Anemone recovery

[megannerd]

Hey guys, I already know from searching this thread that my bta is really grumpy because the water isn't as stable as it should be and I don't think I've been feeding it enough. In the last month it's lost all its tentacles. It's still eating and I'm hoping it pulls through. Any advice on what kind of timeline I can expect if it does recover?

It's a 75 gallon tank 5 months old. Feeding it thawed frozen food and clown fish do not host. Water params and pic of when it was healthy attached. He's eating now but I'll add a current pic of him later.

 

[Dbichler]

Your rock looks really clean for 5 months what lighting are you using

 

[megannerd]

 

[TokenReefer]

Just my opinion and theory here obviously but I would stop feeding it directly; let it catch what it can from broadcast feeding as it seems to be in a recovery mode and might need the (digestive) energy to get back to normal. Let it soak up some good light (not commenting on your light choice, cuz idk) and build it's zooxanthella population where it wants and once it starts looking normal you can feed directly... just from my experience. A good light is impt tho me thinks...

 

[TokenReefer]

oh and feed a little heavier so it gets some of that food and dissolved nutrients aka dirtier water...

 

[Coralreefer1]

Welcome to reef2reef first of all!
As for your anemone, I can see two issues. The first is that anemones are difficult animals to keep and not having a mature tank of at-least a year or more often times proves fatal. You are right that anemones need clean, stable water parameters, but they also need intense light and water flow. Your running a little over 2 watts per gallon and the anemone is at the bottom of your tank which means it is receiving less than that. Even though watts per gallon isn’t the only thing to consider in maintaining anemones but at-least 5 watts per gallon is advisable. Anemones need intense lighting for their zooxanthellae and without it trying to feed it other foodstuff I don’t think is going to suffice. I am running 8 watts per gallon and feed silversides to my Rose Bubble Tips.
I know that anemones will move around to find their happy place but if key variables aren’t in check, it is that much more difficult to keep not only anemones but many other corals as well.
good luck with your anemone.

 

[RedoubtReef]

I agree on swapping out that light. My suggestion would be find a nice 4-6 bulb T5 or halide/T-5 combo if you plan on moving to SPS at some point.

 

[averagesteve]

I agree on swapping out that light. My suggestion would be find a nice 4-6 bulb T5 or halide/T-5 combo if you plan on moving to SPS at some point.

Agreed. A single 48" t5 bulb is 54 watts, which is already stronger than your LED. Anemones require a lot of light. I had one in my old tank that I'm taking down that had 2x Fluval marine 3.0 LEDs, and even those were not enough light. Mine looked very similar to yours a few days before it detached itself and went into my powerhead.

 

[MrShibainu]

Another recommendation is two Nicrew hyper reef 100w or a Viparspectra led both have good spectrum. No replacing 20$+ bulbs

 

[MrShibainu]

Hey guys, I already know from searching this thread that my bta is really grumpy because the water isn't as stable as it should be and I don't think I've been feeding it enough. In the last month it's lost all its tentacles. It's still eating and I'm hoping it pulls through. Any advice on what kind of timeline I can expect if it does recover?

It's a 75 gallon tank 5 months old. Feeding it thawed frozen food and clown fish do not host. Water params and pic of when it was healthy attached. He's eating now but I'll add a current pic of him later.

View attachment 2884185 View attachment 2884186

On a different note what program is this?

 

[TokenReefer]

On a different note what program is this?

haha I wanted to know that too

 

[Dbichler]

Welcome to reef2reef first of all!
As for your anemone, I can see two issues. The first is that anemones are difficult animals to keep and not having a mature tank of at-least a year or more often times proves fatal. You are right that anemones need clean, stable water parameters, but they also need intense light and water flow. Your running a little over 2 watts per gallon and the anemone is at the bottom of your tank which means it is receiving less than that. Even though watts per gallon isn’t the only thing to consider in maintaining anemones but at-least 5 watts per gallon is advisable. Anemones need intense lighting for their zooxanthellae and without it trying to feed it other foodstuff I don’t think is going to suffice. I am running 8 watts per gallon and feed silversides to my Rose Bubble Tips.
I know that anemones will move around to find their happy place but if key variables aren’t in check, it is that much more difficult to keep not only anemones but many other corals as well.
good luck with your anemone.

She’s only at .4 watts per gallon. Yes to all above needs more time to mature tank and stabilize parameters and stronger lights.

 

[megannerd]

On a different note what program is this?

Aquarium note - love the user interface!

 

[MrShibainu]

Aquarium note - love the user interface!

Downloaded the second version thanks!

 

[aabjones888]

Definitely needs different light as soon as possible