Whats wrong with my zoas?

[tg1119]

I had a small frag of zoas kinda melt away the other day and I thought it was weird so I have been watching my tank for pest more often but haven't seen anything. Now about a week later a rock with about 4 frags isn't looking so good.

[Ram_Puppy]

ok:

1) have you tested your water? If so, what are your perameters.
2) have you been watching at night?

I can tell you my own recent experience, I had an amonia tab hanging in my tank and it was yellow, so i figured all was well. well, for some reason it wasn't working, and as near as we can tell, for some reason my bacterial filter (HIATT) died, probably i wasn't generating enough nutrients and one point.

Anyhow, my water parameters were out of whack and I didn't test for amonia because I was relying on that tab... turned out i was in pretty bad shape. I slapped my skimmer back on the system and before i knew it, all my zoas and palys which were buttoned tight started opening back up.

I only wish I had realized what was going on before I lost two incredible palythoa colonies.

[BioCube14]

LUGOLS solution.

[apedroza]

LUGOLS solution.

Is this for a dip or additive to the aquarium?? I had a couple do that in the past but after they went through a huge fragging session. All my parameters were in check.

[erikharrison]

sounds like a water change is in order.

[dwdenny]

LUGOLS solution.

Is this for a dip or additive to the aquarium?? I had a couple do that in the past but after they went through a huge fragging session. All my parameters were in check.
it is for the dip. If you can get a Rx for it you can get it from Target Pharmacy for like 12 bucks for 16oz vs. 15 for the kent 1oz bottle. But getting that Rx is a hard thing. I got one from my vet(sister so it works out great).
Check at night for predators. Amphipods have been seen munching on them at night so I have heard. I have yet to have a problem with the pods in mine but they are not all that big(yet) I will be adding a small fish when we move into our house on June 4th to take care of some as they have multiplied fast. About three weeks ago I would count 10 or so in 15 minutes now it looks like the back wall and the rocks are moving. :D I also found about a 3" bristle worm in the tank this morning as well. I use a flash light that has a red lens that fits right over it and you can look and not scare them. hth

[Ram_Puppy]

you can try the lugols... i dipped all my palys in it, one that i wasn't having problems w/ but wanted to be sure was predator free scrunched up and never opened again for 3 months until it melted. I was not happy. don't let that put you off lugols though, better safe than sorry.

I am betting you need a good ol water changemore than anything.

[dwdenny]

I forgot to add that too Ram. I notice when I do a big water change that the zoas open really big right after.

One thing that I have noticed and people tell me is that when you dip makes sure that the polyps are closed. Usually when you take them out they close up pretty fast and stay closed. I use 5 drops of lugol's per 1 gallon of RODI and dip for 3 minutes then I shake upside down in the water to make sure that the pests are shaken off the zoas then a quick dip in fresh RODI to rinse off and back in the tank.