Help with nems and lighting. What am I missing?

[Stv]

I have a 31 biocube well established with many upgrades including an AI Prime 16 light. My parameters are stable and always in range, my tank is thriving with fish and almost all LPS and soft corals but I have two nems (long tent, and BTA) that have both over the last month started to bleach and they seem to be all headed to the bottom of the tank and hiding from the light and aren’t looking the best with color anymore.

my question I’m hoping to answer is my lighting set up just not good for nems because everything is super happy. I’m running the BPS recommend AI prime set up attached for LPS. Seeing them bleach and go low and look for shade seems to suggest there’s too much light but it’s the recommended setting and everything else looks great. Any advise? Thanks in advance for the opinions.

 

[lapin]

The long tentacle anemone secures itself by burying it's foot into the sandy substrate near rocky formations. 4" deep sand.

 

[Stv]

The long tentacle anemone secures itself by burying it's foot into the sandy substrate near rocky formations. 4" deep sand.

That’s the same research I did and let him get happy there but he is bleaching and trying to stay low and has settled in a mostly shady area is the concern. The BTA too.

 

[Shooter6]

You could very well be experiencing chemical warfare, and the nems killing each other. Mixing nems is always risky, even different strains of the same type this happens. Ive seen 2 different types of bubble tip nems , in seperate tanks but with joined sump attack each other. Both were looking horrible until they were moved to completely seperate systems. Lighting, parameters ect were the same in all 3 systems.

 

[Stv]

Anyone have any more advise? It’s seems obvious but I guess this newb needs some reassurance. Thanks guys.

 

[outhouse]

Anyone have any more advise?

Not sure what lights you have but when nems go low, hide or shrink, its from to much intensity. I turned my lights way down and they are flourishing again. Turn lights down and see if they improve in 3 or 4 days

 

[mindme]

Anyone have any more advise? It’s seems obvious but I guess this newb needs some reassurance. Thanks guys.

Haven't experienced this myself, but you could try lowering the lights and then ramping them back over time as they get acclimated.

 

[Reef Jockey]

I would lower the UV and violet to about 60-70.

 

[Stv]

Thank you so much for these last few replies it really helped answer my question. I guess the only one left that I do have is that lower light setting gonna be OK for my corals? I have way more corals than I do nems.

 

[Gedxin]

That's a pretty long photoperiod with a super fast ramp up time. I'd suggest first trying to extend your ramp up, ramp down and maybe reduce your photo period a little as well. Making big lighting changes will have effects on your coral so I'd suggest starting small.

 

[Uzidaisies]

how high above the water is the light?

 

[Uzidaisies]

Your markers are set up kind of weird, but the app seems to do weird things with the little sun and moon icons. But anyway, Personally i would start by grabbing your 9am slider and dragging that over to 11am, then grab your moon icon and pull that back to 7pm probably. I believe that would be an improvement. Your peek plateau is too long, ramps too short.

 

[rossco]

This is my schedule with an AI Prime over a 12 gallon cube, with the screen shot at the peak.

I have BTA’s and they are thriving and multiplying . I am using way less white light after I noticed the anemones didn’t seem to appreciate it.

 

[Stv]

how high above the water is the light?

9”. BPS suggestion for my setting was 7” but the AI is fairly narrow so I set it up a. Purple inches to reach better into the corners.

 

[Stv]

Your markers are set up kind of weird, but the app seems to do weird things with the little sun and moon icons. But anyway, Personally i would start by grabbing your 9am slider and dragging that over to 11am, then grab your moon icon and pull that back to 7pm probably. I believe that would be an improvement. Your peek plateau is too long, ramps too short.

Got it thank you so much.

 

[Reef Jockey]

yes make slow changes whenever adjusting lighting. Your UV is pretty strong and will likely discolor your lens. This is my settings for a new tank about 4 months old. I purchased this AI used and have replaced the lens because the UV discolored the lens brown/black. I am still in acclimation mode but the differences are night and day. My corals polyp extentions are longer and the colors are more vibrant. I have 4 nems in there as well.

 

[Stv]

yes make slow changes whenever adjusting lighting. Your UV is pretty strong and will likely discolor your lens. This is my settings for a new tank about 4 months old. I purchased this AI used and have replaced the lens because the UV discolored the lens brown/black. I am still in acclimation mode but the differences are night and day. My corals polyp extentions are longer and the colors are more vibrant. I have 4 nems in there as well.

Thank you so much. How big is your tank?

 

[Reef Jockey]

Thank you so much. How big is your tank?

I have a Fluval Evo 13.5.

 

[outhouse]

Remember, 5 to 6 hours is all that is needed for peak. I run 8 hours B and 6 hours W with great success. Before with longer hours and high intensity I failed. 6 hours is all corals need.

 

[Stv]

Thank you all for your suggestions and help. Given it all, here is what I made a change to. Thoughts? Thanks again guys.