failure to thrive?????

[safeuerwehr]

Ok guys im having issues with my zoas and shrums that seem not to want to open up...the zoas only show just a little bit of the eyes and wont open up any more than that...the shrums have receeded and dont engorge themselves anymore they are nearly half there normal size now....i have no clue what could be causing this....here are my tests:

ph-8.4
nitrate-0
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
calcium-420
specific gravity-1.022
temp-81.1
lights:
2 vho super actinics (11a-11p) 2 250w MH (12p-10p)
flow:
2 mj 1200
2 mj 1200 mods. (lots of flow)
10% water changes every week

what else should i test for or do to get these guys to open up....

thanks
alfred

[Texreefer]

high phosphates or low iodine

[Instar]

specific gravity-1.022

This is a bit low for soft corals. Though they may adapt, they do better at 1.024 or more.

There are things that eat those; not only fish but some small inverts will eat them too.

If you change 10% of the water every week, what kind of salt mix and what kind of reconstituting water are you using? With basically a 40% water change per month, it makes a lot of difference. Both need to be high quality and the salt needs to be complete with trace elements.

[Marlin]

My mushrooms and zoas do not like a lot of flow. They close up when I turn up the speed on the pumps.

[safeuerwehr]

high phosphates or low iodine

ok are there test for these or can i take some tank water down to a lfs and get it checked for this?

[safeuerwehr]

they do better at 1.024 or more.

There are things that eat those; not only fish but some small inverts will eat them too.

what kind of salt mix and what kind of reconstituting water are you using?

ok will slowly adjust to 1.024

would preditors keep all my zoas from opening and the mush rooms from engourging?

using Instant ocean...with RO water with a tds of 17.

[Texreefer]

phos and iodine usually not the problem.. if you are doing those regular water changes.. i would tend to aggree with the other guys first ,, get salinity up a bit and reduce flow to those areas if needed... shrooms and zoos are like the canaries of the aquarium.. if they are not happy something is slightly off and it is usually something simple.