Zoas closing and dying

So, I have lost a bunch of zoos lately. I'm really stumped on this one but I have a few suspicions. I recently switched to LED's on my RSM 130D. I have had them on for about three months, everything has been doing great. Recently, I had been adjusting the output and the lights came on at full strength, (no Lenses), only breifly about 8" from the top of the water. I think that the light just blasted the zoas and they have since started closing up, dying and being eaten by pods and crabs.

So, has anyone seen this? Would this be a good estimation of why they are dying? Params are all good, SPS are doing great, but, I have also seen some of my acans on the sand shrink up a little.  There are some zoas that are doing fine, but now my best colony of RDE is slowing dwindling. They were about half way up.  I have since put that colony on the sand and and I have attached a pic.

CA 400
KH 8
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphate 0
PH 8.3
SG 1.025
MG 1250

I was having the same problem about a month ago.  I talked to LFS and they had me try adding Marine C.  They have all started opening up again and are starting to grow. 

Here is a link to the info.  http://www.kentmarine.com/products/kent-marine-c.htm 

Ksmart,

Something we should all understand is that basic coral health has absolutely nothing to do with any of the fancy supplemental products manufactured and sold in this hobby. I have never needed any of them and I was making a profit growing coral from 1997 to 2011.

In coral farming I focused on Temp, Salinity, Alk, and Ca. Periodically I would check and adjust for Mg and I. Water changes were 10% monthly. AC (Activated Carbon in a simple floss bag near fast moving water) is a definite must for reef aquariums about 2 weeks per month. Allelopathic Chemicals are everywhere and most can only be removed with AC. Skimming and Algae growth cannot remove the toxins from the water.

In order to best help you, please answer the following questions:
What lights at what wattage were on the tank previously?
When were the new LED's added what color and wattage and how long have they been at what intensity?
How long were they "on at full strength, (no Lenses), only breifly about 8" from the top of the water" and when was this in relation to the Zoanthids starting to stay closed?
How long has the Alkalinity been at 8dKH?
May we see a full tank pic?

I have examined the latest zoos to succumb to the mystery. I don't see any white spots but will examine closer tomorrow. Each day more close up and whither away. The first set were some peach center that were about half way up. I have 28 3w Cree LEDs, half royal blue, xp-e half white xp-g. I had acclimated for a few weeks and increased the intensity to 55% max. For about a month. White at 1000 mA and blue at 800 mA. The LEDs are close enough to the top that no optics are needed. I ran them at 100% briefly, like one minute but they are very bright. This may have been just a coincidence but the zoos went down from there. The peach died within a week, 15-20 heads. The RDE were fine for a few days then one of them started turning white which was why I thought the light may have done something. I had triple reds near the top that we're loving the light then, closed and started to whither. Some are coming back but they are nearly gone, 25-40 heads. Previously had two coralife 55w t5 in the red sea max standard hood. I have perasraltic dosing pumps for alk and calc so those levels are pretty consistent. I change 10% every two weeks with reef crystals. I have chemi pure elite, Purigen and activated carbon. My SPS are all growing like weeds.

Edited by SirReefsAlot - April 12 2012 at 11:33pm

I took a few pics last night when the moonlights were on. These are with my iphone, so no the best. I am seeing what appear to be small white dots. I do not see any on the triple reds however which were at the top of the tank. I am suspecting maybe the reds and peach got too much light and these dragon eyes are suffering from a disease. That is pretty poor luck to have both scenarios at the same time. Eagle Eyes, colony two is unaffected, the other colony is gone. The zoos in the second pic on the right now have a couple that are closing up. Anyone have an ID on those because I'm not sure what kind they are.








Edited by SirReefsAlot - April 12 2012 at 11:34pm

AC is a must, but purigen/chemipure has been known to cause problems, especially in long term use. Though it may indeed be disease or predator, I would only use Chemipure for specific situations; 1) where some kind of medication or heavy metal was causing problems, 2) when previously dry, old dead LR that was too nice looking to throw away, is causing problems in the tank (Polyfilter is actually my preferred product here).

I dipped revive and seachem iodine based coral dip (not at the same time, or day). I'm in Logan so I had to order some furan from marine depot. Won't be here till Monday. What is the dose/dip ratio for the furan-water?

Mark, what are the problems that arise with seachem/purigen?

Where has everyone found Furan for the best deal at?