Did i kill my green bubble tip

[ricketyroll]

Did I? Tank was stable, 3 years as a Fowler in a previous owners dubious care. I took it over 3 months ago. Everything was stable. Added the gbt last Tuesday and things were looking great and going well. He had moved him self to the edge of a cave but was able to poke out the side. My maroon clown hosted immediately. And even feed it some meaty food on Sat. This morning was looking good if a little further back in the cave. Came home to this.
This morning

When I came home

I flipped the plate he is on for more light and immediately did a water change of 30%

Parameters are
Ph8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate looks to have spiked to 20 from 5 yesterday
Kh is 250


After moving to light he looks like this but mouth is open a bit

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Tahoe61]

Looks like the Anemone is acclimating. I do suggest not moving the rock around to expose the Anemone to more light. BTA can move around a lot so just be mindful of waver makers, over flows and heaters. Don't intervene unless you have to, try not to worry.
Is there adequate lighting?

 

[ricketyroll]

I have roughly a 140-180 par value at the level where the plate is at. but in the cave he moved himself too it was completely shadowed. After flipping the plate and doing the water change he looked like this this morning. puffed back up. but already moving to go back under the plate

I just got super concerned when i saw this last night.

So Maybe i over reacted? the clownfish was certainly concerned lol I also have some Kenya tree and some Greenstar polyps in the tank that are recent additions but doing really well all said.

 

[Tahoe61]

Clowns are always concerned. One can not corral an Anemone, while acclimating the Anemone may move several times. The Anemone is going inflate and deflate and otherwise drive you crazy. Don't panic just wait and watch. Don't over feed the tank. Don't dose, proceed with routine water changes as indicated.

 

[ricketyroll]

Thank you for the voice of experience! Ill do so,

 

[ricketyroll]

Clowns are always concerned. One can not corral an Anemone, while acclimating the Anemone may move several times. The Anemone is going inflate and deflate and otherwise drive you crazy. Don't panic just wait and watch. Don't over feed the tank. Don't dose, proceed with routine water changes as indicated.

Follow up question for you, it's been a little bit now and while the daily deflate cycles I've gotten used to now. the nem has not moved from his hiding place down low and in the last week has really retracted its tentacles and one part even looks like they are gone/ bleaching. And its still not moved to a source of high light.

I think I can say he is definitively unhappy but I can't figure out why.

I want to flip its rock and move it to a high light location ( knowing he will likely move) but I'm struggling to not take action. Any additional thoughts?

Photo taken by temporary flipping rock

 

[TX_REEF]

I would not recommend feeding a new nem. Let is acclimate to its new environment. Even after it is acclimiated, nems can retract and act strangely after eating. It is generally not a cause for concern.

 

[ricketyroll]

I would not recommend feeding a new nem. Let is acclimate to its new environment. Even after it is acclimiated, nems can retract and act strangely after eating. It is generally not a cause for concern.

Noted! I haven't spot fed him since then but he is definitely not getting enough light down in that cave. It's been a month tomorrow since introduction. Would you consider that still acclimating?

 

[TX_REEF]

could be, it also depends if your conditions are stable. Also, BTA's do not need very powerful lighting, 100-150 PAR will generally suffice. If you hit them with more than that, they will generally retreat into shade.

General rule is, if a nem is not moving, and it's not dead, it is probably happy and should be left alone :)

 

[ricketyroll]

Ok, man doing nothing is hardddddd. More specifically, rather than his general perceived unhappiness would you say loosing the tentacles on an edge of rim is indicative of anything?

 

[TX_REEF]

I think your culprit is likely unstable paramaters. You mentioned that nitrate was zero and then quickly changed from 20 to 5. rapid changes in water parameters do not make nems (or any creature) happy. I would also recommend you invest in a phosphate tester, as the 3 most important factors for nems in my experience are stable nitrate, phosphate and alkalinity. flow and lighting also matter, but BTAs do not need very strong light, and only NEED gentle flow.