Bought a bleached LTA.

[Kayanarka]

I am starting to think I may have purchased a bleached anemone. He was very white in the store and I am reading posts that say this means he expelled his energy producing photosynthesis stuff.

Is there any salvaging him? If there is a treatment can it be done in the main tank or should he be in quarantine? Should I just leave him be in a shady spot and hope for the best? Tone down lighting? If so, how much.

One night he started to get some slight purple color, but he is pretty white now. He has not been wanting to take hold. He got a foot hold of a glass and stayed overnight, but let go and wriggled across the the sand bed to a corner. My wife just moved him to a shaded spot under the rocks. I am at work at the moment.

 

[blaxsun]

You could try dropping the lighting by 50% to see if that helps.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Needs stable parameters , some nitrate , and I would feed reef roids to the nem which contains the algae it lost

 

[Kayanarka]

Needs stable parameters , some nitrate , and I would feed reef roids to the nem which contains the algae it lost

Cool, Parameters are good though I am getting Alk locked in. Calcium been up in the low 500,s Alk was 8 last night, dosing 40ml a day of aqua forest for KH, Have calcium turned down to 5ml a day, if it doesn't start dropping in the next day or two I may stop calcium dosing until it hits low to mid 400. Temp is set to 78 and swings about 1 degree. I would like to get that locked in better. Thinking of adding a second heater, would it help to have one in the tanks drain box back of tank? Dosing 10ml a day of magnesium until I see the change I get from that each day. I don't have my magnesium reading memorized I think I was around 1200. Salinity bounces between 1.024 and 1.025 on Hanna electric. PH 8.2 to 8.4, salifert test taught to read. Ammonia 0 nitrite .03 to .04 using the look through the side and divide by ten method. Nitrite looks clear looking straight down. Nitrates around 4. I forget my phosphate number.

Is 4 enough nitrates? I have reef roids. I was thinking of seeing if he would take some raw shrimp. Could I roll a small peice of shrimp in some reef roids? Would squirting him with reef roids be enough? I know when we added some reef roids the other day for the corals it sent phosphates up enough to notice the next mornings testings.

I'm going to pick up some shrimp in my way home and hope for further guidance being posted here when I get home. If I don't need the shrimp my wife will eat it.

 

[Rmckoy]

Needs stable parameters , some nitrate , and I would feed reef roids to the nem which contains the algae it lost

Feed only small portions .
They use a lot of energy to process food .

temp fluctuations also can cause bleaching .

 

[CanuckReefer]

You could try dropping the lighting by 50% to see if that helps.

Agree with blax here....dump it for a few days to half and observe. Mine was slightly bleached years back and it made a nice recovery after a lower light intro...about 3 days then bump to 75, a few days then full. Also if you dose phyto this will help boost the zoo's for the Nem. I've heard a few say Phyto doesn't help Nems but based on my dosing I beg to differ. Anyway, happy reefing.

 

[Rmckoy]

Agree with blax here....dump it for a few days to half and observe. Mine was slightly bleached years back and it made a nice recovery after a lower light intro...about 3 days then bump to 75, a few days then full. Also if you dose phyto this will help boost the zoo's for the Nem. I've heard a few say Phyto doesn't help Nems but based on my dosing I beg to differ. Anyway, happy reefing.

Years ago . I dosed iodide and aminos

 

[CanuckReefer]

Years ago . I dosed iodide and aminos

I have been considering AB + from Red Sea for awhile now, but yet to pull trigger. My phos is in check so curious if it will mess with it.... Nem and softies are looking great but wondering if a little boost would help the LPS and 2 SPS....ah the delicate balance lol. No skimmer so I've gotta be on the ball!

 

[Rmckoy]

I have been considering AB + from Red Sea for awhile now, but yet to pull trigger. My phos is in check so curious if it will mess with it.... Nem and softies are looking great but wondering if a little boost would help the LPS and 2 SPS....ah the delicate balance lol.

Sps still doing great ?

haven’t seen anything from you in awhile. .
Hope all is well

 

[CanuckReefer]

Sps still doing great ?

haven’t seen anything from you in awhile. .
Hope all is well

They are alive, and seem just fine but growth is super slow....I imagine its that my small water changes are not quite enough to expedite the growth and dosing needed or perhaps the AB+ to try....

 

[Rmckoy]

They are alive, and seem just fine but growth is super slow....I imagine its that my small water changes are not quite enough to expedite the growth and dosing needed or perhaps the AB+ to try....

Nutrients are needed for food .
stability , good lights .
and time ..
lots of time

 

[dvgyfresh]

Cool, Parameters are good though I am getting Alk locked in. Calcium been up in the low 500,s Alk was 8 last night, dosing 40ml a day of aqua forest for KH, Have calcium turned down to 5ml a day, if it doesn't start dropping in the next day or two I may stop calcium dosing until it hits low to mid 400. Temp is set to 78 and swings about 1 degree. I would like to get that locked in better. Thinking of adding a second heater, would it help to have one in the tanks drain box back of tank? Dosing 10ml a day of magnesium until I see the change I get from that each day. I don't have my magnesium reading memorized I think I was around 1200. Salinity bounces between 1.024 and 1.025 on Hanna electric. PH 8.2 to 8.4, salifert test taught to read. Ammonia 0 nitrite .03 to .04 using the look through the side and divide by ten method. Nitrite looks clear looking straight down. Nitrates around 4. I forget my phosphate number.

Is 4 enough nitrates? I have reef roids. I was thinking of seeing if he would take some raw shrimp. Could I roll a small peice of shrimp in some reef roids? Would squirting him with reef roids be enough? I know when we added some reef roids the other day for the corals it sent phosphates up enough to notice the next mornings testings.

I'm going to pick up some shrimp in my way home and hope for further guidance being posted here when I get home. If I don't need the shrimp my wife will eat it.

Everyone runs their tank differently and it’s up to you to decide but I like my nitrates to be 10-20 ppm and phosphate .05 - .2 ppm range. I wouldn’t feed shrimp yet or if anything like pencil eraser size of food , it will take time like months for nem to regain color

 

[CanuckReefer]

I am starting to think I may have purchased a bleached anemone. He was very white in the store and I am reading posts that say this means he expelled his energy producing photosynthesis stuff.

Is there any salvaging him? If there is a treatment can it be done in the main tank or should he be in quarantine? Should I just leave him be in a shady spot and hope for the best? Tone down lighting? If so, how much.

One night he started to get some slight purple color, but he is pretty white now. He has not been wanting to take hold. He got a foot hold of a glass and stayed overnight, but let go and wriggled across the the sand bed to a corner. My wife just moved him to a shaded spot under the rocks. I am at work at the moment.

Also, if I can add, NO to treatment at all imo. How deep is sandbed? They love a nice deep , at least 2-3 inch sand to wiggle into...
It's the waiting game till establishment with a few minor adjustments. And absolutely don't move it on your own imo, Nem will move when it wants. Frustrating, but you'll get there. Let us know how its making out tomorrow.

 

[Kayanarka]

Also, if I can add, NO to treatment at all imo. How deep is sandbed? They love a nice deep , at least 2-3 inch sand to wiggle into...
It's the waiting game till establishment with a few minor adjustments. And absolutely don't move it on your own imo, Nem will move when it wants. Frustrating, but you'll get there. Let us know how its making out tomorrow.

The sand bed is about 4 inches up front and slopes a bit to the rear. My wife tucked him into a shadowed cave, sounds like he may have stuck himself there. I'll drop lights to half while they get acclimated, and see if he wants a tiny peice of fish. Just got home so will check in on him soon.

 

[Kayanarka]

He seems content, flowing around. He ate some brine shrimp. He refused a peice of fish.

I thought the BTA was discarding the peice of fish seen in this photo, but he just refused to let it go. How long does it take them to get it in the mouth. I worry now it is too big, but he does not want to let it go.

 

[Kayanarka]

Readings tonight :

Salinity 1.o25 @ 77.3 F

Amonia 0.0

Nitrite 0.4

Nitrate 12

Calcium 518

Magnesium 1320 - 1350

Alkalinity 7.7 dkh

PH 8.3

Phosphate 0.07

I used a calculator to determine that I should be able to bring my alkalinity up by 1.0 over 24 hours with 150ml of Aqua forrest KH +2. I turned calcium dosing down to 1ml per day, and magnesium is set to 15ml/day.

The LTA seems happy now in a crevice between rocks. He stood himself straight up and it looks like he might be digging. It took brine shrimp from my wife's feeding.

The BTA seems very happy, ate a nice size of silver fish, and has settled into a rock securely.

I think I want to start slowly raising my flow a bit once these guys are settled. Right now I am running my 4k gyro at 30 to 35% max, which to me feels low for the 4 foot wide tank. I only have 1 4k now. Wondering what folks suggest they run as a speed percentage in a 90 Gallon tank, with one pump and also with two.

 

[Kayanarka]

Just an update, he still has not settled in. We will stop trying to place him unless someone suggests otherwise.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Just an update, he still has not settled in. We will stop trying to place him unless someone suggests otherwise.

I would stop moving it, it'll find a place it's happy with on its own

 

[Victory652]

Just an update, he still has not settled in. We will stop trying to place him unless someone suggests otherwise.

Yeah just let them do their thing haha they are notorious for moving around. It will find the right spot that it likes. I would hold off on feeding the fish and stick with smaller things like the brine and Mysis shrimp till it find a spot it likes and isn't running around.

Make sure your intakes and propellers are properly covered! They are know for getting stuck and dying in those.

I do not think your Nem is bleached through, it looks like it might one of the White variety. Should get some purple on its tips when healthy!

Happy reefing!

 

[Kayanarka]

Yeah just let them do their thing haha they are notorious for moving around. It will find the right spot that it likes. I would hold off on feeding the fish and stick with smaller things like the brine and Mysis shrimp till it find a spot it likes and isn't running around.

Make sure your intakes and propellers are properly covered! They are know for getting stuck and dying in those.

I do not think your Nem is bleached through, it looks like it might one of the White variety. Should get some purple on its tips when healthy!

Happy reefing!

He is actually getting a little bit of color in the tentacles. It looks like they are turning purple a little bit, the tips are a very bright white. I need something to be able to take a picture. It turns out too blue. You can see how white the tips are compared to the tentacles.

The picture makes them look darker then they are, but there is clearly some color forming now.