Anemone’s shrinking and melting?

[RedFrog211]

My BTA’s used to be so happy, and over the course of the past 2 months have been closing up and shrinking. Nothing notable has changed. Tank has been up for a year. Water parameters are all ideal, except salinity with was a bit high (1.027) please advise if you think this salinity fluctuation could cause this. All other corals are happy and thriving (Zoa, chalice and hammer) Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

January 10

March 10

 

[GoReefin]

Do you have more than 1 type of bubbletip in the tank? Do you use tap water?

 

[RedFrog211]

Do you have more than 1 type of bubbletip in the tank? Do you use tap water?

All 3 are types of rainbow bubble tip and I get RO water from the LFS

 

[vetteguy53081]

Test that RO water you are getting. It may be high in nitrate-phos-ammonia. Some LFS arent even aware their water is bad.
High salinity can upset them, but to this degree . . . hmmmm
They desire moderate light and water flow and occasional feedings. Im suspecting water quality and possibly that RO water.
What test kits are you using ?

 

[RedFrog211]

Hanna instruments- I’ll test once I get home and update! Thank you!

 

[dvgyfresh]

Ye, always test the water from LFS. One LFS sold me some saltwater with 12 dkh lol never bought from there again (who knows if the RO water was even RO)

 

[RedFrog211]

Update: no parameters seemed off, but I think I may have found the problem.

I noticed a small bushy algae at the base of the nem’s. I peeled the nems off of their rock (which was much easier than it should have been) and used tweezers to slowly pick at algae and what seemed to be dead skin on the foot. I’m not sure what this algae is, but it seems to be wiry reddish brown. I don’t think it’s hair algae, as I notice small leaves at the end of each main shoot.

30 mins after removing the algae and placing them in a breeder, the nems are slowly opening more than they have in the past month! Once they’ve have a couple days to recover, I plan to do a 48-72 hour black out. I’m also using Vibrant and will increase water changes. Thank you all for the suggestions!

 

[GoReefin]

Update: no parameters seemed off, but I think I may have found the problem.

I noticed a small bushy algae at the base of the nem’s. I peeled the nems off of their rock (which was much easier than it should have been) and used tweezers to slowly pick at algae and what seemed to be dead skin on the foot. I’m not sure what this algae is, but it seems to be wiry reddish brown. I don’t think it’s hair algae, as I notice small leaves at the end of each main shoot.

30 mins after removing the algae and placing them in a breeder, the nems are slowly opening more than they have in the past month! Once they’ve have a couple days to recover, I plan to do a 48-72 hour black out. I’m also using Vibrant and will increase water changes. Thank you all for the suggestions!

Glad you figured it out nice catch!