Zoanthid pest problem

[JACOBJNY320]

About a month ago I ordered a 0.4 gallon aio. It came in a couple days ago. On Saturday I when to my local reef store. The owner gave me a bag of salt, some rock, about a gallon of saltwater and a bit of rubble for filter media. He also gave me a small zoanthid frag. When I got back I set the tank up and was happy to see the zoanthid open up. The next day only a couple of head opened and I saw small bugs by the closed polyps The next day all the heads were closed and I saw small bugs moving to the rock.
 

Can anyone help?!?

[Ratvan]

Do either look like https://images.app.goo.gl/WKeKqLGbCjxFyi4LA

and match the colour of the Zoa?

[JACOBJNY320]

Just now, Ratvan said:

Do either look like https://images.app.goo.gl/WKeKqLGbCjxFyi4LA

and match the colour of the Zoa?

No, they look like white mites (except they live in water) and are almost too small to see 

[Ratvan]

Then I wouldnt worry unless you get a huge population which I guess syringe out as water change? 

 

Sound like a pod if some sort. Mostly harmless 

 

https://www.thesprucepets.com/those-little-white-bugs-in-your-tank-2921281

 

[JACOBJNY320]

3 minutes ago, Ratvan said:

Then I wouldnt worry unless you get a huge population which I guess syringe out as water change? 

 

Sound like a pod if some sort. Mostly harmless 

 

https://www.thesprucepets.com/those-little-white-bugs-in-your-tank-2921281

 

thank you, I'll watch out for any changes. any idea why the zoas are closed up?

[Ratvan]

Settling in the tank most likely it'll take a while. I've had some close to half open for weeks and then they just start producing pups and colour up. Keep everything as stable as possible. Maybe use the water from the LFS next time for WC? If the same LFS each time. 

 

Got any pics?

[mcarroll]

Indeed, some pics and some test parameters would both help! 😁

[JACOBJNY320]

[mcarroll]

Tank may be too new. 

 

Nutrients may be zero. 

 

Light looks like too much as well, which can exacerbate the other issues.

 

Your zoanthids may just be staying closed for protection.

 

Water test results may shed some more light on this.  (pun!)

[BearTheSquare]

I agree with @mcarroll. 

 

Just curious, was the rock dry when you got it and did you use live sand if it was dry? I'm going to say the tank is likely not cycled since it was only Saturday when you set it up, especially if the rock/sand was not from an established system. Nutrients may be low to zero or the rock/sand may be leaching into the tank if dry.

 

Edit: Just saw from your other post that this is one of those mini complete tanks (pictures tricked me) and I don't know much about setting up a tank that small. I'm guessing its similar to a pico, but if what I said doesn't apply don't listen to me lol.

[sadie]

zoas are funny, or weird.  I bought some about a month ago and they still haven't opened all the way.  Every now and then they open just enough for me to see some color, and then close.  Granted my salinity was way high and my KH was not stable, but still.  They can be weird.