BTA Closed for several days. Any suggestions?

[Glasswalker]

So I have 4 BTAs in my display. Been there for quite a while (probably 8 months, would have to go back and check the date I added them). Anyway, they've been there quite a while. Actually added one, and it grew, and split into 2, then the larger of those 2 split into 3. They've stayed put since then, seem nice and healthy/happy, and have been hosting clowns.

Anyway, one of the 4 has suddenly closed up tight, it's normally about 6" - 8" diameter fully open (oral disk probably 3" plus tentacles). Now it's a bubble on the rock approx 2" diameter? (seems nice an plump, full of water, not sagging, or looking sickly, just tightly closed).

The other 3 are all nice and open, and seem happy

Clowns hosting in all 4 of them (same pair of Percula Clowns, they just seem to move between all 4 anemones lol) This particular one is one of their favorites though.

Closed up on Friday night, it's now Tuesday. I left it be, as I know BTAs can be weird sometimes, but thought it's been several days, figured I'd best follow-up to see if anyone has suggestions

Planning a large water change tonight, and will do a battery of tests on water as per usual part of that process. So don't have exact parameters for you right now.
Usually (and most recent tests about a week ago) reads:
8.0 - 8.1 ph
Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Phosphate all zero.
(fighting GHA issues, so running PhosGuard, and dosing alcohol to control nutrients)
Salinity 1.024
Cal/Alk hasn't been tested in a while, will do it tonight.
Only thing I noticed was a bit out of whack is temperature is a bit lower than usual. Usually it runs between 79C and 81C, but it's 77.5C last I checked, which is quite low, I suspect one of my heaters is on the fritz, I turned the one that wasn't engaged up a notch and it kicked in, so see if that helps.

Anyway, just thought I'd check in for any ideas of what to look for specifically. As I said I'll be doing a large battery of tests tonight when I get home, and doing a large water change tonight, and I'll be getting the temperature in-line as well. So one of those things may make it happy. Or perhaps I'll get home and it will be opened up again lol, BTAs can be weird little critters sometimes lol.

Thanks!

 

[jsker]

My first guess would be it might be splitting, but just guessing

As your going to do, checking all the parameters to see if everything is where is should be.

I think you hit upon all the issues that could accrue and tweaking one or two should do the trick

 

[Glasswalker]

Odd, he opened up for a day approx, not fully open. Then closed right back up. Hasn't split, hasn't moved. Doesn't look "sick" no mucous or other apparent issues.

Just being wierd apparently.

As I said other 3 BTAs all perfectly happy, and open, and the Rock Flower is open and happy. Just this one is being strange.

 

[Bonfish]

I was recently trying a low nutrient system with and all of around 7dkh. Had a similar problem, they would one by one show signs of stress. They shrink, turn almost a brown color and eventually fall off the rock. I have raised my Alk back up to 8.6dkh and all is well. Just my experience with RBTA's that I have had for about 6 years.

 

[Glasswalker]

I was recently trying a low nutrient system with and all of around 7dkh. Had a similar problem, they would one by one show signs of stress. They shrink, turn almost a brown color and eventually fall off the rock. I have raised my Alk back up to 8.6dkh and all is well. Just my experience with RBTA's that I have had for about 6 years.

Interesting, I did a full battery of tests including alk, and it was out of whack... Maybe that's what's making it upset.

In addition to the parameters I posted above, (which were the same in this round of tests). I tested the following:
Calcium - 441 ppm
Magnesium - 1200 ppm
Alk - 5.9 dkh

So the Alk is way low, and Mag is a little bit low. Calcium looks ok though...

So now to get Alk up and see if the BTA gets happy again.

Thanks!

 

[Bonfish]

No problem, just try to raise your alk slowly. No more than 0.2dkh per day. This will hopefully give the anemone some time adjust. It is amazing how just one parameter can make such a huge difference. Good luck and keep us posted.