Anemone not inflating

scuddlymane

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 2, 2025
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Bend
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello everyone,
Long time post watcher, first time posting. This topic is probably already discussed, I just haven’t found it. This is my first saltwater tank.

I have an Aquatop 24gal Reef tank (with RedSea ReefLED 50) that is about 14 months old.

Livestock: pair of 2” clowns, talbot damsel, starry blenny, tuxedo urchin, 2 peppermint shrimp, 8 snails and 15 small hermits(was battling hair algae)

Corals: 2 anemones, a couple zoa frags, 3 mushrooms, green star polyps and a clam.

I have two BTA that were fully inflating every day, one being more stringy, and one normal bubble tip. Fast forward a couple of months and they both are shrunk down, and never open fully. Sometimes they shrink down to hardly anything, open their mouths for about a hour and excrete what looks like hair algae. They are inflating their bodies just not the tentacles. All my other corals have been doing great until I recently upgraded my stock light to the RedSea reefLED 50 (they seemed to like the light for about two weeks). Switched back to stock light and no change. I did the acclimation process for 30 days up to 50% blue and 8% white lighting.

I can only test certain parameters due to lack of testing equipment (I only have the API master kit and the Hanna phosphates testers), so I went to the LFS to get a water test done. They said my water parameters were ideal and they aren’t sure why my anemones aren’t inflating. My LFS has a huge anemone tank and are overly knowledgeable so I trust them, just scratching my head on this one.

I do weekly 15% water changes. I have moderate flow in the tank.
Water parameters:
-78 degrees F
-0 ammonia
-0.09 phosphate
-0.2 nitrate
-0 nitrite
-8.3 PH
-can’t remember what the calcium and alkalinity was but it was good

Is this a lighting issue? Water parameter issue? Do I need to dose something?

Thanks

image.jpg image.jpg
 

Ron Reefman

Lets Go Snorkeling!
View Badges
Joined
Aug 12, 2012
Messages
9,435
Reaction score
21,196
Location
SW Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'd ask 2 questions:
1) What is your lighting situation? What make & model of light do you have? What intensity (PAR if you know it)?
2) Do you ever specifically feed the anemones, or just broadcast feed the tank?

Anemones seem to have minds of their own and sometimes do things that don't seem to make sense. Don't do anything rash.
 
OP
OP
S

scuddlymane

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 2, 2025
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Bend
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'd ask 2 questions:
1) What is your lighting situation? What make & model of light do you have? What intensity (PAR if you know it)?
2) Do you ever specifically feed the anemones, or just broadcast feed the tank?

Anemones seem to have minds of their own and sometimes do things that don't seem to make sense. Don't do anything rash.
I have a Red Sea reefLED 50 light. I do not have a par meter so I am unsure of that. Thought about renting one. I have been running the light at 50% blue and 8% white. I spot fed the anemones about once a a week or so. Normally just broadcast feed. That’s what I was reading too. Was hoping it was just a lighting issue. Maybe I need more white light, as my tank is pretty blue
 

bradleym

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
988
Reaction score
1,172
Location
St. Louis, MO
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Anemones slowly shrinking in size typically indicates either insufficient light or insufficient nutrients. I would suggest increasing the white a bit and working to get your nitrates above 10. Neither of those will hurt the tank, and both are more in line for a typical BTA environment.

Bringing the phosphates down would also be good, but I doubt this is the main source of trouble here.
 
OP
OP
S

scuddlymane

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 2, 2025
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Bend
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have a Red Sea reefLED 50 light. I do not have a par meter so I am unsure of that. Thought about renting one. I have been running the light at 50% blue and 8% white. I spot fed the anemones about once a a week or so. Normally just broadcast feed. That’s what I was reading too. Was hoping it was just a lighting issue. Maybe I need more white light, as my tank is pretty blue
Some people seem to run this light as low as 40% and others run it
Anemones slowly shrinking in size typically indicates either insufficient light or insufficient nutrients. I would suggest increasing the white a bit and working to get your nitrates above 10. Neither of those will hurt the tank, and both are more in line for a typical BTA environment.

Bringing the phosphates down would also be good, but I doubt this is the main source of trouble here.
would you recommend dosing potassium nitrate slowly to increase nitrates towards 10ppm? I will increase my white slowly as well and see what it does. Thanks for the reply
 

bradleym

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
988
Reaction score
1,172
Location
St. Louis, MO
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Some people seem to run this light as low as 40% and others run it

would you recommend dosing potassium nitrate slowly to increase nitrates towards 10ppm? I will increase my white slowly as well and see what it does. Thanks for the reply
I've used potassium nitrate successfully in the past, but it probably shouldn't be a permanent solution. My opinion, you'll want to find a feeding/cleaning regimen that organically allows you to maintain a higher nitrate level.
 
OP
OP
S

scuddlymane

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 2, 2025
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Bend
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I've used potassium nitrate successfully in the past, but it probably shouldn't be a permanent solution. My opinion, you'll want to find a feeding/cleaning regimen that organically allows you to maintain a higher nitrate level.
After work today I stopped by the local LFS and rented an Apogee PAR meter. I had initially set my light to 24k 50% blue and 8% white. My par measurements at my current level are 45-54 on the sand, 58-69 mid level, 91 upper (4” from surface) tank, and 120 at surface… which I believe is insufficient lighting for an anemone according to the research I’ve done. From what I’ve read, anemones need PAR between 150-300

At 75% blue and 20% white: 66-80 on sand, 92-100 mid tank, and 143 upper, 190 at surface.

At 100% blue and 30% white: 91-112 on sand, 111-130 mid tank, 196 upper tank, 330 at surface.

I will crank this light up to 100 blue and 30 white, on the acclimation setting of course, and see what comes of it.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

IS THERE A FISH THAT YOU SWEAR YOU WILL NEVER OWN AGAIN?

  • Yes! I can think of at least one fish that I will never own again.

    Votes: 121 66.5%
  • No. I like all my fish!

    Votes: 41 22.5%
  • Maybe, but I think would give the fish one more chance.

    Votes: 16 8.8%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 4 2.2%
Back
Top