Think I May Be Figuring Out My On Going Tank Problem Finally

[Lynden]

I agree, they are zoas. The most common reasons for them not opening are shipping stress, and being stepped on. You have nothing really "stampy" in your tank stock, so it could indeed be a pest but damage from those is usually quite apparent. I'd say give them a few more days.

 

[dilbert]

Is there some water flow where those corals are?

I have similar ones since a week and they are under low light and in low water flow, but they still open every morning and close only when the cleaner shrimps trample over them (I don't have other "cleaners" apart from a snail).

People say that they are quite undemanding, but my guess is that the main factors are light (as they have symbiotic algae in their polyps), water flow (mainly to get rid of waste, feeding of plankton presumably secondary), disturbances from mobile inverts or other corals, and then maybe calcium and trace element levels as a long-term issue.

Also as soft corals they shouldn't be that picky about calcium levels.

 

[SkiFletch]

They're not picky about calc, or alk. They are however very prone to shipping stress, lighting, and also pest predators. Most notably zoanthid eating nudibranchs, and sundial snails. I'd check closely for those on the colony.

 

[craigybaby37]

Had a check on google for some images and theres defo no nudibranches however when i searched sundial snail i recignised the pattern of the shell instantly.

Only thing different is instead of having a round spiral shell it has a pointed shell if u know what i meen??? so can it still be a sundial snail witha different shaped shell???

Should of removed it last week when i saw it for the first time........its shell is no more than 10mm long so its still quite small.

 

[SkiFletch]

If the shell type is elongated and pointy, then its not a sundail snail. Also remember that Zoa eating nudis are VERY small. Like 1-2mm at most. Make sure you're looking VERY closely

 

[craigybaby37]

ah well i come home from work today to see the snail i was talking about.....so ive removed it from the tank and took a couple of pictures so people can tell me what it is.

Though its not a sundial snail still qurious as to what it is as i aint added it to the tank.

anyways heres a piccy.
http/img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/cra...airalgea009.jpg

and as for the nudis am i going to be looking on the coral for them??? and are the nocternal??

 

[chrissaysyes]

ehn...looks like nassarius to me.

 

[SkiFletch]

Not sundial that's for sure. Might be nassarius... Kinda looks like some of the shells I've seen in south florida/keys

 

[jeasko]

have to agree with ski, I had a real prob with the damn things (nudibranch) after i brought my first button polyp, wasnt until i really looked at it that i noticed them, by then it was to late they were forever re-appearing else where in my tank, luckily without eating any other corals, managed to persist and just kept cleaning button polyp for about a week in fresh RO and alternated with SW, seemed to work for me, but like ski says you really have to look close.

 

[dilbert]

Had a check on google for some images and theres defo no nudibranches

I use normally altavista as search engine which gives plenty of images if I search for "nudibranch" but google does as well.

But my guess is the most common culprit is this one:

http/www.dpo.uab.edu/~acnnnghm/BY255L/BY...udibranch-1.htm

 

[jeasko]

there are literally hundreds of different kinds of nudibranch in the oceans and some people choose to keep some in thier aquariums as they can be awesome looking.
For me I can stand them in my tank but am really facinated when i dive to see them as just about every one ive seen has been different!

 

[SkiFletch]

To the OP or others; If you do find Zoa eating nudis, flatworm exit works well on them. Doesn't kill the eggs, so multiple treatments are needed, but it does work

 

[jeasko]

Ski dont ask why but for a while over here it has been hard to get that stuff and is now only available in a few places so had to make do without it which was a real pain

 

[SkiFletch]

Thats right, I seem to remember there being some sort of import troubles over there in the UK.