Nem needs HELP!

[Eienna]

If I don't figure out what's wrong with my bubbletip by tomorrow and it's still doing this, I'm taking it back to the store so it doesn't die, but I'd really like to know what's wrong here. It seems like a perfectly normal-looking nem when it's up in the light, but it keeps moving down and squashing itself between the rock and sand. I keep finding it there, totally deflated and limp, mouth open. If I turn the rock over so it's out in the light again, the mouth closes and it puffs up and willingly takes food again. I'm stumped.

Amm 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
SG 1.025
Temp I'm having a hard time reading with my current thermometer, but I believe it's 80F.
Cal/Mag/Alk should be the same as IO mixes up; I only have two tiny stony coral frags and have been changing water frequently (2x/week) to manage my nitrates.
No dosing.
Fish and other inverts, incl. two peppermint shrimp, appear absolutely fine. Corals doing well except for the encroaching aiptasia that I keep having to knock out because they get too close and sting them.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

What lighting is it under?

 

[sqcube4me]

how long has your tank been set up ..

 

[Eienna]

What lighting is it under?

24" SeaStar double strip (one white/blue and one blue) LEDs from Lampcraft. The tank is 48" long but I put the nem in the center where the most light is. Think maybe it's too much? It occurs to me that my LPS are happy off to the side a bit.

how long has your tank been set up ..

Depends on what you count from. If you don't count it having been moved (kept wet) I'd say at least four months if not more. I'll look up exactly when everything was moved from my 20g to this one.

 

[Eienna]

Okay everything was moved to the 50g in late August, with one more move (to another house) about a month ago. Everything was kept in buckets under water and moved/re-set-up in a matter of hours.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I'm thinking that your lighting is insufficient. I believe these are your lights: Double Sun Strip Marine LED Tank Topper. They only offer 23 watts of light and would not be sufficient for a BTA. Also, I have to question the stability of the tank and that maybe negatively impacting the anemone.

 

[sqcube4me]

+1 to what seahorse is saying .. thats not enough light for the depth of your tank ..

 

[Eienna]

I'm thinking that your lighting is insufficient. I believe these are your lights: Double Sun Strip Marine LED Tank Topper. They only offer 23 watts of light and would not be sufficient for a BTA. Also, I have to question the stability of the tank and that maybe negatively impacting the anemone.

+1 to what seahorse is saying .. thats not enough light for the depth of your tank ..

What I can't figure out is, if it's not enough light, why is it moving down instead of up???

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

It is trying to find light. Anemones don't have brains and follow the water flow.g

 

[Eienna]

I'm realizing something, too - once when it was under a rock, part of it was out, and the part in the light has changed color to less green. Take a look. Maybe it's just not acclimated to LEDs yet?

 

[Eienna]

The tank is not nearly as dark as the photo makes it look - bad camera. It's a little deflated in that pic because I'd just moved it.

 

[Eienna]

It is trying to find light. Anemones don't have brains and follow the water flow.g

Okay. Should I try moving it up??

 

[Eienna]

Okay...it is now in THE brightest spot I can put it. If it's still not happy there it's going back to the store before I kill the poor thing.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I never move a nem. I let them go to where they want to be happy. For example, my RBTA is attached to one of my favorite corals. I am not touching the anemone. The more you move it, the more you can jeopardize its health.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Okay...it is now in THE brightest spot I can put it. If it's still not happy there it's going back to the store before I kill the poor thing.

Just because the LED's are bright to you, does not mean they have the ability to penetrate the water and provide enough PAR for the inhabitants. I have Marineland LED's on my seahorse tank and the entire tank is lit. However, I know I cannot keep corals because they do not provide the proper light for corals.

 

[Eienna]

I never move a nem. I let them go to where they want to be happy. For example, my RBTA is attached to one of my favorite corals. I am not touching the anemone. The more you move it, the more you can jeopardize its health.

Just because the LED's are bright to you, does not mean they have the ability to penetrate the water and provide enough PAR for the inhabitants. I have Marineland LED's on my seahorse tank and the entire tank is lit. However, I know I cannot keep corals because they do not provide the proper light for corals.

If I didn't move it, it was going to die. It looked totally lifeless once it would get to the underside of the rock.

Either way, I guess it's not gonna sit still, is it..? So it'll keep getting to where there's not enough light. Okay. I'll trust you. It's going back ASAP. I won't get any money back but it's still much better than just letting it die.