BTA won't open

[adapt13]

I purchased a beautiful green BTA at my LFS a couple months back, acclimated it and introduced to the tank.
I turned lighting schedule down to ~5 hours/day and intensity down to 30%.
It did the normal nem thing and darted around the tank for a few days before attaching to an upper corner of the tank for a week or so.
It seemed content there until one day it just vanished. I figured it was hiding and waited for a few days.

During my regular maintenance I found that he had somehow gotten into my sump - no idea how, but not unheard of.
I retrieved it as gently as I could and put him back in the display tank, again turning the light intensity/schedule back to 5 hours/30%.
He attached to a rock and seemed OK, but quite shy, and hasn't moved since.
In the days after he attached to the rock he opened some, but not fully.
Since then, it started hiding inside the rock structure, especially any time the lights are on no matter how low I turn them on.
It has stopped inflating much at all and seems to have fully retracted most tentacles. Only a few left that come out at all, and even when they do it is only a few centimeters.

Water parameters:
Salinity @ 1.025
Nitrate @ 8
Alk @ 9.2
Phosphate @ .03
Calcium @ 410
Temp @ 78.2

75 gallon display
Weekly 10% water changes
Tank has been running for 6 months
Yes - early for a nem.
I have another nem on the opposite end of the tank that is very content.

What do.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Moderate light and water flow is a must. Sounds like lights are too low and not enough photoperiod for them. They are photosynthetic and require light to produce zooxanthelle for their cell structure plus feedings 2-3X per week . Mysis is readily accepted by them

 

[Jekyl]

Welcome to R2R! What lighting are you using? I have my nem sitting right underneath my kessil 360 at 85% as high as it can get.

 

[chrisgold]

Moderate light and water flow is a must. Sounds like lights are too low and not enough photoperiod for them. They are photosynthetic and require light to produce zooxanthelle for their cell structure plus feedings 2-3X per week . Mysis is readily accepted by them

I thought you didn't need to feed bta?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I thought you didn't need to feed bta?

Bubble tip anemones obtain much of the energy they need from light. To really flourish, BTA’s need a regular source or protein in the form of small meaty morsels of seafood. Luckily, BTAs are not particularly fussy eaters. Use a feeding stick or tank tongs to give the anemone the food. You may use your hands but risk being stung (stings are rare and mild unless an allergic reaction occurs). Gently place food on the tentacles of the anemone. They should grasp at it and move it toward and into their mouth. Avoid pushing the food at the anemone.
You may want to test different foods. Your anemone might not like some or may spit it back out if it isn’t hungry. on occasion, it may excrete it in a mucus-like cocoon and hold onto it with its tentacles to eat later.

 

[adapt13]

I am using the nicrew 100w / black box -

Definitely not the best light, but it seems to be sufficient for softies.

I did gradually increase the lighting back up to ~80% @ 7 hours... so I don’t think it’s a lack of light... especially since it still acts like it wants to hide from the light (retracts/hides when lights are on).

my flow is lacking - I have a 800gph return pump and a 700 Gph powerhead.... I have an MP40 getting delivered in a few days so hopefully that will fix the lack of flow.

 

[adapt13]

 

[Jekyl]

Doubt it's lack of lighting if hiding at the bottom. If it needed more light it would be reaching for the top

 

[adapt13]

Doubt it's lack of lighting if hiding at the bottom. If it needed more light it would be reaching for the top

Should I turn the lighting back down?

 

[Uncle99]

You should run your Nicrew Hypereef 100 at least 70% and never touch it again. They really hate change.
Nem will move towards where it’s most comfortable, it can take weeks but if your change any lighting and/or flow, he may start moving.
You have no control so sit back and enjoy.
Feed, sure, if you want, just small and not overly frequent.

 

[adapt13]

will do.
Thanks!

 

[adapt13]

will do.
Thanks

 

[40b Starter]

will do.
Thanks

Any updates?

I have a nem that looks similar. Only difference is that mine is at the top of the rock work with 2 bulb T5 and orbit reef LED lighting. Slowly losing color and getting smaller.

 

[Jekyl]

Any updates?

I have a nem that looks similar. Only difference is that mine is at the top of the rock work with 2 bulb T5 and orbit reef LED lighting. Slowly losing color and getting smaller.

Parameters and tank age?

 

[40b Starter]

Tank is about 15 months old. With a 2.5 month fallow period early on due to brook. Have had the nem since early January. 40 breeder with HOB filtration. No sump, no skimmer. Therefore religious about 5 gallon weekly water change. Tropic Marin classic salt.

Parameters are tough as I have been using API kits and learning how poor the accuracy is. Had water tested at LFS about 3 weeks ago to confirm.
pH. Consistently 8.0
Ca. 380 ish (confirmed at LFS)
DKh. 8-9 (confirmed at LFS)
PO4. 0 (0.04 at LFS)
Nitrate. 0 (23 at LFS)
Salinity. 1.025-1.026

Since adding to tank the nem has struggled. Initial thought was lighting as I was using Orbit LED only. Added 2 bulb T5 (blue+ and coral+ bulbs) on May 1. Slow ramp up from 30 minutes to now 5 hrs with T5. Nem moved directly under light and started to add more color and size. Last two weeks losing color and size again.

Have been fighting a bit of GHA for last 45 days so added additional snails in CuC about a week ago. But downturn started before this. Otherwise no new additions or changes in last 3 months.

FTS nem is little pink spot on top right rockwork

Nem close up

Nem on May 13. One month ago. Top down shot as it used to be on back of rockwork. Moved to front under T5’s

 

[chrisgold]

Any updates?

I have a nem that looks similar. Only difference is that mine is at the top of the rock work with 2 bulb T5 and orbit reef LED lighting. Slowly losing color and getting smaller.

Still the same mate

 

[chrisgold]

Still the same mate