BTA dying?

[CarolineJ]

Looking for help with what's wrong with my BTA. My tank is 4 months old. I've had this and 1 other BTA for 2.5 months and they've been great until this last week. The one on the right is healthy and flourishing but the one on the left hasn't opened in several days now and today it's mouth is gaping. My parameters: salinity 1.026, pH 7.9 (I just added some pH up), mag 1450, Ca 431, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 0-5, phos 0.13, kh 120 ppm, temp 78. It's a 29 gallon and I do 5 gallon weekly changes. I bulb syringe feed them a bit of chopped up mysis shrimp about once a week. Please be gentle with me if there's something I'm doing wrong, I'm still a newbie. I just don't want it to die

 

[CarolineJ]

Picture from further back if that helps

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

What type of lighting does the tank have? Type, wattage and duration?

 

[ryanjohn1]

If I remember correctly a gaping mouth means it has perished. Not 100% sure of that tho

 

[Nano_Man]

What have you changed water parameters
Lighting flow

 

[CarolineJ]

What type of lighting does the tank have? Type, wattage and duration?

I have the stock LEDs in the Biocube 32 hood. My schedule is LC1 (daylights) 1100-2000, LC2 (sunrise/sunset) 1000-2030, LC3 (moonlights) 0600-0000. My other bta has been doing great with it. The nem in question actually looks a little better this morning, so hopefully will continue to get better.

 

[CarolineJ]

What have you changed water parameters
Lighting flow

Nothing. I've been keeping it all the same, that's why I'm so puzzled. Only thing new was the birdsnest to the left of it, but they've never touched and from what I've researched it shouldn't bother it.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Sometimes a gaping mouth is associated with needing to excrete. Keep an eye on it. I think your nitrates are a little low so I might consider raising them to around 10 ppm. Ben’s like slightly dirtier water.

 

[CarolineJ]

Sometimes a gaping mouth is associated with needing to excrete. Keep an eye on it. I think your nitrates are a little low so I might consider raising them to around 10 ppm. Ben’s like slightly dirtier water.

Thank you!!

 

[Jekyl]

Tank was a little too young to home an anemone and the stock lighting will not be sufficient in the long run. Best thing you can do now is keep things stable and plan a lighting upgrade.

 

[CarolineJ]

Tank was a little too young to home an anemone and the stock lighting will not be sufficient in the long run. Best thing you can do now is keep things stable and plan a lighting upgrade.

I thought so too, but my lfs guy said they're hardy enough, so I got them. Thank you! I'll look into upgrading the lights.

 

[MnFish1]

I'm going to be a contrarian - I don't know what rule (on a scientific basis) - that would explain why one anemone would do fine, yet another is failing. I also personally do not follow the logic that a tank is 'too young' to have an anemone. I kind of agree with your LFS guy - and I would say - that many anemones that are placed into long-established tanks do not do well - you have one doing well and another not so well. I would wait it out. If it is dead - it will smell - and I would remove it immediately