Anemone has shrunk over the past 5-6 months

cwk84 · Jun 29, 2018

I can't find my old thread so I'll post another one. Last year (I think it was October or November) I purchased a green BTA that looked somewhat bleached (very light green) when I got it. It first didn't like my LED's so I changed over to T5's which it seemed to enjoy. I then started vodka dosing to lower N03 and that was about when things started going downhill. The more I dosed the more the BTA changed in color and size. First, the tentacles became thin and stringy which was followed by a change in color (turned a dark green). After that, it began to shrink gradually. It's only 1/3 of the original size now. More often than not it has a gaping mouth. I have two clowns that try to host it. Could this maybe be the reason why it's stressed? I have stopped vodka dosing a while ago but it does not seem to recover. I've changed the salt mix, I tried higher phosphates, lower phosphates, more light, less light, lower temps, higher temps, more feeding, less feeding but it did not change anything.

My current parameters as of today :

Ca 420-430 ppm
Mg 1400
Alk 7-7.5
NO3 10-20ppm
PO3 0.06
Ph 7.9 -8.3 (depending on whether or not I have the windows open all day)
Temp 77-79

I run Clear FX to keep phosphates in check. I tried different filtration media but that also didn't have any effect except that my nutrients increased.

This is what it looked like right after I purchased it:

This is a picture 2-3 weeks into vodka dosing 0.5ml a day:

This is from today (taken with an actual camera this time):

It doesn't like that dramatic every day but most of the time it does. If its mouth is not gaping it is a TINY bit more inflated (I'd say 1.5 - 2 inches max).

dylana407 · Jun 29, 2018

My tank is different than your in that I'm not using any chemical or dose anything. One thing I know is if I don't run carbon, my BTAs are not happy. You can try running carbon. GL.

cwk84 · Jun 29, 2018

I’m running GCA. Clear FX is all in once (AC,GFO and resin). My water is so clear it looks like my fish are suspended in air. I do not dose anything expect alk. No vodka anymore.

Amoo · Jun 29, 2018

You gave us some really great info and that is very much appreciated. You have what I like to call a "can't get right" anemone.

What I would do is move it to a QT/Rx tank with pristine water and try to give it as similar as lighting conditions as possible and observe it for a day or two. If it seems to suddenly start getting better then you know you need to keep looking at things in your tank (rusty pump impeller, stray voltage, chem warfare....etc.) If it doesn't seem to improve any I would hit it with a round of Cipro and that will usually knock out whatever the problem is and get it back on the right track.

cwk84 · Jun 29, 2018

If it was stray voltage wouldn’t other inhabitants show signs of distress?

My nano tank is still cycling. I was planning on putting it in the tank once it has cycled.

What is Cipro?

dylana407 · Jun 29, 2018

cwk84 said:
If it was stray voltage wouldn’t other inhabitants show signs of distress?

My nano tank is still cycling. I was planning on putting it in the tank once it has cycled.

What is Cipro?

Your tank is still cycling?

cwk84 · Jun 29, 2018

No my nano that I set up is still cycling. The nano is my 2nd tank. I set it up as a backup tank. I could put the nem in there when the cycle has finished.

Amoo · Jun 29, 2018

Read the sticky at the top of this forum on Cipro treatment.

Moving it into a new tank freshly cycled is likely to make things worse. You need a legit QT style setup. You can usually pick up a small 10G from Wally World for less than $20 and it'll come with a filter/heater...etc.

cwk84 · Jun 29, 2018

But that tank needs to be cycled as well.

Alright I’ll read up on it!

Amoo · Jun 29, 2018

no because you are changing out the water as ammonia creeps

cwk84 · Jun 29, 2018

How is this better than a freshly cycled tank with no ammonia and nitrite and barely any nitrate?

I guess could add some prime. I could give it a try.

Amoo · Jun 30, 2018

Because you don't want any bacteria at all in the system, especially if you end up having to treat.

There's a ton of stickies in the disease and treatment forum on how to and why you setup a QT the way you do.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-disease-treatment-and-diagnosis.771/

TexasTodd · Jun 30, 2018

How long since you stopped vodka? What is your salinity? Are you feeding and how often? What T5?

cwk84 · Jun 30, 2018

I stopped ~2 months ago. At the moment I’musing 4 Giessemann bulbs (2x Super Purple, 1x Aquablue Coral, 1x Actinic Blue). I could use up to 8 bulbs. I used to feed it every 2-3 days but it didn’t improve things. Now I feed maybe once a week or once every two weeks. Salinity is 34ppt but I’m slowly letting the water evaporate to reach 35ppt.

TexasTodd · Jun 30, 2018

Man, I don't know. Sometimes they look like that but shouldn't for long.
I know lots of people do, but I never feed mine other than what they catch from feeding fish. I have seen where if they're already under the weather, the clowns can be too hard on them. You might try moving them once your other tank is good.
Might be an infection like Amoo is saying.

cwk84 · Jul 1, 2018

It might well be that I purchased it with an infection. I'll put it in a QT tank and treat it. There is no way of knowing without trying.

cwk84 · Jul 2, 2018

Quick update: I think it's the clowns. I got a RBTA for basically nothing from a local reefer. Fully extended it's about 5". When I introduced it, it took a while for it to bubble up but it did. I put it in a small breeder box first before I put in the tank. The moment I put it in the tank the clowns started violently attacking it, kicking it with their tails and now it displays the same signs of stress as my green one has been showing for months. Especially. my orange clown is super aggressive. I caught them and put them in a tiny breeder box.
Now I'm in a dilemma. I have the green BTA in the QT ready for treatment and the RBTA is acclimating in the DT and my two 1.5" clowns are in a tiny breeder box. I have no idea how I should proceed. Can I leave them in the breeder box without stressing them too much? Can they live in such a tiny space for a while? My nano is still cycling otherwise I could transfer them.