LTA help

[EZMAC114]

I bought my long tentacle anemone less than a week ago and it was looking nice and open for a few days and yesterday it closed up a lot. It was a little bleached when I got it...I didn't realize at the time though. Should I be worried or is the normal behavior?

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

They do shrink up at times. Have you fed it anything and does it take it? Try giving it some mysis shrimp.

 

[EZMAC114]

Yeah it always eats when I feed but I think I figured out the problem...my nitrates spiked up to 160ppm!

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

Yeah that would probably have something to do with it.

 

[EZMAC114]

It's a 55 gallon tank and I am doing a 20 gallon water change tomorrow so hopefully that'll correct my nitrates

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

It will dilute them for sure!

 

[EZMAC114]

My ph is a little low too. Any suggestions for a good ph buffer?

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

What's your alkalinity at?

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

You water change should help raise your PH also

 

[EZMAC114]

 

[EZMAC114]

Ok good

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

[TABLE="class: tborder, width: 100%, align: center"]
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[TD="class: alt1, bgcolor: #F1F1F1"]before you do to much, when did you test the pH? if it was in the morning than that is a little low, but not crazy low. i would test right after the lights go out. you should find the ph is much higher then. it should also be in the 8.2 range. if you do not have a reverse lighted refugium then your morning pH could be that low everyday
[/TD]
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[EZMAC114]

I tested it about 2-3 hours ago and the lights had been on for hours

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

The ph naturally drops over night as plant and algae switch from daytime photosynthesis which uses up CO2 from the water column to night time respiration where the plants give off CO2. This drives the PH to the lowest levels in the morning.

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

Gotcha are you sure your tester is accurate?

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

If you add a PH buffer it's going to raise your kh and you dont have much room to go any higher. Try your water change. Do you have a sump or a skimmer? That helps put more oxogen in the water too. Just curious.

 

[EZMAC114]

Oh gotcha...I just bought an API kit so I hope it's accurate lol

 

[EZMAC114]

I don't have a sump or skimmer on this setup but I'm almost done with my 200 gallon tank setup and it does have a sump and skimmer

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

Well you have nitrates which means you have high amount of waste which can and will cause a ph drop. A skimmer would help some, but you must be getting ready to switch over to your 200. Until then I'd step up your water changes.



The 200 sounds nice! Do you have a thread going on it! Would love to see it!​

 

[EZMAC114]

I keep telling myself to make a thread for my 200 gallon build but keep forgetting lol. Can you see an anemone release it's toxins bc I saw mine release something this morning but had to leave for work