why are my zoa dying

[kamloops_reefer]

Originally Posted by Slyguy00

I'd bet on amphipods. Seen it happen 100 times. Take a look in your tank few hours after lights out. I bet you find the culprit.

correct - as I had a similar topic of discussion that these guys can get quite huge. I couldn't help but notice late at night I'd shine a flash light in there and see them scurry away from zoa frag locations. I assume they are munching away on those which might have a slight deficiency - good healthy ones might be avoided by them.

But I've had a few frags disappear outright and once I some wrasses (yellow coris wrasse) and harlem shrimp to battle the small starfish things have been moving forward with no losses.

I believe salt water is all about removing potential variables - my only variable now is water parameters and little to no pests

Good luck!

[donkey77]

i will bring in a water sample to bayside
thanks all

[gobytron]

Found this...

Gotta love a hobby you can enjoy for a decade and still pick up the odd bit of new info...


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rs/index.php

from the article

"One very small group of oddball amphipods is called the Ingolfiellidea. These animals normally live between and on sand grains, and to the best of my knowledge, they have never been seen in aquaria. The other two groups of amphipods are both ecologically important and diverse. They are the Hyperiidea and the Caprellidea. The hyperiids live in the plankton, and many are predatory or parasitic on gelatinous zooplankton..."