Need some help with bta, whether or not its too late

[mikedrumm22]

Hello all,

So this is my second attempt with a bta, and at first all was going well. However, after about a week of success, my nutrients bottomed out and I had a dino bloom. The anemone came out but the dinos would wrap in the tentacles and keep it from fully opening. My light cycle was all completely out of wack. Now, after about a month, the dinos are gone but the anenome looks bad. All other corals have recovered. I believe what finally beat it down was overlighting, i had my blues and uv maxed out on my AI prime.

the anenome is 8 inches away from the light. It is now set at a 65 65 65 65 5 5 20 schedule. Since i lowered the light the anenome comes out and photosynthesizes, but its tentacles are so small it looks pathetic. My question is, is it too late for this guy or has anyone seen them come back. Its mouth never gapes and its firmly attached. Just looks pathetic compared to what it started as. Also, should I try to feed or let it be? My guess is it will take longer to recover than it took to get like this. I just want to know at one point to call it.

params:
stable with coralline growth, 10 month old tank
NO3- 10-14
PO4- .02-.03
Alk- 225 (changed to blue bucket red sea to lower)
Ca-450
Mag- 1400

in these pics, it looks worse than it had been, provably because i turned up the lights a bit (stupidly). Ill try to add a pic of when it is “fully extended”

 

[Cell]

Not too late but if the causing issue is not addressed, recover may be unlikely.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

If it responds to less light keep the intensity down and add a little more each day. Sounds like you had a parameter shift and a light schedule change upset this anemone. I hope the rbta comes out soon for you

 

[mikedrumm22]

Not too late but if the causing issue is not addressed, recover may be unlikely.

If it responds to less light keep the intensity down and add a little more each day. Sounds like you had a parameter shift and a light schedule change upset this anemone. I hope the rbta comes out soon for you

It definitely responded positively to the light reduction… went from being tightly shut all day to at least attempting to photosynthesize.

Just avoid feeding altogether, or should i go for reef roids?

 

[Goaway]

Wild bta or tank split and raised? Can you see the mouth of the bta by chance?

 

[mikedrumm22]

Wild bta or tank split and raised? Can you see the mouth of the bta by chance?

Its tank split and raised. When i can see the mouth it is tightly shut, maybe slighly pinched but its definitely not open

 

[NowGlazeIT]

It definitely responded positively to the light reduction… went from being tightly shut all day to at least attempting to photosynthesize.

Just avoid feeding altogether, or should i go for reef roids?

Reef roids are good for small polyp coral. I would hold off on the feedings while it’s hiding from the light. If you do see it extend out that means it’s hungry for light or food. Try mysis or small scallops small shrimp they love that stuff

 

[mikedrumm22]

here it is a little more open. Ill keep adding pictures as they come. Mouth may be slightly open

 

[Goaway]

With that bit of info, I'd follow @NowGlazeIT advise. I would keep away from the reef roids for now. You already have nitrates and phosphates. I wouldn't advise direct feeding either. My bta went through light shock before. He went hiding into a hole. I didn't resume feeding until he looked comfortable again.

The current pic is a bit alarming. Hopefully nothing serious and just the bta drawing in water again.

 

[mikedrumm22]

With that bit of info, I'd follow @NowGlazeIT advise. I would keep away from the reef roids for now. You already have nitrates and phosphates. I wouldn't advise direct feeding either. My bta went through light shock before. He went hiding into a hole. I didn't resume feeding until he looked comfortable again.

The current pic is a bit alarming. Hopefully nothing serious and just the bta drawing in water again

Ill try to get a good picture of the mouth, gonna let its do its thing. This is its third day straight of exposing itself to light after about a half week of hiding. Its been pretty infated a little before lights on so ill try to get a photo of that tomorrow morning.

 

[Goaway]

I have only kept 1 bta alive longer than 6 months. The one I currently have. My experience is rather limited with health issues. As we are going on into a year. A very rewarding experience.

Should the mouth not close, you will want to look into cipro. There is no need to toss the nem until it starts to look like string like goo/mush. It is still on the rock. There is hope between patience and treatment (if needed).
Depending on the amount of damage from the dinos, it could take a month or so for the bta to return to it's former glory.
Do not give up.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Ill try to get a good picture of the mouth, gonna let its do its thing. This is its third day straight of exposing itself to light after about a half week of hiding. Its been pretty infated a little before lights on so ill try to get a photo of that tomorrow morning.

That’s a good sign, sounds like it’s bouncing back. Mibu was right to advise caution on feeding a weak nem. Just remember Digesting also cost energy. That’s why I say mysis…they’re smaller but pack a punch of nutrition.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I have only kept 1 bta alive longer than 6 months. The one I currently have. My experience is rather limited with health issues. As we are going on into a year. A very rewarding experience.

Should the mouth not close, you will want to look into cipro. There is no need to toss the nem until it starts to look like string like goo/mush. It is still on the rock. There is hope between patience and treatment (if needed).
Depending on the amount of damage from the dinos, it could take a month or so for the bta to return to it's former glory.
Do not give up.

Cipro for the win. We need more vendors selling that stuff. I’ve never seen any at my lfs

 

[mikedrumm22]

That’s a good sign, sounds like it’s bouncing back. Mibu was right to advise caution on feeding a weak nem. Just remember Digesting also cost energy. That’s why I say mysis…they’re smaller but pack a punch of nutrition.

Ive been trying the reef roids so i am gonna give it a good couple days of no disturbance and then I’ll go for mysis.

 

[mikedrumm22]

I have only kept 1 bta alive longer than 6 months. The one I currently have. My experience is rather limited with health issues. As we are going on into a year. A very rewarding experience.

Should the mouth not close, you will want to look into cipro. There is no need to toss the nem until it starts to look like string like goo/mush. It is still on the rock. There is hope between patience and treatment (if needed).
Depending on the amount of damage from the dinos, it could take a month or so for the bta to return to it's former glory.
Do not give up.

Thanks for your words of encouragement! Ill keep at this regiment and hope for the best.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I would say it looks like it got a bacterial infection and cipro would help greatly, it may pull through without just leave it alone and see if it wants to eat

 

[mikedrumm22]

I have only kept 1 bta alive longer than 6 months. The one I currently have. My experience is rather limited with health issues. As we are going on into a year. A very rewarding experience.

Should the mouth not close, you will want to look into cipro. There is no need to toss the nem until it starts to look like string like goo/mush. It is still on the rock. There is hope between patience and treatment (if needed).
Depending on the amount of damage from the dinos, it could take a month or so for the bta to return to it's former glory.
Do not give up.

Couple decent shots of the mouth from today… dare I say looks better? Got him to eat a half mysid overnight and he pooped a brown/black speck this morning. Still continuing with very little tentacle extension… should i lower my blues even a little more and see if I get a reaction?

 

[Goaway]

Mouth looks good from the pics. Looks like the bta is trying to recover. Keep alk stable if you can. 10 nitrates and detectable nitrates.

 

[mikedrumm22]

Mouth looks good from the pics. Looks like the bta is trying to recover. Keep alk stable if you can. 10 nitrates and detectable nitrates.

Some general updates here, i moved the flow so it wasnt directly hitting the anenome and instead bouncing off a wall and washing the water over. The anenome has favored this and looks happier now.

i have a problem with dissapearing nitrates. I dose 10 ppm neo nitro additions over a couple hours in a day, but after around 48 hours it will be bottomed out again… my algae growth is not out of control (i have a good cleanup squad though, 13 astreas, a tux urchin, a bunch of hermit, and two emeralds of which the male was banished to the sump.) is there a better way to raise them? I feed a cube to a half cube a day of mysis for 4 fish

 

[mikedrumm22]

Just want to keep this thread alive for anyone in the same predicament

Its been one week since my anenome I suspect to be light shocked started recovery. The tentacles are regrowing incredibly slowly, maybe a millimeter or two a day, but growing. I feed it mysis every other day, and plan on doing so unless I see negative effects. My lights are about half the intensity they once were, but none of my other corals have had any negative effects. My digitata is the only high light coral I have and its growth definitely slowed, but its PE got better, so theres always a tradeoff I guess. I will post pictures soon. Good luck with your nems!