Ongoing Palythoa problems       12/10/19 Good morning crew, <Good morning Nicole> I have been scouring your site and I am sure my answer is there somewhere but I just can't seem to find it. To keep a long story short every few weeks for many years I will lose a small patch (20-25 heads of thousands) of Palys to this brown jelly type stuff. <These appear to be some type of sponge > It will go away for a bit and then rear it's ugly head up again. I am wondering if there is any one specific thing that causes this condition, or could it be any number of factors and this is simply how Palys react to something they don't like. Of course I am hoping you can tell me that only one thing could be causing this but I feel like most things in this hobby it won't be that simple. Thank you in advance. <Sponges live in almost all marine ecosystems, from the shallowest coral reefs to the deepest, coldest parts of the ocean so, it is very easy that they have adapted to your marine tank; they are filter feeders, not coral eaters, but looks that they are suffocating your Zoas. I suggest to manually remove them; if the rock (s) they are attached to, is (are) easy to take out of the tank, you can remove them with a pair of tweezers or applying hydrogen peroxide directly to the sponges.> PS while I have your attention, any advice for getting a dart fish out of a deep narrow overflow chamber? �� <This happens at times and the best solution is to drain the overflow section and try to introduce a narrow net attached to a pvc pipe or some other long object in order to reach and catch the fish in only a few centimeters of water, if access to the overflow is limited, you can try the same but with the net attached to a flexible pipe or hose. Hope this helps. Cheers. Wil.>

Re: Ongoing Palythoa problems       12/10/19 Thank you for the reply. <Welcome> Yes I do know about the sponges, they don't really concern me. I am referring to my Palys turning brown and gooey and disintegrating. <Ahh, ok... I thought you said this happens when sponges are present.> Maybe the photo isn't very clear. This has been going on long before the sponges were present and often in colonies where there are no/very little sponges. Any idea what is causing my Palys to turn brown and gooey? <May have to do with water chemistry / quality> It will only happen to a small patch at a time, go away, only to return again on a different patch of Palys. I have attached 2 more photos that will hopefully show what is going on more clearly. <Thanks, I can see what you mean more clearly on your excellent pix. Can you please tell me about your water levels (numbers)?> Thanks again and wish me luck catching the dart fish! �� <Good luck!... hopefully you take him out soon. Wil.>

Re: Ongoing Palythoa problems       12/10/19 Thanks again. The dart fish actually ended up being super easy to catch; for lack of anywhere to hide he swam straight into my net. Him and his 3 buddies were just added to the display tank yesterday. <Ahh... good, perhaps you can block or limit the overflow slits a bit so that this won’t happen again, slender fish like your dart fish can easily pass through them.> So back to the Paly problem, I have only recently started testing/dosing after 6 years in the hobby and have attached photos of my logs. <Okay, let’s see> My salinity is always at 1.026. I really don't see it being parameters though as this has been going on forever and only seems to affect a very small portion of Palys at a time. <I don’t see readings re HPO4 and Nitrate... do you dose iodine?> I know I have some allelopathy issues in the tank due to an unusual mix of corals I introduced before I knew what allelopathy was, so this is my suspicion. <You may be right here> I still find it odd that it only affects tiny patches of Palys at a time though. <Is there any other Cnidarian life in the tank? Maybe nearby the Palythoa colony?> I was just hoping maybe there was only one possible cause for Palys turning brown and gooey but I guess that is not the case. Thanks again for your help <Welcome. Wil.> Re: Ongoing Palythoa problems       12/10/19 He jumped over the overflow, no way he would fit through the slits. Luckily the tank itself is pretty well covered. <Good> I don't have a phosphate test kit yet, I started testing nitrates in the last few days, you will notice nitrite/nitrate readings on the last few logs on the far right. <You're right, I missed this.> Nitrites are always 0, nitrates have been hovering around 5-10ppm although I am not a big fan of my seachem test kit (hard to read) and plan to get a new brand soon. All other tests are Salifert. <I use Salifert mostly... a very reliable, easy to read test kit brand.> I do not dose iodine, I will look into this. <Iodine is required by most corals but should be dose with caution.> As I said I am very new to the whole testing/dosing thing, I have always relied on visual observation and frequent water changes in the past, have had a lot of luck both good and bad haha so have decided recently to step up my game and force myself to understand the chemistry behind my aquarium. <Good decision> There are lots of corals in the tank, many of which I know don't mix well. Ricordea, green hairy mushrooms, a few leathers including Colts/devils hand/ pink cabbage, a hammer coral, many Rock flower anemones etc. But honestly Palys are the most prevalent thing in the tank, mostly due to a very invasive pale bluish green type that is sometimes the kind melting, sometimes not. I have added some activated carbon recently and plan to add more soon, <Don't forget to suspend activated carbon use when dosing> but I also know I need to rethink some of my coral selection but I'm not totally sure which to keep and which to move yet! By the way I don't think I mentioned, this is a heavily stocked 150 gallon tank with a 30 or 40 gallon sump. It started as a 75 gallon 6 years ago and I upgraded to 150 about a year ago. <Do bear in mind that corals need enough space to open freely without touching the other corals. Cheers. Wil.>

Identifying a possible plague     8/11/19 Hi Bob, How are you? I hope you are doing great. Can you help me to identify something? The picture is from a User that doesn't speak English. Thank you very much. Best Regards, Raul <Hey Raul. These oblong pellets look to be fecal material... could be gastropod eggs. I'd vacuum out. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Re: Identifying a possible plague     8/11/19 Thank you Bob, Do you think snails can damage zoanthids? <Oh yes; some snail species predate Zoas> Because that is what my friend is looking to solve. His zoanthids are disappearing. 2 questions:1. If we want our logo (triton) in the top of your web page what are the options? <Oh, easy to answer. All sponsors on WWM receive equal random showing at the top, banner and bottom spaces for their linked logo pix. The cost is $300 per month for universal placement; which because Triton makes, sells products for all types of systems would be best: http://wetwebmedia.com/WWMAdminSubWebIndex/wwmsponsors.htm> 2. Can you also identify the attached things in the rock in the attached picture? <Yes; pretty confident that these are gastropod (snail) eggs. Bob Fenner> Thank you. Best Regards, Raul Labastida Triton Distribución Latinoamérica

Re: Identifying a possible plague     8/11/19 Thank you Bob Raul Labastida Triton Distribución Latinoamérica <Glad to help Raul. Cheers, BobF>

Weird Zoa Behaviour
Hello WWM !
<Hey Francesco!>
Is very long time that i read your website, i mostly often found either what i was searching, either something that was very interesting and useful for my hobbyist knowledge.
This time i need advise...
I am Francesco, proud owner of a pico and a nano, 10 years experienced reefer that just since last September re-started some reefing after a life-changing event (no details needed here :) )
So, on September 2018 i re-started with a 8gal (im a metric man, however i think for the site reference is better to use imperial qtys) Fluval shrimp tank 12"x12"x12", converted... i was eager to re-start, but i had not enough space available for something bigger and however i considered my knowledge and past experience enough to start consciously a nano/pico ( a very small one let's say...)
The tank was setup with a Kessil A80, A Sera PS130 Skimmer (oh the little jewel...) and a HOB filter loaded with ceramics bio media, and a Tunze Turbelle 6040 with controller (oh the beast !)
Inside is now left a 7.7 lb of LR, after an excessive initial load (22lb) that was strongly limiting the water circulation.
Over the months (and especially in February) the system was "converted" with an external "reactor" Sera Prefix, moved by a Newa 1.200 (317 gph :D )
which returns with several spray bars in the cube, creating a soft but consistent multi flow.
Daily, a Jebao OW-10 (oh the little funny thing) kicks 4 times x 30min just to move a bit the water in a chaotic way.
Parameters :
KH : 11.0 - 11.5
CA : 430 - 450
MG : 1350 - 1380
PH : i do not remember last time i checked...
Temp: 24-25
Sal : 1025
Life Stock is
Lysmata Amboinensis ,1 Debelius, 1 Little Ocellaris, 1 Clibanarius tric. Several Zoanthus colonies (4 kinds), 1 hitchhiker green neon Paly, 1 yellow Parazoanthus, a hitchhiker Discosoma (i would say a neglectus ...), Pachyclavularia, a hitchhiker Gorgonia (no photosyn) and a Stylophora bicolor.
Everything is thriving (NO3 1-2 ppm, PO4 0.1 ppm), spreading, coloring, reacting, multiplying... the Gorgonia is now branching from the original little single branch (which i consider a personal success... for the moment...)
All but a little colony of Zoanthus (the last i have put into)
<This is likely an important fact>
that in the last 2 months reduced from 6/7 polyps to 2.
The colony was (and still is) on the frag plate, and was quite arrogantly (from me) positioned in the middle of another giant spreading Zoanthus colony (with some space ... 1" around).
<Mmm; not enough: Insufficient for chemical allelopathy>
While aware that could have been some "chem war", i witnessed many times a self assessment of the fighting parties (mostly softies) and also consider it a necessity for the creation of the coral palette on the LR, so i decided to put them there and observe.
<Okay>
The polyps started to die, one by one, showing the distress signs (irritated polyp, closed mostly of the day or just half opened for few very minutes) one by one, never together.
This behaviour, follow by the progressive shrinking and detachment of the polyp, led me to the conclusion that the disease was parasitic.
<? Really? Did you observe actual parasites?>
I continued so to observe the sick polyps trying to catch snails, Nudis, spiders, eggs, holes, excrements and whatever else anomalous, day and night... but nothing.
<Ahh>
Just once i removed an Asterina that was clearly eating one polyp, but i always had the suspicion that was an opportunistic behaviour from the star and not a predatory one.
However the star was removed.
The polyps continued to recede and die.
Two weeks ago i so decided to move the Zoas, and being the "little" tank quite overcrowded, i moved them to the "big".
Very fast : the "big" is a 20 gal tank with 3 movement pumps and a return (200gph) granting a very good diverse flow, has some kind of sump system (my project, quite long to explain, but the functionality is a sump functionality), Sera PS 130 Skimmer (oh i damn love Sera skimmers...) and the parameters are a mirror of the "little".
The tank is equipped with a Kessil 360 which runs at 80% peak (30% blue) 10hrs/dd.
The "big" has started on 07 December 2018, is a quite younger tank but however had a good cycle and just recently got the first load of softies (1 Ric, 1 Rhoda, 2 Discosoma, 3 Zoanthus, 1 Clavularia) all of them "ultra" (as i would like to have finest specimen there, only) and has the classic (for me) Amboinensis + debelius set, and an Ecsenius bicolor that was called in for the algae/GHA initial war as well with 4 Clibanarius tric. and 3 Trochus.
I placed the "sick" Zoa in a very open place, with no neighbours, good light and good movement. Probably i placed them in the best spot of the tank that i was reserving for the (very) future SPS i wanted to try there... but hey... my Zoas are sick !
The behaviour of the sick polyp seemed initially to persevere, with a huge anxiety from my side due to the possibility of having introduced a parasite in the "big" (who is yelling since the start of my email "QUARANTINE TAAAAAAANK!!!!" ??? :D)... however is now a couple of days that the polyp
does not close anymore, however now both of them are stretching up with half closed mouth (also the mouth is stretching to the light), the foot has a length that i never seen in a Zoas... almost 1" ...
So... what is going on by your opinion ? I would exclude a light problem as mostly they now receive a bit more of light, PAR wise... water parameters are ok, and under direct feed (reef powder food from ocean nutrition 2xweek), they positively react...
I do not see an immediate threat and generally i never act on the rush if a catastrophe is not already ongoing, but i exhausted all my possible explanations and i do not feel comfortable so...
While waiting for your reply, and apologizing for the long (and still incomplete) email, i express my whole admiration for the WWM knowledge shared base, the crew and the thousands of times that directly or indirectly you provided help to some reefer pal in trouble...
Thanks and My Best Regards
Francesco
<My best guess is that the continuing odd/stressful behavior was a continuation of the allelopathy from the smaller system. I would leave the one odd-acting Zoanthid colony where it is for now; and not worry re possible pathogen involvement. I might step up your dosing of iodide-ate here.
Please do write back in a few weeks time regarding your further observations. Bob Fenner>
Re: Weird Zoas Behaviour     3/12/19
Hi Bob and thanks for the super quick reply, will do as advised and let you know !
All the best !
Francesco
<Thank you Francesco. BobF>

Zoanthids problem?     2/22/18 Hi Crew, Some of my Palythoa have been closed up for a week or so now. <Mmm; a bad sign; perhaps portending a bad time for all life here/// No data re system, water quality, other livestock, history....> I have hundreds of different types. The Zoanthids seem fine but the large polyps (Palythoa I’m guessing) seem effected. This doesn’t look like zoapox to me although maybe it is the beginning stages? <Summat is amiss here.... READ: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zoanthidhlthfaqs.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner> Thanks, Brian

Re: Zoanthids problem?     2/22/18 All other live stock looks great. Sps. Lps. Etc. water chemistry is good. Alk 7. Cal 400. Nitrate 0. Phos .05. Lighting Radions. System is about 4 months old but water was moved from a 2 year old system. <Ah, good> I only use marine pure blocks, no live rock really accept what coral is attached. Oversized skimmer. Hope that helps <Yes; well, something is bugging this one colony. What is "next door" may be germinal. BobF> Re: Zoanthids problem? What do you mean it may be germinal? I have several colonies in this one system with this same issue. <... please re/read on WWM re Zoa compatibility> I’m trying to do some research...Could this be some type of hydroid? <... yes. Do you see such nearby?> Thanks, Brian

Aiptasia Quarantine Time     6/14/17
Hi Guys,
<Mark>
I have display tank which contains a handful of coral specimens, mostly Zoanthids, but this tank also suffers from an Aiptasia infestation.
Infestation may be too strong a word, as they are well controlled with a combination of wand removal and peppermint shrimp. At some point I would like to remove and frag some of the coral for other tanks, but I fear
spreading the Aiptasia to another tank. I'm planning on a quarantine of the frags prior to introduction into another system. So my question is - how long would you maintain a frag in quarantine until you felt you could confidently declare if Aiptasia free?
<Likely a few weeks would "do it" for me... giving any transferred pest anemone bits to grow sufficient to be noted>
Thanks,
Mark
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Nudibranch id please       1/28/17 Hello there, I first want to thank you for previous help a long while ago. My issue was dozens of hermits large and small disappearing completely, shell and all. You (can't remember which crew member in particular) had suggested it sounded like I could have a predacious worm. Soon after I managed to find 2 large fire worms when looking at night. I managed to remove the pair, and haven't lost a crab/snail/shrimp since! <Ahh!> But as for my current question. Yesterday I purchased some corals, specifically a colony of Ricordea yuma, a colony if Zoanthids and a colony of Palys. In addition to the wonderful turbo snail and emerald crab hitchhikers I scored, this morning to my surprise I have a tiny Nudibranch and a small starfish on my glass. The starfish is I believe an Asterina (grey with 6 arms) but it's at least twice as big as any I've seen in my tank previously. But my main concern for the moment is the Nudibranch. Of course I'm worried he could be the type that eats Zoanthids, although I'm hoping that the fact that I have found him in the glass is a good sign. Regardless, he is in jail for the moment. I should add that I have now inspected my new Zoas and don't see any eggs as of yet. I would really like to keep this guy if I can, so please tell me if you think he is a good Nudi or a bad Nudi. <Mmm; appears to be a Aeolid... do consume Cnidarians... often look a lot like their prey> I hope these photos are clear enough to get a good identification. He is about a quarter inch long. I would also like to know, if he does end up being a Zoanthid eating Nudibranch, is that what they eat exclusively? <Don't know; but too likely so. See the Net w/ the family name...> Rather than killing him I would like to set up a nano tank to keep him and any other future questionable hitchhikers but if he will die without Zoanthids I guess I have no choice. Thanks in advance! <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

What could this be?    8/4/16 Hi I found a few of these critters crawling on some Zoanthid frags. You can not see these with the naked eye. I found them with a jewelers loupe and then took these photos with my iPhone under a microscope. Hoping they are a detritivore but I am fearing the worst. Thanks in advance. Brian <Appear to be Mites/Acarinans... I wouldn't panic. Bob Fenner>

trying to id a hitchhiker on my Zoanthid coral     4/9/16
Hello Crew,
<Eric>
I'm trying to id a hitchhiker that came on my Zoanthid coral. it looks like it has tentacles and is very fast.
<A polyp...?>
it seems to cover my polyps with a tough fibrous film overnight
<Interesting>
and also has built a den type cave with a very tough covering, some type of fibrous material and lots of very tiny white sea shells mixed in as well.
<Mmm; a Sedentariate Polychaete.... likely>
it's killing all my Zoanthids
<Unusual; what other life is here? Water quality measures? What changed recently?>
and I haven't been able to see any more of it than 4 small tan looking tentacles that come out and if it sees a shadow it darts back in the rock.
Any input I could get would be greatly appreciated, any questions you have for me I would be happy to answer best I can.
Thank you for your time
Eric
<Can you send along a well-resolved, cropped, few hundred Kbyte image? Bob Fenner>
re: trying to id a hitchhiker on my Zoanthid coral
I've been trying to get a pic of what we can see on occasion, but have been unsuccessful so far, if I can get one I'll email it right away
Thank you
<Real good. BobF>

Zoanthids looking crinkled???      2/6/15 Hi Bob and crew! Thanks again for reading. Your site and dedication are the best. <Ah, welcome> I started this colony with just three polyps 3 years ago in my 10 gallon nano tank. <Very nice!> When I set up my 225 gal a few years back I transferred them over and they exploded. There's are hundreds of polyps. They go through changes and phases from time to time but this crimped or crinkled aspect that some of the colony has is very odd. <I see this... could be a few things going on here: Some sort of nutrient deprivation (do you have N, P, K?; What do you feed?), allelopathy (fighting amongst themselves, other Cnidarian life there), toxic reaction from... maybe the BGA in evidence here....> This had been going on for two weeks. They all open up. The picture was taken after I fanned the rock so I was messing with them. Although they open the skirts look so odd. Strangely the skirts with a lot of green fluorescence seem to be the ones affected. I have scoured the site and I can't seem to find anything about this exact problem. <Oh, the above rather common issues are covered> Just people who's polyps won't open. I figure that it may be from allelopathy. Also, I don't have any nitrates right now. Water too clean? But no other of my other colonies are showing sins of distress at all nor are my corals. Let me know what this might be. It would be so sad to lose this gorgeous colony. Warmly, Kinley <Please have a (re) read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ZoaDisDiagF.htm and on to the linked files above in this series detailing Zoanthid Disease. Bob Fenner>

Re: Zoanthids looking crinkled???      2/7/16 Ok. Thank you Bob. In the picture what looks like BGA on my rocks is actually a dark red coralline algae. <Really? Is it soft to touch? Slimy? Do you have a low power scope (with a USB connection!?) that you can take a look/see?> I don't struggle with nuisance algae problems anymore (for now). I'm going to do some more reading on where you directed me. Thank you, Kinley <And... we'll be chatting. BobF> Re: Zoanthids looking crinkled???      2/7/16 Hi Bob. Thanks for taking an interest in this. I do not have a scope. Although, It used to be one of my favorite hobbies as a child. <Ahh!> I think I may have to invest in one. <There are some FAB ones nowayears, so much tech. for such low prices. See Amazon.com alone> Your reaction to my strange coralline algae is very similar to the reaction of my reef mentor. I had him come over and take a look at it 6 months ago due to some comments that people online made about it being Cyano. He's been in the business for 40 years. In fact he was the one that gave me your book. I live in the mountains of Oregon and I have absolutely no resources here other than him the internet and my books. He also thought it was Cyano until he touched it. it's very encrusted on to the rock and not slimy to the touch at all. <Okay!> He agrees with me that it is in fact a rare type of coralline algae. I've gotten used to it over the years. It started in my 10 gallon nano tank, seeded from some live rock probably and I guess liked the conditions. In my 220 gallon it has covered everything. I would be very curious to hear your opinion. I have found a few others on line who have this too. luckily there's a lot of purple as well which does sort of balance out the visual aspect. As far as my Zoanthids go, I believe you're theory that the nutrition is probably the problem. I have not fed the colony very much and now it's so large I'm sure it needs more. I also really don't have many nitrates or phosphates right now which is also why I don't have an algae problem.. ugh...its so hard to find the right balance. <But so necessary> I'm sending you a full tank shot so you can see how this weird type of coralline has spread all over. <No pic attached> Warmly, Kinley <Cheers, BobF>

New to the Zoanthid Game... hlth., rdg.     6/14/14
Hello there! I just want to start out by saying this is the first place I go when I have a unique dilemma. Anyways, i started a 55 gal tank about 2 months ago. The inhabitants are a snowflake eel,
<Will need more room in time>
six red-legged hermit crabs
<... will be eaten by the Eel when they're changing shells>
and a turbo snail. Also, as far as Zoas go,
<Mmm; am hoping by your supplied title above that you fully realize how toxic Zoanthids can be... IF disturbed/challenged>
I have a colony of radioactive dragon eyes, 1p of pink and gold, 2p of orange bam bans and some other Zoa my friend sent me for free that I have yet to identify (All got next dayed from the same person). The dragon eye colony opened almost immediately after being put in my tank but the colors seem to be off. The orange bam bans also appear to be doing well. Their skirts are green but the center seems drab orange/brown rather than that bold neon color..? I’ve personally seen this colony in my friends tank and it was nothing short of vivid. however, he did have the blue LED’s pounding the color out of them :) The orange bam bans also appear to be doing well, yet they other two frags haven’t opened in 3 days/4nights. have all the frags on an egg crate shelf about 12” from my T5 light equipped with two true blue actinic lights and one 10k daylight. I run the lights about 10hrs a day. My water parameters are: pH- 8.1 NH3 and NH4- 0 NO3- 0 N04- About 20ppm
<? Mmm... Do need some nitrate; and phosphate>
Alk- 2.0meq/L. Temp- 79. They were in a tank with ocean revive LEDs, which seem pretty powerful compared to my lighting. What I’m trying to get at is should I be worried that the other two frags not opening?
<In time; yes; cause to be worried. IF you have another system that is established... I would be moving them if not opening w/in a week>
They look just like the others when closed and appear to be alive. Should i try moving them farther down in my tank and see if they open where its darker, or just leave them alone?
<Not likely helpful in terms of physical environment and DO wash your hands carefully after placing them in the water, especially IF you touch these Cnidarians>
I also have two powerheads and sufficient water movement.
Thanks Again!
Beau
<Should I encourage your reviewing all we have archived on WWM re Zoas? Yes: http://wetwebmedia.com/CnidIndex2.htm
Right below Corallimorpharians. Bob Fenner>

Dark Red Encrusting Algae Killing Zoas... BGA       4/4/14 I have what I thought was dark red coralline growing in a lot of the rock in my tank. <Mmm; likely BGA> All colors of coralline seem to expand rapidly in my tank, so didn't think anything of this color. <Does it feel slimy?> However, over the last few days I've noticed that it's grown onto a few Zoa colonies and now they are not opening, so I'm a bit worried. It's the exact color of Cyano, but seems to be encrusting just like a coralline. It feels slightly slick to touch and is fairly difficult to scrape off, though with a fingernail I can scrape a bit unlike purple coralline which won't budge. It appears to be growing mostly in high light, high flow parts of my tank. Any ideas what this might be and how to combat it? <As we've both stated> I've tried a few days of lights out like I would with a Cyano outbreak, but no apparent effect. May try a peroxide dip or even Red Slime Remove next (though have had bad luck with it once before so hate to even consider it). Any advice is appreciated. Justin <Time to send you; have you read re Cyanobacteria and their control on WWM. You know how to search, use the indices? Bob Fenner>

re: Dark Red Encrusting Algae Killing Zoas       4/5/14 Appreciate the quick reply. I had discounted Cyano because this is so resistant to high flow and manual removal. <Mmm; not all; by a long-shot> I literally have to scrape it to remove it from rocks and it's growing in the highest flow areas of my tank. Are there growth forms/species that don't follow the normal characteristics? <See WWM or my Algae Control book (on Amazon) re. BobF>