Bali mini carpet anemone looks deflated and flat.

[olonmv]

So 2 of 3 of my mini carpet mini’s are looking strange. My fish, shrimp, corals and rockflower are looking their usual self. Parameters are normal for my tank.

Ammonia- 0
Nitrate- 8
Phosphate- .04
Ph- 8
Alk- 8.6
Ca- 389
Mag- 1240
Sal- 1.025
Temp- 78

they are down to about 1/3 of their normal selves. I read somewhere that they deflate from time to time In order to expel stagnant water. I have not tried the sticky test and their mouths aren’t spilling out their insides, their firmly planted in their spots. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? They’ve never done this prior and are splits (months ago) from my original which seems fine as well.

 

[vetteguy53081]

May be insufficient lighting
They require moderate light and water flow. They utilize light for production of it energy blocks known as zooxanthellae

 

[olonmv]

May be insufficient lighting
They require moderate light and water flow. They utilize light for production of it energy blocks known as zooxanthellae

I’m at a loss because lighting has been unchanged for nearly a year. In fact, the one who looks more deflated is in the upper 1/3 part of my tank. I run an AI 16hd which is about 8” above the water surface. Here’s what my schedule has looked like the entire time I’ve had them. It’s a hybrid of AB+ and saxby setting with a little personal adjustments to my liking. Do you still feel that lighting is insufficient? Thanks for the quick response.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m at a loss because lighting has been unchanged for nearly a year. In fact, the one who looks more deflated is in the upper 1/3 part of my tank. I run an AI 16hd which is about 8” above the water surface. Here’s what my schedule has looked like the entire time I’ve had them. It’s a hybrid of AB+ and saxby setting with a little personal adjustments to my liking. Do you still feel that lighting is insufficient? Thanks for the quick response.

Yikes- meant above sufficient. Try lowering UV to 95% . . Bump blue to 65%and see response. Im running 3 Hydra 26 over a 135g, and UV seemed to be strong. Lowering it to 85% - My zoas are so healthy and multiply quickly.
I assume you feed them? Also assure your PO4 and nitrate is not elevated

 

[olonmv]

Yikes- meant above sufficient. Try lowering UV to 95% . . Bump blue to 65%and see response. Im running 3 Hydra 26 over a 135g, and UV seemed to be strong. Lowering it to 85% - My zoas are so healthy and multiply quickly.
I assume you feed them? Also assure your PO4 and nitrate is not elevated

That’s a big ten four sir! I will make light adjustments in the morning. They get fed about 3 times a week (lrs reef frenzy with frozen brine) and whatever they take from daily broadcast feedings. P04 is actually lower than it’s been (started a fuge in chamber 2 bout 2 months ago) I rock a 13.5 evo. And nitrate has seemed to stabilize at around 8. I will try the light adjustments and see where that leads. Also, not sure if this has anything to do with anything. I started adding coral amino about a month and a half ago (2 drops daily) would that cause them to be irritated?

 

[vetteguy53081]

That’s a big ten four sir! I will make light adjustments in the morning. They get fed about 3 times a week (lrs reef frenzy with frozen brine) and whatever they take from daily broadcast feedings. P04 is actually lower than it’s been (started a fuge in chamber 2 bout 2 months ago) I rock a 13.5 evo. And nitrate has seemed to stabilize at around 8. I will try the light adjustments and see where that leads. Also, not sure if this has anything to do with anything. I started adding coral amino about a month and a half ago (2 drops daily) would that cause them to be irritated?

2 drops would not and should not cause behavioral change. Perfect meal you are providing. A response to amino is possible but will not be a long term effect

 

[olonmv]

2 drops would not and should not cause behavioral change. Perfect meal you are providing. A response to amino is possible but will not be a long term effect

Sweet! I’ll update in a few days. Thanks for the sound advise!!!!

 

[olonmv]

Update: I set my lights to acclimation mode (goin through each individual schedule and reducing and raising light settings was dreadful so I went the easy route) a few days ago and my mini carpets are still upset and small (deflated). They do however still respond to feedings and eat whatever is given. I have just noticed that my powerhead has stuck itself to the highest flow setting and I can’t control it via app. I’m in contact with Hydor to see if the problem can be rectified (some sort of app bug I imagine). I’m not exactly sure if flow is what is bothering them since all 3 are responding the same way and they’re all in different locations in the tank.

 

[MaxTremors]

Update: I set my lights to acclimation mode (goin through each individual schedule and reducing and raising light settings was dreadful so I went the easy route) a few days ago and my mini carpets are still upset and small (deflated). They do however still respond to feedings and eat whatever is given. I have just noticed that my powerhead has stuck itself to the highest flow setting and I can’t control it via app. I’m in contact with Hydor to see if the problem can be rectified (some sort of app bug I imagine). I’m not exactly sure if flow is what is bothering them since all 3 are responding the same way and they’re all in different locations in the tank.

It’s been my experience that those little red carpet anemones (as opposed to the normal green/multicolor ones) generally just waste away over time. I don’t know the cause, but I’ve never been able to keep one longer than a year and no one I know has kept one alive long term. And they usually do what you’re experiencing, they just get smaller and smaller, and then eventually hide and disappear. From
what I understand, they come from fairly deep water in areas with lots of detritus and sediment. I’s also been said that they don’t like strong lighting (again because they come from deep water), so I would definitely turn the lights down and if possible try to provide a somewhat shaded area for them.

 

[olonmv]

It’s been my experience that those little red carpet anemones (as opposed to the normal green/multicolor ones) generally just waste away over time. I don’t know the cause, but I’ve never been able to keep one longer than a year and no one I know has kept one alive long term. And they usually do what you’re experiencing, they just get smaller and smaller, and then eventually hide and disappear. From
what I understand, they come from fairly deep water in areas with lots of detritus and sediment. I’s also been said that they don’t like strong lighting (again because they come from deep water), so I would definitely turn the lights down and if possible try to provide a somewhat shaded area for them.

In my search for what was goin on I also stumbled on the deep water bit. It kinda makes sense that all 3 are doin the same thing only because two are a split off of my original mini carpet. For months they were in an area where light was semi strong but not overwhelmingly strong. Even in acclimation mode down to 60% they don’t seem to be showing signs of improvement. I hope they bounce back as they are really pretty.

 

[olonmv]

I’m having a hard time answering my own question. If the nems die, will they nuke the tank?