Zoa?

[sergiotami]

Just curious.. Ever have a zoa colony that was doing just fine close up and basically just decline to point it dies? If so what causes this? Also, whats the best zoa food supplement?

[furam28]

Has happened to me a couple of times but sometimes it's almost impossible to know the reason. Rule out the obvious - pest, water parameters, light... If all the other zoas are doing fine then I don't think you will ever be able to pinpoint the reason. Zoas are just unpredictably finicky like that. Whenever one of my zoas close up for a day or two I do a furan2 dip for 2 hours and then put it back. Often it seems to do the trick. Make sure you don't further stress the zoa when you do the dip - don't keep it out of water too long and keep the temperature constant by floating the container in the sump while it's dipping.

[furam28]

My theory is that zoas sometime close up when they are unhappy about some condition. Ideally they open back up in a few days. But while they are closed fungi living on the outer skin of the zoa may take advantage of it and infect the zoa. Furan2 dip is antifungal.

[sergiotami]

Thanks, will try the dip.... :)

[aquasport24]

Good to know. How much do you dip? at what ratio?

[furam28]

I dissolve a satchet of furan2 in 40 ml of rodi water and store it in the freezer. Whenever I dip I mix 2.5 ml of the furan solution (make sure to fully thaw and then shake the solution before use) in 30 ml of tank water. I dip for 1 to 2 hours.

[furam28]

Based on my calc it comes to one satchet in 1 cup of water. That's a pretty strong dip but it has never harmed my zoas so far. I don't usually dip healthy zoas. Only ones that look sick or won't open. I usually dip again the next day.