Anemone much smaller during the day than the night

[gowlers1234]

I have something I have never experienced before. I bought a green bta anemone and it is HUGE. Problem is it shrinks right down once the lights are on and at night it returns to gigantic.

My parameters are:
pH 8.4
Nitrates 10
Sg 1.024
Kh 9
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1200
Phosphate 0.1

Just had a icp test and the only real problem was very low iodine. My lighting is 2 x red sea led 90s on a reefer 250. Blues on 75% white on 20%. Flow is 2 x maxspect gryes 2k running at 50% pulse

The anemone also won't sit still, it has gone around the tank twice - clearly not happy. Are my lights set too strong??

Any ideas are really appreciated
Thankss

 

[stewy14]

pics plz

 

[gowlers1234]

pics plz

Sorry they aren't the best photos - just what I have - the photo of it smaller are during the even when it started to expand more - usually it is even smaller during the day.

 

[Joseph_Joe]

I have something I have never experienced before. I bought a green bta anemone and it is HUGE. Problem is it shrinks right down once the lights are on and at night it returns to gigantic.

My parameters are:
pH 8.4
Nitrates 10
Sg 1.024
Kh 9
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1200
Phosphate 0.1

Just had a icp test and the only real problem was very low iodine. My lighting is 2 x red sea led 90s on a reefer 250. Blues on 75% white on 20%. Flow is 2 x maxspect gryes 2k running at 50% pulse

The anemone also won't sit still, it has gone around the tank twice - clearly not happy. Are my lights set too strong??

Any ideas are really appreciated
Thankss

Watching post cause mine did the same thing. I didn't know if my light was strong or weak I tried both setups but my BTA died. I am new reefing and tank was 5 months old. But I think my BTA was less unhappy when I tried lowe lights than stronger (although I read the opposite)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sorry they aren't the best photos - just what I have - the photo of it smaller are during the even when it started to expand more - usually it is even smaller during the day.

Assure not too much light. Too much light and the hide and too little and they shrink and even climb towards the light. Also assure phosphate level not elevated

 

[gowlers1234]

Assure not too much light. Too much light and the hide and too little and they shrink and even climb towards the light. Also assure phosphate level not elevated

I thought they expand if the light is too low to increase surface area to capture more light as well as stretching up towards it?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I thought they expand if the light is too low to increase surface area to capture more light as well as stretching up towards it?

no- They need light to feed their inner algae and energy source known as zooxanthellae which gives them their color also. Too little light, they seek light or shrink.

 

[gowlers1234]

no- They need light to feed their inner algae and energy source known as zooxanthellae which gives them their color also. Too little light, they seek light or shrink.

Why would it shrink when the lights come on then inflate when they go off if it wants to get more light? Its not trying to climb to get closer to the lights

 

[vetteguy53081]

Why would it shrink when the lights come on then inflate when they go off if it wants to get more light? Its not trying to climb to get closer to the lights

Take a look at nitrate and phosphate level and what are you feeding it. This is due to stress and light is only one factor. others would be expelling water and changes in temperature and salinity

 

[gowlers1234]

Take a look at phosphate level and what are you feeding it. This is due to stress and light is only one factor. others would be expelling water and changes in temperature and salinity

On the icp test I did closer to the start of the month the phosphate was 1.16, most recent one I did a week ago was at 1. Im working on lowering it slightly. Temperature is solid and so is salinity. I've only fed it once since I got it about 3 weeks ago and that was some prawn. Anything standing out as an issue? Thanks

 

[Dragen Fiend]

From personal experience, the light is to intense If its fine at night.

Or the ramp up is to fast and its shocking it so it shrinks.

I wouldn't be surprised if you had rocks it would go underneath them. Anytime my light is too strong or flow too high. My nems will hang underneath rocks.

 

[exnisstech]

Does flow change at nite? That nem looks severely bleached which isn't good. I kept my rose bubble tips under 400 - 450 par and they thrived so I don't think it's too much light. Many of mine would have their foot buried under the rock but would extend and inflate when light on.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Does flow change at nite? That nem looks severely bleached which isn't good. I kept my rose bubble tips under 400 - 450 par and they thrived so I don't think it's too much light. Many of mine would have their foot buried under the rock but would extend and inflate when light on.

True but I'm also assuming they built up to that par. Otherwise nems who never experienced that par level will get shocked.

 

[Uncle99]

They do a lot of weird stuff when new in a system.
He’ll settle.

 

[gowlers1234]

From personal experience, the light is to intense If its fine at night.

Or the ramp up is to fast and its shocking it so it shrinks.

I wouldn't be surprised if you had rocks it would go underneath them. Anytime my light is too strong or flow too high. My nems will hang underneath rocks.

The ramp up time on the lights is 2 hours 15 mins - there aren't many rocks it can really fit underneath so I guess that could be why

 

[Dragen Fiend]

The ramp up time on the lights is 2 hours 15 mins - there aren't many rocks it can really fit underneath so I guess that could be why

Is it still extended during the ramp up. Or completely shrinks the moment it the light kicks on?

See if you can watch it during ramp up time. At what point does it close? Could be an indicator to intensity to dial back.

If you haven't spot feed it in over a week. I would do so. You can spot feed at night if its not opening during the day.

You can also feed it something less meaty during the day if its not opening.

 

[gowlers1234]

Is it still extended during the ramp up. Or completely shrinks the moment it the light kicks on?

See if you can watch it during ramp up time. At what point does it close? Could be an indicator to intensity to dial back.

If you haven't spot feed it in over a week. I would do so. You can spot feed at night if its not opening during the day.

You can also feed it something less meaty during the day if its not opening.

It usually shrinks down at the start of ramp up to half way through, the biggest I see it is in the evening with moonlight on or in the morning before the lights come on. I will try spot feeding it this evening. Thanks.