Anemone stressed from dosing Vodka

[cwk84]

I've been dosing vodka for 3 weeks now and my BTA seems very stressed. It's browning and not as inflated anymore. Are there any alternatives to dosing vodka that don't stress nem's? It's worth noting that I don't have a sump so the only way for me to control nutrients is by adding a carbon source. My skimmer doesn't do the trick. No3 is always between 10-20ppm and I want it down to 0.5-1 pm so I can get a couple more SPS frags.

 

[Lance M.]

Picture?

Possibly accelerating growth of the zooxanthellae in the anemone leading to the browning. You may be using too high of a dose too soon.

 

[cwk84]

I did it according to a chart I found online. I’ll take a picture for you.

 

[cwk84]

Sorry I have been quite busy. Here are some pictures of the current health of my nem. Alk is 8.4, Ca 430, Mg 1290, salinity 34ppt and phosphates should be lower than 1ppm (still waiting for my reagents to come in the mail but last time I checked it was 0.07ppm). You can clearly see the amount of Zooxanthellae. I've not been dosing vodka since I made the post. Normally it looks way more inflated and not as stringy. I wouldn't even mind the brownish color as long as it's healthy and inflated.

 

[action21]

NOPOX did even worse to mine - yours looks healthy compared.

 

[cwk84]

Did it recover? It might take weeks for mine to perk up. I just want to know why carbon dosing does that. It's basically just food for the corals and bacteria. I only have two options left which are Biopellets and/or Cheato (which I would have to place in the display since I don't have a sump)

 

[Dom]

I have to say; that guy looks pretty good to me. Do you have a BEFORE pic?

 

[action21]

Not looking good for my anemone. Time will tell. Sorry it wasn’t nopox it was tritons detox

I have to say; that guy looks pretty good to me. Do you have a BEFORE pic?

 

[cwk84]

yes I took some when I got it and after I switched from LED to T5. The first one is from October right after I got it and the second one was before I started vodka dosing and after switching to T5 which is why it wasn't fully inflated yet. But you can see that it's bubbly and more greenish.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'd cut back on your dosing.....nitrates are too low.

 

[cwk84]

My nitrates are between 10-20ppm. How are they too low? And I don't dose anymore.

 

[redfishbluefish]

My nitrates are between 10-20ppm. How are they too low? And I don't dose anymore.

I apologize.....I quickly read the OP and saw nitrate numbers as 0.5-1.0 ppm, but now see that's your target.

 

[Dom]

I'd cut back on your dosing.....nitrates are too low.

Why do we dose vodka?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Why do we dose vodka?

The purpose of any carbon source (vodka, vinegar, NOPOX, biopellets), is to "feed" the bacteria so it grows and multiplies. In the process they consume nitrates and phosphates. Your skimmer then "exports" this excess bacteria, thereby removing nitrates and phosphates from your system.

 

[cwk84]

Just wanted to post a quick update. It hasn't improved so far. It's still very stringy and brown. My current Po4 level is 0.12, No3 between 5-10. No vodka dosing. It's also stretching towards the light but not moving. Normally healthy nems move but mine stays put even though it clearly wants more light. I don't know what to do now. How long does it take for the vodka dosing effects to subside?

 

[Lance M.]

What t5 set up are you using? Height? Bulbs?, etc.

Where is the anemone in relation to the light (distance, position, etc.)?

 

[cwk84]

Currently 4 Gieseman bulbs. Bulbs are 2x Super Purple, 1x Actinic Blue, 1x Aquablue Coral. Photoperiod is 10 hours ( Actinic Blue and Aquablue Coral run for 10 hours and the Super Purples for 8 hours) The fixture is approx. 4 - 5 inches above the water. The anemone is at the bottom right of the tank. Tank is approx. 18- 20 inches deep. I need to measure it when I'm home. I can use up to 8 bulbs. I was thinking of getting at least two more bulbs at some point. The thing is that normally the anemone should move to get more light but it doesn't want to leave its spot.

 

[Lance M.]

The thing is that normally the anemone should move to get more light but it doesn't want to leave its spot.

They can but a lot of times will not. Just kind of do whatever they feel like, like sit under a rock for weeks.

I have a 4x bulb T5 and the position you're describing does not get enough light. You will probably want to make use of the extra slots for bulbs to increase the spread, but it would be better if you could move the rock the anemone is on to an area underneath the light, midway in the tank. Maybe change up the flow to try to get it to move if you can not move the rock.

 

[cwk84]

You will probably want to make use of the extra slots for bulbs to increase the spread, but it would be better if you could move the rock the anemone is on to an area underneath the light, midway in the tank. Maybe change up the flow to try to get it to move if you can not move the rock.

It's not possible for me to move this rock. It's a base rock. I'd have to destroy everything... What if I try moving it by hand?

 

[Lance M.]

What if I try moving it by hand?

I would prefer redirecting flow in a way that gets it to move. I usually only touch them if there is no other option.