need help with a few ?s about zoas and lights

for some reason everytime i buy zoas they last for a week or so and then they start to melt and die,no bugs are on them..i have a 8 month old tank...40 gallon with a 15 gallon overflow plenty of live rock and its not over crowded iv tested it for everything from copper...to.....iron and everything in between and mywater par..seem to be just fine am i missing some thing..can anyone shed some light on this please i would really like to start a reef tank any info would be great.thanks

anyone with a thought on the matter please reply..... thanks again

also my tank size is 17'' tall,3ft long,and a 1 1/2 ft from front to back, is 2 96watt 10,000k coralife compact bulbsone is actinic blue r they ok for my tank size to grow corals....

 

For a 45 gallon tank, your lighting might be a little light, so to speak, but I'm confident this is not your issue. I've heard more than once of folks who can otherwise keep corals but can't keep zoas.

A friend of mine who was very sucessful in keeping SPS corals, known for their sensitivity to water conditions--couldn't keep zoas.

Although this suggestion might not be the most cost effective method, especially if your problem is some water parameter that's eluded you despite your efforts--I might recommend you buy some mushrooms, or green star polyps. Just one. In this fashion if your problem is one of parameters, then those corals might fail too. If that's the case, then you know there's one or more parameters that you infact don't have a handle on--and you can work to correct it. If on the other hand those corals thrive, you might be one of those few folks who fall into the category above, and "just can't keep zoas."

You wouldn't alone. Good luck!!

Oh, and welcome to 3reef!!!

 

Are you getting your zoos from the same place? Maybe try a different source?

Have you tried changing out a large portion of your water?

Are you sure you don't have any fish that might be eating them? Have you looked at them at night for a while to see if maybe something is living in your rocks or something that might be eating them? There are certain types of polychaete worms that eat zoos for example that you would have to catch in the act to know if they are in there.

This might be a little excessive but it might give you something to work with. Get a small tank, 10g or so, a small heater and a cheap light (or move your current lights over the 10g if you don't have any coral in your current tank) and a small powerhead. Then mix up fresh saltwater and put it in the 10g tank and see if a new zoo frag makes it. If it does, try changing out the water in the 10g with water from the main tank and see if it lasts, if it does then maybe try moving it into the main tank at that point.

It will cost a little bit of money but shouldn't be too bad, and then you have a QT or hospital tank for future use!

 

i dont know about lighting issues i have just enough lighting in my tank to keep soft corals and i bough a piece of lr and fortunatley i put it at the top and boom a nice big orange montipora started growing

 

how many threads are you going to start for the same thing?

http://www.3reef.com/forums/coral-health/help-any-info-about-why-zoas-r-dying-77066.html

http://www.3reef.com/forums/say-hello/hi-everyone-i-have-few-s-about-zoas-77033.html

and now this one.

Like I already posted in your previous thread...

here, quote me and fill this in. Then we can help.

Please fill out as much of the following info that you can. Not only will it help us help you, it's good stuff to know about your tank. And will aid in the future health of your tank and its inhabitants.....
COPY/PASTE and fill in the blanks..... Just do your best

Brief description of the problem.
A picture(s) will also help.
PARAMETERS (important)
Temperature:
PH:
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
Salinity:
dKH/KH/Alkalinity:
Magnesium:
Calcium:
Phosphate:
Test kits you own:
Liquid or Strips:
Brand Name:
Are they Expired?:


Tank size?
Estimated total system?

Reef, fish only or, freshwater?

Current inhabitants? What and how many?
Clean up crew?

How long has your tank been set-up?

Substrate.
Type?
Depth?

Live rock?
How much?
Did you recently add some?

Filtration.
Type?
Protein skimmer?
Do you wet or dry skim?
Maintenance schedule for filtration?
Drilled tank/hang on back overflow?
Sump/refugium. What's in it and how much?
Macro? What kind?

Lighting.
Lighting type?
Age of bulbs?

Feeding
What?
How much?
How often?

Water change schedule.
How much?
How often?
What salt brand?
Water source?

Additives/supplements used?

Do you have a ground probe?
What kind of flow does your tank have?

Any additional info you would like to share.... Including anything different that you have done/not done.

Let's get to the bottom of this. Any of the above info that is questionable to you is pertinent to keeping a happy/healthy tank/wallet.