Blue Zoa's are melting away

Brought home some blue zoanthids about 3 weeks ago, at first they opened great an were vibrant(see pic). Only change to the tank was i added some iodine(req amount) and now they are not opening up and melting away. Also my favia is not looking good and also melting away.

PH: 8.3
Ammonia:0.00
Nitrite:0.00
Nitrate:20
Salinity:1.023
cal 450

location is now at bottom of tank not in direct light.

tank specs 90 gallon, Sunlight Tek 8bulb T5's, ASM G3 skimmer with high flow setup in tank.

 

Look up iodine dip and follow the directions for both corals. Should help stop the decline.

Welcome to 3reef.

 

Be very careful with iodine(reef Iodide) use less than it says because its hard to test.If you see white blotches on your purple coraline back off.let your skimmer and lights remove it to a safe level.It will remove it to a safe level in a couple of days if you didnt hammer it.

 

First, always test for whatever you add in to the tank. Second, what is your dkh/alk at? I had a problem with some Darth Mauls that started to wither and melt. After a round of testing, I found out my dkh was way too high. After a water change and addition of some seltzer water, the zoas popped back to life.

 

are you testing your iodine level? When I first started I was told to regularly dose iodine to my tank as it ..... helps the corals grow etc. So I did for many months. HOWEVER, I later found out that it is NOT good to dose iodine regularly. It can actually cause more harm then good, esp if you have shrimps, crabs etc. You never want to add supplements if you dont test the levels. I can build up very fast. Plus water changes will add the required level in most cases.

Now for the zoas, I would bet anything that you have zoa eating nudibranchs. Do you have any other zoas in the tank, are they effected? I would buy some lugols solution, and dip the zoas in freshwater and lugols solution (follow the directions on the lugols) Let the zoa sit in the water solution for 5 minutes or so, with occasional shaking the coral vigerously. This will need to be done again every week or so for several weeks (to kill the eggs)

Can you post a picture of the favia?

You probably will want to raise the salinity up a tad to 1.025.

 

I did the Iodine dip 2 day ago and have had the ligts on low since then.

Iodine added has not been tested and i might have over done it. I have done a 20gal change today and will do another on sunday and monday.

dkh/alk i dont have a tester for how would this be raised in a tank?

Would Phosphate have any effect as to my tank glass is green quick after a cleaning.

 

pic of favia, located highest in the tank.

 

whats your kH?
I would lugols dip that also, might have an infection.

 

Buy an API test kit for dKH. Then get a buffer that raises alkalinity and follow the directions closely.