Zoas not opening up

OgreMkV

OgreMkV

Father of Earth's Next Emperor
Apr 26, 2007
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Port Arthur, TX
ogremkv.wordpress.com
My zoas are not opening and staying open. I've got three different types in four different locations. The majority stay closed most of the 'day' (light on period). Some will open slightly, then close right back up.

I also have mushrooms (three different kinds) that are doing super well. I have a torch and a trumpet coral that are both doing quite well (at least they're very extended during most of the day). I also have two varieties of green star polyps and some clove polyps that seem super happy (i.e. they are very extended throughout the day).

I thought I had a long strand of macro algae that was banging on one colony of zoas, but that doesn't explain the other colonies and I watch the strand for about an hour and it never came close... though it did pass over them possibly causing a slight shadow.

Params:
ammonia = 0
nitrite = 0
nitrate = 0
salinity 1.025
kH = 180ppm
pH = 8
calcium (two days ago) = 450

5 gallon water change today.

Equipment
44g pent tank (24 inches deep), zoas at 11 inches, 12 inches, 16 inches and 18 inches from lights
lights 96W PC 10k and dual actinic
water movement from aquaclear 70 HOB, maxijet 900 w/ sponge filter and koralia 1.

Any thoughts?
 
My zoas do fine in both high and low lighting. How long have they been in the tank because maybe they are still warming up. My yellow zoas took a couple months to start opening up. Did your tank cycle cause zero nitrates is really good
 
One colony has been in just over two weeks. The others have been in for about 5 weeks. The tank is 3 months old. Yeah, I cycled.

The only mobile animals are a pair of ceriths. I have no fish yet. Keep in mind that when I say zero, I mean between zero and about 3.5. My test kit is one of the cheap ones and the color chart is like looking at a single color pallet chart at Home Depot.

A couple of months? Really? That's interesting. Everything else is extraordinarily happy.

Of note is, I moved the korlia slightly after having to clean some gunk out of it... the star polyps are now very, very happy.
 
yea man it took a couple months for my yellows zoas (my orange ones just started growing like crazy under my MH's) so i would just be paitent, if nothing else is wrong with your water (which seems to be the case) then im sure it just needs some time to adjust which happens with some coral! the moving of the koralia would have nothing to do with it im sure unless the zoa is right underneath it
 
Zoas are wierd like that. I bought some armor of god zoas and another guy that was there said that when he bought some it took his almost 3 weeks for his to open. Mine were open within a half an hour of placing them in the tank.
 
if i put less light and flow on mine they will close. if i put more they will open. also sand, algae, fish, inverts, etc on them will cause them to close. they like plankton.
 
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