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Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 8:22 am
by lynxfang
My Zoanthid polyps started bailing out yesterday, and I can't figure out why. Tank params are stable, 78F, 1.025 salinity, 8.2 pH, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate. Running a 40-gallon with AI Prime lighting, 10% weekly water changes. Any ideas?
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 9:18 am
by dantez
Weird vibe, dude. Had the same thing happen last month. Check your flow—mine was too high. Also, any new tankmates? My clownfish decided to mess with 'em right before they bailed.
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 9:45 am
by rizeno
dantez wrote: ↑Sun Jun 08, 2025 9:18 am
Weird vibe, dude. Had the same thing happen last month. Check your flow—mine was too high. Also, any new tankmates? My clownfish decided to mess with 'em right before they bailed.
Flow's a good point. What's your PAR reading under the AI Prime? Zoanthids can bail if light's too intense suddenly. Also, any recent chemical treatments?
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 11:04 am
by wildflora
Mine did that once. I cut it back to 5% water changes and they chilled out. Maybe too much change at once?
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 12:01 pm
by tuners
Yep, sketchy stuff. My buddy's tank had a similar issue, turned out his heater was spiking temps at night. You got a controller on that thing?
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 12:37 pm
by darkdive
Nope, no heater spikes here, but my skimmer went nuts last week. Could be oxygen swings. You running carbon?
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 7:57 pm
by dantez
Powerhead's prolly the culprit. Mine hate sudden flow changes. Try pointing it at the glass or dialing it back a notch.
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 9:27 pm
by rizeno
Agreed on the flow. Also, what's your alkalinity at? Zoanthids can bail if alk swings more than 0.5 dKH in a day. Tested it lately?
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 9:33 pm
by wildflora
Mine's at 8 dKH. Stable for months. Maybe it's just the powerhead like dantez said.
Re: Zoanthid polyp bailout, why?
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 10:01 pm
by tuners
Gonna throw this out there—any chance of stray voltage? My tank had a sketchy ground once, and everything acted weird till I fixed it.