New RBTA acclimation questions and concerns

[Nathancquinton]

Hello, I've been keeping Freshwater fish for 7 years, but I'm fairly new to saltwater tanks (Just over a year in) and have a 20gallon Nano tank. I have two clownfish that are paired (an Ocellaris and a Percula) and an Orchid Dottyback. My goal from the start has been to get an anemone in the tank for the clowns to swim in. Anyway, I waited a year before getting an anemone to make sure my tank was mature enough and stable. So far so good. Well, I got a Rose Bubble tip anemone about 4 days ago. It was very small, (about 3in diameter) but looked healthy (closed/puckered mouth, lots of Zooxanthellae, sticky to touch). I acclimated it for 2 hours, and gently put it on some rock. It hasn't moved ever since which I'm guessing is good, but it's been acting weird. Or has it? That's my question. Anemones are strange from what I understand. I've been babysitting this thing like crazy for the past few days and here's basically everything that's happened. Please give me input (and advice if I'm doing anything wrong!!) I took lots of pictures so I hope that helps! Hopefully they appear in the correct order

Day 1:
-Anemone seems a bit droopy but seems to have lodged itself firmly in a crevice
-Inflates and deflates tentacles from spaghetti to tubed balloons

Night 1:
-Fully open with extended and inflated tentacles after lights out
-No bubbles in tentacles
-Mouth seems to be closed and puckered
-So far I've noticed that there's a weird fully inflated tentacle thing right on the side of the mouth. I have no idea what this is

Day 2:
-Anemone completely shrinks and has spaghetti string tentacles about an hour or so after full lighting
-Oozes out brown stuff and clear slime
-At this point I was very concerned so I reduced the lighting drastically
-Sorry I didn't get any pictures

Day 3:
-Similar to day 2 but I reduced the lighting and gradually increased to full lighting after about 3 hours
-near the end of the day it shrunk up again and spit out more black/brown goo

Day 4 (Today):
-This morning before the lights came on it was already completely opened. I eased into full lighting after about an hour or so and it bubbled up

Now (Day 4 Evening):
-It suddenly just decided to shrivel up again!
-Spaghetti tentacles
-This little creature is so confusing to me
-Here's what it looks like

If you have any questions, let me know. Please tell me what's going on haha. My water conditions have remained as follows:

NO3 <5ppm
KH 8.1
Mg 1400ppm
Ca 450ppm
Salinity 1.0255

Thanks!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Will it accept food? If it's eating, tentacles are sticky, mouth is closed tight, and it's firmly attached to a rock I'd say it's ok. What kind of light are you using?

Also, nems don't usually do well in brand new tanks. You mentioned that it had been running for a year but your rocks look brand new??

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Oh and hey Nathan,

 

[Hincapiej4]

This tank is 1 year+ old??

 

[Hincapiej4]

This tank looks new...something isn't right here....

I'm gonna assume this tank is new, and this nemmie probably will not make it.

I could a thousand reasons why I think it's deflating, but looking at the rock.. there's no need.

No offense, but I don't believe this tank is 1+ years old.. not with these pictures specifically. Do you have a full tank shot?

A 20 gallon tank, new and ESPECIALLY with a new reefer is no place to put a nemmie.

It's already really difficult to keep a 20 gallon stable.....

 

[lpsouth1978]

First off, let me WELCOME you to R2R!! Now onto business:

I agree completely with @xxkenny90xx and @Hincapiej4! The rocks look days or, maybe, weeks old, definitely not 1+yr. There is ZERO algae or coralline growth anywhere, and the heater in the back corner has no muck or buildup on it. Also, in several of the pictures there appear to be diatoms on the sand and rocks, which I have never seen in an established tank. Something is not adding up.

Now onto the anemone. Even if the tank is MUCH newer than stated, The BTA looks pretty healthy at the moment. The first couple of days it was likely adjusting to the new tank and lights. If it was deflating and spewing brown stuff, it was either pooping or expelling zooxanthellae (more likely). This is not uncommon when introduced into a new environment, but it should not be often or continue if conditions are correct. Obviously, expelling zooxanthellae is not ideal and can be a sign of things to come. However it is possible to save a nem in that state.

The trick is going to be to keep the system stable long enough for it to mature properly. If the tank really is over 1yr, then it has not been stable. If it was, there would be coralline algae, or ANY algae, build up on the edges of the sand, etc. Keep an eye on the BTA, test parameters a couple times a week (especially ammonia, N03, PO4, and ALK) and do small water changes AT LEAST once a week (10%, more if something is out of whack) using 0 TDS RODI, TEMP and ALK matched to the tank.

I hope that your BTA makes it, but it is going to take a lot of effort and dedication on your part. Good luck and please keep us updated.

 

[Nathancquinton]

Will it accept food? If it's eating, tentacles are sticky, mouth is closed tight, and it's firmly attached to a rock I'd say it's ok. What kind of light are you using?

Also, nems don't usually do well in brand new tanks. You mentioned that it had been running for a year but your rocks look brand new??

 

[Nathancquinton]

Thanks for the prompt replies guys! I understand the thing about the rocks. Truth is, I got those specific rocks like 2 weeks ago. You'll notice In the full tank picture my live rock to the left with hair algae. Also, I had just cleaned the tank after sending. As far as the red algae, I have been struggling with that for a several months, but I've been able to keep it under control. I think it stemmed from the fact that my DI Resin had expired, as it started happening short after that. It was less of a problem a bit after I replaced it. Anyway, no my anemone will not accept food. I tried a very small piece of shrimp at night when it was fully open. It didn't even seem to stick to the tentacles which worries me. Thoughts?

As far as the light goes, I'm using this:

 

[lpsouth1978]

I still think the tank is too sterile for the nem. My previous suggestions still stand. I am glad to see that little bit of established rock in there, but there are a number of other things working against you currently. The first offender is the new rock, but it will fix itself in time. I also see that you are using a canister filter. While not always a problem, they require more diligence on your part. What is in the canister? Be sure to change/clean any foam in the canister at least weekly. Otherwise you will have issues with water quality and nuisance algae, as seen on your established rock.

Now the biggest issue - your light. That light is great for a fish only system, but will not provide enough PAR for a BTA. according to the manufacturer it only produces a maximum of 50 PAR, but a BTA needs 200+ PAR. I would suggest an AI Prime 16HD if you can swing it. Another good, but cheaper, option would be a Hipargero or even a Kingbo PAR38 bulb and gooseneck mount.

 

[Nathancquinton]

First off, let me WELCOME you to R2R!! Now onto business:

I agree completely with @xxkenny90xx and @Hincapiej4! The rocks look days or, maybe, weeks old, definitely not 1+yr. There is ZERO algae or coralline growth anywhere, and the heater in the back corner has no muck or buildup on it. Also, in several of the pictures there appear to be diatoms on the sand and rocks, which I have never seen in an established tank. Something is not adding up.

Now onto the anemone. Even if the tank is MUCH newer than stated, The BTA looks pretty healthy at the moment. The first couple of days it was likely adjusting to the new tank and lights. If it was deflating and spewing brown stuff, it was either pooping or expelling zooxanthellae (more likely). This is not uncommon when introduced into a new environment, but it should not be often or continue if conditions are correct. Obviously, expelling zooxanthellae is not ideal and can be a sign of things to come. However it is possible to save a nem in that state.

The trick is going to be to keep the system stable long enough for it to mature properly. If the tank really is over 1yr, then it has not been stable. If it was, there would be coralline algae, or ANY algae, build up on the edges of the sand, etc. Keep an eye on the BTA, test parameters a couple times a week (especially ammonia, N03, PO4, and ALK) and do small water changes AT LEAST once a week (10%, more if something is out of whack) using 0 TDS RODI, TEMP and ALK matched to the tank.

I hope that your BTA makes it, but it is going to take a lot of effort and dedication on your part. Good luck and please keep us updated.

I still think the tank is too sterile for the nem. My previous suggestions still stand. I am glad to see that little bit of established rock in there, but there are a number of other things working against you currently. The first offender is the new rock, but it will fix itself in time. I also see that you are using a canister filter. While not always a problem, they require more diligence on your part. What is in the canister? Be sure to change/clean any foam in the canister at least weekly. Otherwise you will have issues with water quality and nuisance algae, as seen on your established rock.

Now the biggest issue - your light. That light is great for a fish only system, but will not provide enough PAR for a BTA. according to the manufacturer it only produces a maximum of 50 PAR, but a BTA needs 200+ PAR. I would suggest an AI Prime 16HD if you can swing it. Another good, but cheaper, option would be a Hipargero or even a Kingbo PAR38 bulb and gooseneck mount.

If I buy the goose mount and bulb on amazon, It says it'll be here by Friday. Will my anemone last that long?

 

[lpsouth1978]

If I buy the goose mount and bulb on amazon, It says it'll be here by Friday. Will my anemone last that long?

It should be fine until then. It would take some time, like weeks to months to perish due to low light. Keep the parameters stable, keep ammonia @zero, nitrates below 10-15, get that better light, and your BTA should be good to go.

 

[Nathancquinton]

It should be fine until then. It would take some time, like weeks to months to perish due to low light. Keep the parameters stable, keep ammonia @zero, nitrates below 10-15, get that better light, and your BTA should be good to go.

Okay will do and thank you so much!!! You're a lifesaver. I can see I have much to learn haha

 

[lpsouth1978]

Okay will do and thank you so much!!! You're a lifesaver. I can see I have much to learn haha

You are very welcome! I have been keeping Reef tanks for nearly 20 years and I still learn new things almost daily.

 

[Hugh Mann]

I agree with the above, better lights, keep perameters in check and you should be good to go. Try vitalis anenome pellets. My BTA, which I have had for about a month absolutely loves them.

 

[Hincapiej4]

One Red sea led 50 would do well. I still don't think this tank is a year old...personally, I think that rock on the left was bought at the store like that.....

Anyway, I guess it doesn't matter, but just FYI, we can tell....

Stop trying to feed the nemmi. Stop touching it. Just get better lights, keep things stable, and hope.