Yes, another zoa issue

rhythmicfire · #1 12/07/2007, 09:24 PM

For some reason my zoas aren't opening or opening all the way. It all started about a week and a half ago when I used some marineland epoxy in my tank...only my radioactive dragon eyes are opening. All of my water parameters are in check, and I haven't moved anything.
Ideas?

Paradox009 · #2 12/07/2007, 09:41 PM

Have you changed lighting? Its probably not related to the epoxy. Id do a water change and see how they react after that.

Cozen89 · #3 12/07/2007, 09:48 PM

Something I did that worked was Iodine dip and put them in some higher flow for a bit. Check to see if they have fungus growing on them as well. Post a pic if you can. It might help figure out the problem.

Another thing is sometimes zoos just don't open for the heck of it. But as a precaution you can dip.

Kinetic · #4 12/07/2007, 09:56 PM

if you want to take very preventative measures, find a LFS or petstore with Furan-2. It's a kind of antibiotic I think. Dip your zoanthids in that, and maybe iodine dip like TMPCC as well.

A lot of zoanthid stuff like zoapox can be killed off with furan-2 etc.

I've recently had a few of my zoas totally melt mysteriously too =(

rhythmicfire · #5 12/08/2007, 12:25 AM

There are no obvious physical symptoms.
Last week I did a 20% water change, and this week I did a 10% water change, so there shouldn't be anything wrong with the water (I hope

)
How long should I dip them in Iodine/Furan-2?
Is regular KENT Iodine okay?

tuberider · #6 12/08/2007, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rhythmicfire
There are no obvious physical symptoms.
Last week I did a 20% water change, and this week I did a 10% water change, so there shouldn't be anything wrong with the water (I hope )
How long should I dip them in Iodine/Furan-2?
Is regular KENT Iodine okay?

Check the BAR website for Norman's (Mr. Ugly) post about Providine/Iodine, tons of info there.

Mr. Ugly · #7 12/08/2007, 04:16 AM

I'd double check salinity. Are you using a refractometer?

Zoas can close up if s.g. is too high. Even if it's 1.026, I'd drop it to 1.024-1.025.

Mr. Ugly · #8 12/08/2007, 04:19 AM

Check for predators:

nudibranchs
zoa spiders
asterinas - the red/blue speckled ones

Also zoapox and foraminiferans.

Got pics of the zoas?

delsol650 · #9 12/08/2007, 08:48 AM

ANT, if you want Furan2 I go tons of em'. But before going there, Do check your salinity/pH as these do greatly afftect zoo's.. ( in my case ). plus check for irritants like , vermatid snails, ampipods, algae/fungus. Best case is do the lugols in FW dip as mentioned in the clubzoa website. But if you really need furan, I can give you a couple of capsuls.

rhythmicfire · #10 12/08/2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Ugly
Check for predators:

nudibranchs
zoa spiders
asterinas - the red/blue speckled ones

Also zoapox and foraminiferans.

Got pics of the zoas?

I will try and get some pictures up tonight, however the picture would just look like closed up zoanthids =)

I will do a check on the salinity, and the pH as soon as I get home from work this afternoon.

I've looked for predators and irritants such as nudibranchs, zoa spiders, and asterinas...none that I have seen from all my night time scouts. Definitely no zoapox.

rhythmicfire · #11 12/08/2007, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by delsol650
ANT, if you want Furan2 I go tons of em'. But before going there, Do check your salinity/pH as these do greatly afftect zoo's.. ( in my case ). plus check for irritants like , vermatid snails, ampipods, algae/fungus. Best case is do the lugols in FW dip as mentioned in the clubzoa website. But if you really need furan, I can give you a couple of capsuls.

Thanks for your offer Charles, but I think it would be best if I got my own, as it will be a good thing to have in my supply. No vermatid snails, amphipods that I have seen. I'll keep you posted guys.

Thanks for all the help so far
Don't know what I'd do without ya'll

delsol650 · #12 12/08/2007, 11:21 AM

I just lost a hand full of colonies to stupid ampipods chomping on them. Now they're going after a 2 polyp true RPE after they just took down a decent sized frag of PRE ( other style )

rhythmicfire · #13 12/08/2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by delsol650
I just lost a hand full of colonies to stupid ampipods chomping on them. Now they're going after a 2 polyp true RPE after they just took down a decent sized frag of PRE ( other style )

I'm sorry to hear about your loss with the RPE's and PRE's Charles. I know you've never had any amphipods that behaved and left your zoas aline

Maybe you can put them on eggcrate to elevate them?
The past week or so I have been looking at my tank at various points in the night to see anything was bothering them, and so far I haven't seen anything.
My pH checks out fine.
I know most, if not all of you, are advocates of utilizing a refractometer to monitor salinity. With good reason as well - and I plan to join you all as soon as I find a good one for a good price (recommendations?

)
But for the time being I am using a hydrometer and it reads 1.026 on the dot. I realize this reading may be untrue, however it has never really been a problem before. Anyhow. Over the course of the next couple days I will slowly drop the salinity in my tank to around 1.023-1.024 to see if the zoas decide to open up. I think I will hold off on dipping them in Iodine and see if the salinity may be a problem.

I will definitely keep you all posted. Thanks!

rhythmicfire · #14 12/08/2007, 08:27 PM

Just wanted to let you all know that I think salinity may have been the problem. I lowered my salinity from 1.026 to 1.025, and so far many of the zoas have opened up. Some are still a little closed, but hey, at least they're opening! I am going to go ahead and lower the salinity again to 1.024 and see if that brings any better results.