to avoid sudden swings, but realized I wasn’t adding soda ash to new mixed saltwater @ 20% changes. Few times 5gal load @ 8 went into tank at 9. Would this kill zoas?

Current status:
Couple small digi frags added about 3 months ago look decent, and seem to be growing. Montipora and gsp going wild. Zoas were multiplying and doing great up to now. Acans also not doing great, but this is likely bc the dang condi nem keeps moving too close and stinging then, or could something picking at them (reef beauty, canary wrasse, red leg hermit frequently seen on them)

Nutrients
- Tropic Marin All-for-Reef dosing 3x daily
- Red Sea AB+ 3X/week
- Reef Roids, started using 2-3 X/week when got the GFO running thinking could handle the extra phos and could help the acans.
- also increased feeding the fish a little after reading multiple threads saying might need more NO2 to feed corals if running GFO and moving into nutrient deficient regime. Bad idea? (alternate days btw krill flakes vs. frozen Hikari Mices and brine, plus some Omega One nori for the reef beauty dwarf and lawnmower blenny)

Pretty new in the reef game! Fun stuff. Let me know if any idea how to save these zoas!

note: Pic from August shows the zoas at top right and bottom left that were growing and multiplying well, also acros before I lost em (and the dead digi I tried moving down to recover before I pulled it).

Insufficient light, fast drop on po4, rather than roids feed them brine or mysis shrimp and pull back a little on RS A/B which they cant absorb too quickly. Assure moderate flow and that Nitrate not elevated

 

[TokenReefer]

Yes, and I think it’s the primary reason my acan is tending the wrong direction. I feed nori multiple times a day to discourage that behavior. But I’ve always “broken the rules” with keeping dwarf angels in my nano - they’re just too beautiful to not at least try. I could see nipping here and there killing a few zoa flowers, but not two whole colonies. Right? Or am I missing something?

Took a guess because nothing jumped out at me (not an expert tho) and I've heard others say and read that they had colonies close up due to nipping and open back up when said nipper was removed... And since zoas seem pretty hardy ime and you've got other corals doing great (from the pics)...took a shot. This doesn't speak to your other losses per say just the zoas being closed and nothing else.. I'll follow to learn here

 

[829282610]

My first guess would be the GFO stripping the water and causing it. My two cents, especially if it was the most recent change. My zoa/palys have done the same. Good luck.

 

[Jers_Reef]

Insufficient light, fast drop on po4, rather than roids feed them brine or mysis shrimp and pull back a little on RS A/B which they cant absorb too quickly. Assure moderate flow and that Nitrate not elevated

Is 2ppm NO3 any reason for concern?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is 2ppm NO3 any reason for concern?

No- above 15 is when you start to watch