How’s it doing?

Jonathan Troutt · May 17, 2018

hey guys just wanted some opinions on how my tank is coming along. I am having a bit of a nitrate issue. I’ve gotten them down to 10 as of last night. Everything else is spot on. I will report tonight’s values when I get home. The only things that has me questioning is the fact my bubble tip has not really blown up from when I first got him. See pic

Tahoe61 · May 17, 2018

There is quite a bit of shading in the FTS, what fixture and what % are you running it at?
A Nitrate level of 10 would not concern me.

Jonathan Troutt · May 17, 2018

My camera doesn’t handle the light from that fixture well. It doesn’t look that spotlighty in person. And the tank is well lit. I need to turn off the blues and take another picture it is closer to real life anyway. But to answer your question. I am running a viparspectra 165w. I have changed the lens on my white leds to 120degree. I have also swapped out all the white leds and put super cold white in their place. Left the 90 degree lenses on the blues. And running the blue at 50% which I just inscresed from 40% and whites are at 15% which I just increased from 10%. Two days ago my nitrate level was 50. I am wanting to keep some sps which is why I am trying to get it low.
Plus the issue with the anemone. I want it to be all puffed up and tentacles swaying. Like it was when I first got it. But it’s been looking like this for about 10 days now.

Jonathan Troutt · May 17, 2018

I don’t have a lot in it either. Taking it slow. The Duncan is the most recent addition and its doing great.

Tahoe61 · May 17, 2018

The Duncan looks great. Yup sounds like you have more then enough light.

Try an Stylophora or Monitpora.

Tank looks otherwise good. Can not comment regarding anemone under LED, I have them do great and others not as well, I think if you can get them from tank using LED it might help.

Jonathan Troutt · May 17, 2018

I got this one off a fellow reefer that had then under radions. He had a whole crap ton all of that had split off his main one. It looked great when I first got it. But I forced it to move and ever since it has been all ticked off looking.... Thanks for taking the time to comment.

I also have a 29 gallon fuge underneath and run chaeto. That stuff grows like a weed under the right lighting.

ihavecrabs · May 17, 2018

I wouldn't be worries with the nitrates at 10 either. Mine are around 15ppm at the moment [emoji58]

Once it settles into a place, leave it be and it should start looking more full.

Jonathan Troutt · May 17, 2018

It’s been in that spot for a couple weeks now

ihavecrabs · May 17, 2018

RBTAs are pretty resilient. I'd just give it some more time to settle in.

Are you feeding it? To be up front, I wouldn't [emoji4]

Jonathan Troutt · May 17, 2018

No I have not been feeding it.

IslandLifeReef · May 17, 2018

How old is the tank? I've read that you need to have a more mature tank to house anemones.

Jonathan Troutt · May 17, 2018

It’s 4 months old at this point. Stable water parameters is important. Last time I did this which was years ago and was my first tank I housed a long tentacle that I got and it went in a two month old tank. Had that thing for over a year until I tore the tank down. It was massive when I got rid of it. But yeah this time I figured I would go with a BTA because I like them better honestly. The first month I had this one it was fantastic. Nice big bubbles it looked great. It started looking like this after I forced it to move which I did the hang upside down with its tentacles in the water to get it to detach. And then moved it.