Zoas Shrinking???

[MNMAVERICK]

I have a few of my best Zoanthids and palys that have shrunk, some have completely faded away. My Rose Nebula Zoas had about 20 heads, now all gone. My Raptor Palys are very small and haven't grown in about 6 months. The water parameters are good. The only change I made was from halides to Aqua Illumunation LEDS. The wierd thing is that all other Zoas are doing fine. The ones Directly under the lights are flourishing. Even colonies next to the ones that are shinking are doing fine. I tried dipping, moving them around the tank ect. Any thoughts?

[Flounder]

check at night for pests.....

[David Grigor]

Like Carl says, Nudi pests are the first suspect until you can proove it isn't. You going to have to remove them and dip to see what comes off. Rarely can you tell just from observing while in the tank as they can be difficult to spot.

If the entire polyps is just smaller in size that usually a normal response to recieving more light than it used to. However, that is not the case if they are shriveling or not staying open.

[Taklu]

Posting on this thread to keep it as one reference, in my case I've not had good luck only with radioactive dragons (the bright green zoas), I'm on my thrid colony now and over a period of time they shrink and go away, there's always a polyp or two that survive; there's many other zoas/palys in the tank are thriving and I dont think its lighting.. the thriving zoas have been under MH's T5's and LEDs, all zoas were dipped in Seachem Reef dip (Iodine based)

[Lurch]

Any signs of lesions on the stalks/polyps? Any fungus or any white/brown junk around the base of the polyps/matting?

You may want to dip them again in Furan-2 or treat the tank with red slime remover. They are both anti-bacterials and will kill any fungus/zoa pox if that is the issue.

Nudis are also a possible culprit. Look for U/horse shoe shaped egg sacs on the stalks of the polyps.

If you can, snap some pics for help with ID'ing the issue.

I've dealt with zoa pox/fungus/nudis on several occasions.

[Koletang]

Zoas have been known to grow differently under different lights...

[kevlake2005]

A LFS in the area fraged a colony of zoas and I bought one. i went back a month later and all the frags from the colony that were sold to people shrunk and dissappeared. Since several people had the same problem in different tank environments, I concluded that something was wrong with the colony.

[MNMAVERICK]

Like Carl says, Nudi pests are the first suspect until you can proove it isn't. You going to have to remove them and dip to see what comes off. Rarely can you tell just from observing while in the tank as they can be difficult to spot.

If the entire polyps is just smaller in size that usually a normal response to recieving more light than it used to. However, that is not the case if they are shriveling or not staying open.

I have done numerous dips on them. Nothing ever come off of them. Additionally, if it were pest wouldn't it affect more than just a few colonies/frags?

[kcooley]

do you have asternia starfish?

[guy9smiley2]

Posting on this thread to keep it as one reference, in my case I've not had good luck only with radioactive dragons (the bright green zoas), I'm on my thrid colony now and over a period of time they shrink and go away, there's always a polyp or two that survive; there's many other zoas/palys in the tank are thriving and I dont think its lighting.. the thriving zoas have been under MH's T5's and LEDs, all zoas were dipped in Seachem Reef dip (Iodine based)

I have this identicle problem everything else thrives but they shrink to 1 to 2 polyps. Then grow and go back and forth until nothing is left. Only on the dragon eyes.

[customcolor]

did any one check for zoa pox?

[MNMAVERICK]

There are asternia starfish, but still only those two zoas are shrinking. All others been doing great.

[MNMAVERICK]

Don't think it is zoa pox. I have never seen any white spots on them. They look normal and open, but just shrink significantly.

[CaptainGreg]

Did any one try 50/50 hydrogen per oxide dip?:beerchug:

[MNMAVERICK]

If the AI LED lighting is to blame, wouldn't the zoa eventually adjust and start growing again?

[ReefingSAW]

Some people have good luck on the switch to led some people just don't. Some people lose everything to LED some people are happy with them. I thinks it's the switch over maybe try putting your old lights back on for a bit??

[MNMAVERICK]

Overall I am happy with the LED lights. I do think the lights have played a part in this situation. I plan on starting another tank this weekend that will be connected to the main display. I will be going with MH lighting or T5s. Ill see what happens when I move them to the other tank.

[Taklu]

Overall I am happy with the LED lights. I do think the lights have played a part in this situation. I plan on starting another tank this weekend that will be connected to the main display. I will be going with MH lighting or T5s. Ill see what happens when I move them to the other tank.

Tried this approach; display was LED and Frag/sump T5's.. just the dragons dont fare well in either setup. would be curious to see results on your system.

[MNMAVERICK]

I will be setting my frag tunk up tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

[MNMAVERICK]

I have moved all my zoa frags to the new frag tank w/T5 lighting. So far it seems like they are opening more. The zoas that have shrunk to nearly nothing are still very small and it's too early to tell if the new lighting will help them grow larger again. Additionally, there is less flow in the frag tank, possibly another reason for the zoas opening larger.

[reeffamily]

zoas are very picky with lighting. it took a couple of months to get them all set at the right levels to the lighting.some are in the dark, some are right at the top. now they all love it. ones i've had from zac are now finally multiplying two years later. anytime you change lighting you have to watch placement. I use to loose colonies thinking they all love the same light.Zac's magicians are growing best almost in the dark.