Can't seem to keep Zoas

steve1981 · 05/11/2017, 10:33 PM

I've had several colonies (shop bought) of zoas and have never really been able to keep them successfully thriving. I always get just a small percentage open up whilst the others remain closed.

No matter if the water has perfect parameters or a little 'dirty' they stay the same.

I have just bought a new colony and the same is happening with them. I had tried middle placement and high both with medium water flow. The ones that open seem to open fully, but most remain closed.

Any advice??
Thanks.

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steve1981 · 05/11/2017, 10:34 PM

Sorry, that is wrong picture... here it is...

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AlSimmons · 05/12/2017, 12:24 PM

Have you checked them for pests yet? (Nudibranchs, Sea Spiders, Sundial snails, Asterina stars) Having any one of these will sometimes cause the polyps to stay closed for long periods of time. You might want to look into freshwater dips or perhaps chemicals like Coral Rx, Revive etc.

steve1981 · 05/12/2017, 12:25 PM

I'll give that dipping a go. However they were open perfectly fine in the shop.

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exsequor · 05/27/2017, 05:37 PM

Flow? Zoas is a coral I have no problems with, maybe I can help. Are you burning them with your lights when introducing? I don't do dips (want to start soon), but I'd do that, too.

steve1981 · 05/27/2017, 05:38 PM

I actually moved them higher so they were closer to the lights and now they seem perfect. I made my own LED lighting and haven't fitted the lenses yet so not as powerful as they should be. I'll have to remember to lower them once done.

Thanks though. And I'm gonna start dipping too. Just got to find the right product.

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wcu · 05/28/2017, 10:23 AM

I've got lots of zoa colonies, and most are no trouble at all. However, I did just get a new frag a few weeks ago that I had to move all over the tank before they would open up. Perhaps you've just had a bit of bad luck.

steve1981 · 05/28/2017, 12:47 PM

Hopefully so. Will have to get a few more and see how they go.

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boombox3 · 05/28/2017, 10:26 PM

There was a time i never siphoned my sand and i had no invertebrates shifting the sand which led to my corals closing up. Once i changed the sand the immediately opened.... consider your sand a possible culprit

05/11/2017, 10:33 PM	#1
steve1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 355	Can't seem to keep Zoas I've had several colonies (shop bought) of zoas and have never really been able to keep them successfully thriving. I always get just a small percentage open up whilst the others remain closed. No matter if the water has perfect parameters or a little 'dirty' they stay the same. I have just bought a new colony and the same is happening with them. I had tried middle placement and high both with medium water flow. The ones that open seem to open fully, but most remain closed. Any advice?? Thanks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/11/2017, 10:34 PM	#2
steve1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 355	Sorry, that is wrong picture... here it is... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/12/2017, 12:24 PM	#3
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Have you checked them for pests yet? (Nudibranchs, Sea Spiders, Sundial snails, Asterina stars) Having any one of these will sometimes cause the polyps to stay closed for long periods of time. You might want to look into freshwater dips or perhaps chemicals like Coral Rx, Revive etc.

05/12/2017, 12:25 PM	#4
steve1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 355	I'll give that dipping a go. However they were open perfectly fine in the shop. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/27/2017, 05:37 PM	#5
exsequor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 224	Flow? Zoas is a coral I have no problems with, maybe I can help. Are you burning them with your lights when introducing? I don't do dips (want to start soon), but I'd do that, too.

05/27/2017, 05:38 PM	#6
steve1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 355	I actually moved them higher so they were closer to the lights and now they seem perfect. I made my own LED lighting and haven't fitted the lenses yet so not as powerful as they should be. I'll have to remember to lower them once done. Thanks though. And I'm gonna start dipping too. Just got to find the right product. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/28/2017, 10:23 AM	#7
wcu Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 55	I've got lots of zoa colonies, and most are no trouble at all. However, I did just get a new frag a few weeks ago that I had to move all over the tank before they would open up. Perhaps you've just had a bit of bad luck.

05/28/2017, 12:47 PM	#8
steve1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 355	Hopefully so. Will have to get a few more and see how they go. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/28/2017, 10:26 PM	#9
boombox3 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 170	There was a time i never siphoned my sand and i had no invertebrates shifting the sand which led to my corals closing up. Once i changed the sand the immediately opened.... consider your sand a possible culprit