Bubble tip hiding from the light

[Spazzmle]

I got a beautiful bubble tip anemone about 2 weeks ago. The first few days it was open in the light and happy. Now it seems to hide almost every day. I notice it open and out at night and in the morning before the lights come on, but it hides when the lights come on. It is a 29 biocube, with ocean revive arctic t247, both channels are at 50%. It has been moving around a bunch, killed all of my pulsing xenia, but won't settle or sit in the light.
Any ideas? I considered moving it to the other side of the thank with less flow, it hasn't made it that way yet.

 

[CodyRVA]

Parameters, age of system?

 

[Spazzmle]

All parameters within normal for what I can test for. My reef test kit is still in the mail. Tank has been up with no problems since October, coral started being added in January. A bit of algae lately, new cleanup crew should be arriving within the next day or two. My hermits murdered most of my snails.

 

[Spazzmle]

Lights have not come on for the day yet so it's out

 

[CodyRVA]

My guess is your tank isn't well established enough and your nem is suffering due to parameter swings. You need to test specifically for ALK, PH, Nitrate, Phosphate and salinity.

 

[Spazzmle]

Salinity is stable, pH is stable, nitrate is stable. I have a saltwater test kit, just not a reef kit. Everything has tested regular since it cycled back in November. I buy my water from a local reef store because I do not have a RODI setup. As soon as I can test everything else I will, but my nitrate, nitrite, ph, ammonia, and Salinity are all good.

 

[CodyRVA]

Definitely need to test your ALK and MG. See if your LFS can test it for you. What other livestock do you have?

 

[mochaclownlover]

Have you tried feeding him?

 

[Spazzmle]

I will give them a call today and find out if they can, thank you!
I have a pair of clowns who have not even acknowledged the nem's existance, a firefish, and a mandarin goby. They all leave it alone.

 

[Justice4u2]

following, as i am having the same issue.

 

[Dancingmad]

Happy to share based upon my own experiences --

My nems thoroughly enjoy the intense lighting MHs offer - they extend way up sometimes tying themselves in knots(normal, but silly behavior) and completely expand out. It shouldn't be hiding from the light.

When they get established in a sweet spot (right flow and lighting) they'll hang out there and maybe move around 1-2 inches for weeks/months. Your nem looked like mine after they get too much actinic lighting for extended periods. I run a T5 + MH setup and occasionally I'd forget to put on the MHs - investing in a timer was a good choice for me. Based on it's appearance and the fact hes cruising around the tank I would suggest experimenting with your lighting, making minor changes to the spectrum or slowly increasing the intensity over days.

A general suggestion would be to call the LFS, ask how often they fed it and attempt to maintain that schedule(also type of food). He probably doesn't need to be fed until he "gets right" but that's just some wild speculation.

Worth mentioning I've never had any real success with nems till my tanks were at least 6mo-1yr old. Based on the little rock visible in the picture your tank may not be established enough. Acclimation is key too!

 

[Spazzmle]

Thank you guys for your responses! I got the basic API reef kit, but it didn't have an Mg test so I will have to go get one separately.
Parameters as follows:

Nitrate: .20
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
Ph: 8.2
Phosphate: 0ish? (Tiniest bit darker than 0)
dKH: 9
Ca: 540

My calcium is super high, not sure how to bring it down. I'm going to try my LFS for a Mg test kit.

As for the anemone, still upset. I put it in a no-flow corner, and it sat there for about a week. I tried feeding it a little piece of shrimp, which it did not grab. It closes up throughout the day or hides, and usually opens up at night. It has lost all of it's green color, and looks bad and white.
I picked up a rose bubble at my LFS last week, and it has been doing super well. Open all the time, beautifully colored, hasn't moved around much, and eating. Is it possible something is just wrong with this one nem?

The tank has been up since September, cycled since October. Didn't start adding corals until January or so

 

[Spazzmle]

Pic from today. It still looks awful.