Bubble Tip Anemone Not Looking to Good

[wow0_0kcb]

Ok so I posted this before but for some reason it wasn't working. I have a green BTA and it looks very sickly, it always moves itself to spots with no light and shrivels up. My tank is 6 months old, my water is normal, I feed the anemone about 3-4 times a week. Everything else in the tank is fine (crabs, fish, and sea stars). My clownfish has been weird about hosting in the anemone, it will swim around near it, but never go and "cuddle" with it I guess. I have a 42 gallon BioCube with stock lighting. What could be the problem?

 

[Jon Fishman]

I've never given my BTA food. I would probably cut feeding down and eventually eliminate it.

 

[Captain Quint]

32 or 42g BioCube?

You mentioned stock lighting are you referring to the compact lighting? If so, it needs more powerful lighting.

EDIT: It's been years since I had a BioCube and stock lighting was compact lights...just checked and it appears they now have some type of L.E.D. lighting and it states it should be good for some coral...I do not know if the stock L.E.D. is enough for BTA's? Maybe someone with a new stock unit can chime in as I used Halides over my old ones.

Please keep us updated.

EDIT again: Noticed you joined today and I would like to welcome you to R2R and thank you for joining us. I hope we can figure out your situation.

 

[Gonebad395]

What are your water parameters. What lighting are you running, what are you feeding it, is that green hair algae on your back wall

 

[BestMomEver]

Welcome to the reef! I have a 32 Biocube with anemones in it. But I had to upgrade the lights. Check out Steve’s LEDs. They have a retro kit specifically for that tank. It’s easy to install and puts out some serious light. My anemones have thrived under it.

 

[wow0_0kcb]

32 or 42g BioCube?

You mentioned stock lighting are you referring to the compact lighting? If so, it needs more powerful lighting.

EDIT: It's been years since I had a BioCube and stock lighting was compact lights...just checked and it appears they now have some type of L.E.D. lighting and it states it should be good for some coral...I do not know if the stock L.E.D. is enough for BTA's? Maybe someone with a new stock unit can chime in as I used Halides over my old ones.

Please keep us updated.

EDIT again: Noticed you joined today and I would like to welcome you to R2R and thank you for joining us. I hope we can figure out your situation.

Thank you! It's a 42g. They don't use that crappy strip lighting anymore (my dad had that then upgraded to one of the little AIs). The guy I bought the tank from is a reefer and said that his BioCube hasnt had issues with lighting, but if anything, to get an AI.

(pic attached is the light I'm currently using)

 

[wow0_0kcb]

Welcome to the reef! I have a 32 Biocube with anemones in it. But I had to upgrade the lights. Check out Steve’s LEDs. They have a retro kit specifically for that tank. It’s easy to install and puts out some serious light. My anemones have thrived under it.

Thanks! Any suggestions on where to find it?

 

[wow0_0kcb]

What are your water parameters. What lighting are you running, what are you feeding it, is that green hair algae on your back wall

water parameters are:
salinity: 31ppt
NO2: 0ppm
NO3: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0
pH: 7.8

The lighting is the stock lighting for the newer BioCubes (42g). Yes, it is green hair, I recently got 2 Mexican snails that have done a super good job cleaning it up so far.

 

[wow0_0kcb]

I've never given my BTA food. I would probably cut feeding down and eventually eliminate it.

Thanks, I've noticed that the clownfish that's hosting to it occasionally feeds it. Usually by getting food and spitting it at the anemone.

 

[wow0_0kcb]

What are your water parameters. What lighting are you running, what are you feeding it, is that green hair algae on your back wall

Also I'm feeding it this:

 

[Mical]

First off your SG is low for anemone - should be 1.026 or 34ppt. Secondly 6 mos old tank is barely stable for a nem. Thirdly you're trying to feed it too much. My 5 full blown BTAs eat once a week and have for 9 years. Best advice I can offer is slow down, don't overstock and overfeed your tank and for nems 79 degrees is the sweet spot for nems IMO.

 

[wow0_0kcb]

First off your SG is low for anemone - should be 1.026 or 34ppt. Secondly 6 mos old tank is barely stable for a nem. Thirdly you're trying to feed it too much. My 5 full blown BTAs eat once a week and have for 9 years. Best advice I can offer is slow down, don't overstock and overfeed your tank and for nems 79 degrees is the sweet spot for nems IMO.

Thank you! When I'm adding salt should I have to worry disturbing the other things in the tank?

 

[Mical]

Thank you! When I'm adding salt should I have to worry disturbing the other things in the tank?

Bring it up slowly, don't try to do it all at once. Do it over a couple of water changes would be my suggestion. Doing it slowly shouldn't affect anything in your tank, the inhabitants will probably respond in a positive way - kind of like a breath of fresh air.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Thank you! When I'm adding salt should I have to worry disturbing the other things in the tank?

Have you been doing water changes before now?

 

[wow0_0kcb]

Have you been doing water changes before now?

occasionally, about once a month

 

[BranchingHammer]

Make sure not to add salt directly to the tank!!

 

[Jon Fishman]

Doesn't help your current issue (although couldn't hurt) but you should do a decently large water change after scrubbing out as much algae as possible (scrape, and take a toothbrush to the rocks) then look at how long you run your lights for and maybe cut the time in half for a week or so, and give your snails time to catch up, and your algae will be under control.

And, jumping from your thread, get yourself a RODI, thank me later.

 

[Mical]

Feeding less will help cut back algae also

 

[wow0_0kcb]

Doesn't help your current issue (although couldn't hurt) but you should do a decently large water change after scrubbing out as much algae as possible (scrape, and take a toothbrush to the rocks) then look at how long you run your lights for and maybe cut the time in half for a week or so, and give your snails time to catch up, and your algae will be under control.

And, jumping from your thread, get yourself a RODI, thank me later.

Thank you, greatly appreciate it

 

[Mical]

Keep us posted on your progress. I went through similar when first starting and now - this was no bigger than yours 9 years ago