Fosters Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Ok so im really working on getting my zoanthids to grow and to stay alive. I have a 180 gallon tank 3 10,000 k Metal lights just replaced them. I change at least 25 gallons of water every 3 Wks. My tank reads Alk 9.0 Ph 8.2 Salt 1.022 Temp 75. I have other soft corals in there that do great. Zoa"s look good for a week then die. I brought some more two days ago i have them placed at the bottem. Can you help a brother out(scratch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Have you thought about nudi's? You might have some zoa eating nudis or a reoccuring zoopox infestation.... What size MH are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhowe Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 That's really weird. How deep is the tank? And how high are the nitrates? Maybe move them higher up in the tank. I keep mine about mid level in a 75 gal tank and they do fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyInside Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I have 2 400W 20k radiums and zoo's grow like crazy where ever i place them, i'm thinking mick is on the right path. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I have 2 400W 20k radiums and zoo's grow like crazy where ever i place them' date=' [b']i'm thinking mick is on the right path[/b]. man dont let him read that-nudis will cause them to close up not whither and die- I see this is your first post. Give some history on your tank specificlly how old, other params, NO3.....etc Isn't SG at 1.022 sort of low? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosters Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 i'm using M.H, X.M 250 w, From the bootom of my light to the bottom of my tank is 24". I will try moving them up to middle of the tank and see if they open up. Should i be adding anything type of additives to help them out? Thx to all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 You could try dipping all of your corals, not just your zoos, in Coral RX or Revive or whatever it's called, it has helped me in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosters Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 I have had my tank for about 4yrs now. 55 gal wet/dry pump turning water over about 8x an hour. Just always had fish. Shrooms, Rose tip Had for at least 3 yrs its huge, Hammer H. size of a dinner plate. 1.022 is low im slowly bringing it back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 You do need a LOT more flow dude....I'm running 25+x turnover and I'm not satisfied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I use strontium for my tank feedings. Actually just started that within the past month or so and the zoas love it. Salinity is a bit low but it looks like Brad has already mentioned that one. Also what type of flow do you have for powerheads? http://www.kentmarine.com/products/kent-strontium-molybdenum.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 The salinity honestly shouldn't matter that much. Zoas unlike sps aren't that senstive to salinity changes. What kind of fish do you have in the tank? They could be eating them. Zoas don't have the sting of some of the softies. I would be suspicious that something is attacking them as your water parameters look fine and the other softies are doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchell Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 You do need a LOT more flow dude. Not really. I have 18x in my 55 gallon sps tank and everything does fine. I have seen a bunch of bio cubes do just fine with just the return pump and that's no more than 10x. Soft coral doesn't need a bunch of flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Mitchell, it may work for you, but obviously, something is going wrong with his tank. It is recommended that you keep flow 20x+, I know multiple people, who's tanks I've personally seen, who approach 100x turnover and they have some of the most stunning tanks you'll ever see. 8x flow is NOT enough IMHO, you need at least 2 powerheads on that tank, if not more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchell Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 The salinity honestly shouldn't matter that much. Zoas unlike sps aren't that senstive to salinity changes. What kind of fish do you have in the tank? They could be eating them. Zoas don't have the sting of some of the softies. I would be suspicious that something is attacking them as your water parameters look fine and the other softies are doing well. That's a great thought about fish eating the zoas, that could be the problem. I have seen fish that do fine with other corals, but they eat zoas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 That's a great thought about fish eating the zoas' date=' that could be the problem. I have seen fish that do fine with other corals, but they eat zoas.[/quote'] Yeah I had zoas that did great in my biocube and there was not a lot of flow in there. I was thinking this because I had an aggressive tank and I had an angel she would not touch the torch ,hammer coral or xenia and definitely left the tube anemone alone but would definitely snack on the ugly brown palys that were in there. Not that I cared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 where are your calcium and magnesium levels, do you dose any trace elements, iodine, potassion. also check your phosphate levels. Is the death slow or overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gradth Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 So many suggestions. Ill give you one as well. I too have a 180 with 3 MH's. I ran 10ks as well when the tank was still new. My zoas didnt grow much at all. I switched over to 14k's and all my zoas that never grew blew up. Not that that is the answer but it might be something that simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 That's another thing that Josh hit on the head, swap up your lights, if you're running 250w MH get some Phoenix 14k bulbs and see how your zoos like them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellowithgills Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Maybe this is nothing but you say that this tank used to be fish only? Did you ever treat the tank for anything (Ich, ect.) with a copper based medication? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugenereef Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 As people above said... The Salanity should be 1.026 and temp should be around 80. And just cross check you hygrometer with refractometer. Another parameter to check in nitrite and nitrate! I have had the same issue but now it is resolved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bicyclebill Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I agree on the Strontium/Molybdenum and I also use Iodine. My zoos are growing like crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 As people above said... The Salanity should be 1.026 and temp should be around 80. And just cross check you hygrometer with refractometer. Another parameter to check in nitrite and nitrate! I have had the same issue but now it is resolved. My salinity is at 1.024 and my temp at 75 and my zoas grow like crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefboy Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 1.024- 1.025 is ware I keep mine and they grow great but need to know your parameters to give you a good educated guess so need Cal,Alk,Mag,Nit,Na,Ph I wouldn't be to worried about Strotium but the rest would give a good idea also tank inhabitants including inverts as some shrimp could be eating your polyps or a cowrie or other mollusk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spye Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Turning your tank over 8x is different than the 35x 60x etc that you all speak of. I think your confusing filtration with circulation. I think he meant he is turning his tank over 8xph which is plenty from what I have read and hear. but circulation wise yes it should be much higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosters Posted March 19, 2011 Author Share Posted March 19, 2011 Ok thanks for the feedback to all. So here is what i have in my sump now for pumps 2 eco 1056 and then just in my tank i have two Tunze stream. 1800 gph. Maybe this my problem? Where is a good place to get a pump? and what size? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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