I bought a frag with 4 "Armor of Gods" Palys from another reefer a few weeks ago. For the first 2 weeks, they always stayed open, then one by one, the closed completely. They've all been completely closed for about the last week. I tried moving them lower in the tank, but they're still closed. Below is a picture. Are these palys completely closed, or have them "melted"? You can see a white spot in the picture just right of the palys, almost touching....does that look like fungus or maybe a paly that was broken off during fragging? Do you think it would be worthwhile to do a fresh water dip in RO/DI ? Thanks! Pam

http://www.homebasedbusiness-usa.com/Armor of Gods Palys.jpg

Well, they've not melted, although I'm not sure what that white spot is. I think a FW dip would only stress them more at this point. I'd also refrain from moving them any more for a while.

You'll have to refresh my memory as to what else you have in your tank livestock and coral wise, as well as what your lighting and flow are. What's the flow like where they are now? What are your water parameters?

i have had some zoanthids do this before, and they all came back after a couple of water changes. must have been something in there that they did not like.

I have had frags closed up tight just like this in my tank for a couple of weeks or more. And, at the same time others were wide open. :) Just give them some time.

Thanks all. That's good to know that they are just closed....and didn't melt. I'll leave them be.

Phurst....here's what I have in my tank. 1 small Pygmy Possum Wrasse, 1 Purple Firefish, 1 Tail Spot Blenny (added after they were closed), 1 Peppermint Shrimp (added after they were closed),
4 Cerith Snails (2 Florida, 2 Carribean), 1 very small scarlett legg Reef Crab....although I haven't seen him in quite a while, About 14 more snails were just added after they were aleady closed (Astrea,
Narsarrius and Bumblebee....which are SO cool by the way!! :)
For corals, I have a leather coral, green mushrooms, and some orange centered zoo's....all of which are doing well.
Parameters: Ammonia and Nitrites are 0. Phosphates .1 Nitrates are 5. 1.025 salinity Calcium: 350 Mag: untested. PH: 8.3
Alk: 2.9 10% water change every week.
SpectraPure MaxCap RO/DI Eheim 1260 for return pump and 1
MaxiJet 1200 powerhead. Lots of turbulence on the surface, but not sure if I need another powerhead. I have about 15x for flow.
Tank has only been set up for about 6 weeks.

Thanks.
Pam

Well, they've not melted, although I'm not sure what that white spot is. I think a FW dip would only stress them more at this point. I'd also refrain from moving them any more for a while.

You'll have to refresh my memory as to what else you have in your tank livestock and coral wise, as well as what your lighting and flow are. What's the flow like where they are now? What are your water parameters?

Well all appears to be in order. I'm with Reef Keeper and Carmie, just give them some time. It's a good sign that your other zoas are still open. Yopu may wish, at some point, to toss another MJ 1200 in there, but I don't think it's urgent.

Do you have an cyano or diatoms going on at the moment?

BTW, bumblebee snails are predatory whelks. They do not eat algae and are not considered reef safe in that they can strip your sandbed of beneficial critters. A couple are fine if you like the look of them.... they are indeed very pretty, but I do mean a couple. Just don't stock a tank with them thinking they will be a beneficial part of your clean up crew.

Thankns Seahorsedreams. I only bought 2 bumblebees. (bought 6 Astrea, 6 Narcarrius and 6 Ceriths). Two guys in my LFS said that the bumblebees were carniverous, and then the manager said that he never buys the bumblebees with the wide yellow stripes, because they are trouble, but the ones with the skinny stripes like I bought, he said were safe. Glad I just got the two, if they are iffy.

Thanks!
Pam


Do you have an cyano or diatoms going on at the moment?

BTW, bumblebee snails are predatory whelks. They do not eat algae and are not considered reef safe in that they can strip your sandbed of beneficial critters. A couple are fine if you like the look of them.... they are indeed very pretty, but I do mean a couple. Just don't stock a tank with them thinking they will be a beneficial part of your clean up crew.

I did a 10% water change tonight, not because I thought it would help my Paly's but because it was overdue (has been about 12 days since the last one). I hadn't seen the palys open AT ALL in at least a week or two. I pulled out 10% of the water and blew off a bunch of dietrus on the rocks and all of a sudden, I looked at the palys and I could see color peaking out. I haven't seen any color for over a week. Wouldn't you think that blowing the dietrus off the rock would cause them to close, not open? Here's a picture of them tonight. Bye. Pam

http://www.homebasedbusiness-usa.com/Armor of Gods Palys2.jpg

Yeah! Mine will close if I blow detritus off of them but not if I am blowing it off of the rocks. I think that they may catch and eat some of it.

Yeah! Mine will close if I blow detritus off of them but not if I am blowing it off of the rocks. I think that they may catch and eat some of it.

you took the words right out of my mouth.

Ta Daaaaaaaaa.....after two weeks of being closed, my "Armor of Gods" Paly's completely opened again!! A water change seems to be what got them to open again. Parameters are the same before and after the water change. Here's a pic I just took today.

http://www.homebasedbusiness-usa.com/Armor of Gods 6-24-07-1.jpg

And looking no worse for the wear. :)