Is my Anemone Just Plain Dumb?

[Rick's Reviews]

Any advice on my bubble tip anemone, I introduced about 6months ago and it was massive, maybe 4" ballooned, it moved around then found an overhang and sat below it, has sat there for nearly 6 months about 1" like a new coral on a frag , I guess it's happy.
recently it has been on the move, not a great distance, any help appreciated

 

[laverda]

It's very bleached! I am guessing it needs more light. What are tank parameters?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Any advice on my bubble tip anemone, I introduced about 6months ago and it was massive, maybe 4" ballooned, it moved around then found an overhang and sat below it, has sat there for nearly 6 months about 1" like a new coral on a frag , I guess it's happy.
recently it has been on the move, not a great distance, any help appreciated

If its moving as described- your issue is light and /or water flow
If it starts to move towards any coral, simply direct your water jets to the coral. This will discourage the anemone from anchoring near it. It will move to another area to attach.
Anemone lighting is a very important aspect of their care. These anemones need a lot of light to thrive because they’re photosynthetic which means that they absorb light to produce food and growth. The anemone has zooxanthellae in its body, which are symbiotic microorganisms that they feed on. Without proper lighting, the anemone will expel the zooxanthellae and turn white. This process is called bleaching and often leads to death.
A moderate amount of flow is recommended. Many aquarists soon find out that too much flow will cause the anemone to stretch out and look stringy. Keeping things moderate will help avoid this from happening. Avoid directing your flow directly at the anemone. These creatures enjoy subtle movement at all times but too much direct flow hitting the anemone will force it to move.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

It's very bleached! I am guessing it needs more light. What are tank parameters?

Why do you say bleached as last 6 months it has hid under a overhang/ cave, obviously it's own choice as it can move freely, only recently it has moved due to wavemaker not working, my light is viperspectra currently 30% white 6hrs and 20% blue 2hrs (reduced due to daylight) blue 1 HR in morning before white. Evening 1 HR after whites

Water parimiters are consistently the same every week

 

[Rick's Reviews]

If its moving as described- your issue is light and /or water flow
If it starts to move towards any coral, simply direct your water jets to the coral. This will discourage the anemone from anchoring near it. It will move to another area to attach.
Anemone lighting is a very important aspect of their care. These anemones need a lot of light to thrive because they’re photosynthetic which means that they absorb light to produce food and growth. The anemone has zooxanthellae in its body, which are symbiotic microorganisms that they feed on. Without proper lighting, the anemone will expel the zooxanthellae and turn white. This process is called bleaching and often leads to death.
A moderate amount of flow is recommended. Many aquarists soon find out that too much flow will cause the anemone to stretch out and look stringy. Keeping things moderate will help avoid this from happening. Avoid directing your flow directly at the anemone. These creatures enjoy subtle movement at all times but too much direct flow hitting the anemone will force it to move

If its moving as described- your issue is light and /or water flow
If it starts to move towards any coral, simply direct your water jets to the coral. This will discourage the anemone from anchoring near it. It will move to another area to attach.
Anemone lighting is a very important aspect of their care. These anemones need a lot of light to thrive because they’re photosynthetic which means that they absorb light to produce food and growth. The anemone has zooxanthellae in its body, which are symbiotic microorganisms that they feed on. Without proper lighting, the anemone will expel the zooxanthellae and turn white. This process is called bleaching and often leads to death.
A moderate amount of flow is recommended. Many aquarists soon find out that too much flow will cause the anemone to stretch out and look stringy. Keeping things moderate will help avoid this from happening. Avoid directing your flow directly at the anemone. These creatures enjoy subtle movement at all times but too much direct flow hitting the anemone will force it to move.

Thank you, this makes sense as my wavemaker has stopped working, so my anemone has moved to adjust (I have 3 other flows of water, UV filter, surface skimmer, main filter) I will look at at turning up my lights percentages, I have viperspectra 165watt currently on 30%white and 20% blue.

If my anemone likes hiding without reaching for light then it's getting enough I assume, I don't want to increase light for no reason

 

[laverda]

Why do you say bleached as last 6 months it has hid under a overhang/ cave, obviously it's own choice as it can move freely, only recently it has moved due to wavemaker not working, my light is viperspectra currently 30% white 6hrs and 20% blue 2hrs (reduced due to daylight) blue 1 HR in morning before white. Evening 1 HR after whites

Water parimiters are consistently the same every week

I say bleached because it is white! BTAs are not white naturally. From what your saying you need to increase your lighting. It is almost impossible to give a BTA too much light.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I say bleached because it is white! BTAs are not white naturally. From what your saying you need to increase your lighting. It is almost impossible to give a BTA too much light.

As I previously mentioned since I introduced in December, photos are from Dec to now (hopefully in that order) , my BTA moved to an area of a overhang/ cave and has not moved since. In my head correct me if I'm wrong... if my BTA wanted more light it would come out of shadow of an overhang?? Hence why I have not increased my lighting (besides thinking of other corals) I just assumed as this BTA was happy even at worst my lights may of been too strong but that contradicts what you say?
My BTA has recently moved from overhang cave due to my wavemaker not functioning properly, this has been only time it has moved, I have increased my lighting by 5% (other corals has responded well to this so far) however I will be monitoring behaviour of BTA when I place my new wavemaker in tomorrow, which will be placed in same spot as original.

Please let me know your thoughts @laverda as you and @vetteguy53081 have provided alot of insight and knowledge
Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

As I previously mentioned since I introduced in December, photos are from Dec to now (hopefully in that order) , my BTA moved to an area of a overhang/ cave and has not moved since. In my head correct me if I'm wrong... if my BTA wanted more light it would come out of shadow of an overhang?? Hence why I have not increased my lighting (besides thinking of other corals) I just assumed as this BTA was happy even at worst my lights may of been too strong but that contradicts what you say?
My BTA has recently moved from overhang cave due to my wavemaker not functioning properly, this has been only time it has moved, I have increased my lighting by 5% (other corals has responded well to this so far) however I will be monitoring behaviour of BTA when I place my new wavemaker in tomorrow, which will be placed in same spot as original.

Please let me know your thoughts @laverda as you and @vetteguy53081 have provided alot of insight and knowledge
Thanks

Too much flow and they lol move somewhere calmer. Too much light , they will go for a darker area
Too much constant flow and they can bleach
Be sure to feed also. Sounds like a flow issue

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

OMG. Last week my new 4” frag of pulsing Xenia started moving. Like rotating around and wiggling. I was like…that’s odd. I hadn’t glued it in place yet and figured the current was hitting it just right but soon realized that wasn’t the case.

I found a hermit crab had discovered a shell embedded in the base of the rock the Xenia was on. He decided he found the most awesome house EVER and would not give up trying to take the shell and my entire Xenia with him. Took me 3 hours to coax him back into his old shell.

The Xenia was super upset by then but bounced back after a few days.

My wife swore if the Xenia didn’t make it we were having crab cakes for dinner! Lol

Happen to have video of coaxing the hermit back into his shell? Sounds entertaining.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Too much flow and they lol move somewhere calmer. Too much light , they will go for a darker area
Too much constant flow and they can bleach
Be sure to feed also. Sounds like a flow issue

Yes I agree, BTA only moved after I removed faulty wavemaker, I think best to reduce light to original settings when I replace wave maker tomorrow, then see it's behaviour, thank you

 

[cgripp256]

Happen to have video of coaxing the hermit back into his shell? Sounds entertaining.

If only I did. That would’ve been priceless.

 

[laverda]

Because it sounds like it was bleached when you got it, it is not going to like a lot of light. It takes s long time fir them to recover from blraching. All mine are in high flow areas. Some right in front of my tunze pumps. They have never bleached. They do have long tentacles most of the time as opposed to bubbles. My lighting is more white than blue. I have 10 BTAs in my tank and they all vary from just one tentical extended, to bubbles, to curly cues, to long flowing tenticals at the same time.

 

[KMCA]

Mommy I can fly!

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Because it sounds like it was bleached when you got it, it is not going to like a lot of light. It takes s long time fir them to recover from blraching. All mine are in high flow areas. Some right in front of my tunze pumps. They have never bleached. They do have long tentacles most of the time as opposed to bubbles. My lighting is more white than blue. I have 10 BTAs in my tank and they all vary from just one tentical extended, to bubbles, to curly cues, to long flowing tenticals at the same time.

So what would be best advice for me and my BTA that decided to hide ? Do i compromise other corals and turn up lights more?
I'm unsure, I have placed new wavemaker and BTA has not moved but at least it's out of the cave

 

[laverda]

So what would be best advice for me and my BTA that decided to hide ? Do i compromise other corals and turn up lights more?
I'm unsure, I have placed new wavemaker and BTA has not moved but at least it's out of the cave

You said your other corals responded positively when you turned up your lights. I would not turn them up too much. It is going to take a long time for your anemone to regain its color. What are your tank parameters? Including Alk and PO4?

 

[Rick's Reviews]

You said your other corals responded positively when you turned up your lights. I would not turn them up too much. It is going to take a long time for your anemone to regain its color. What are your tank parameters? Including Alk and PO4?

I replaced new wavemaker on Monday, BTA has remained in place (when previous wavemaker failed) as my other corals have responded well to light increase of 5% I have decided to keep at 35% white and 30% blue., White is on currently 7 hours a day, blues on 2 hours (1hour in morning before whites, 1hour in evening after whites)
Tank/ aquarium parameters constantly monitored/ hence new additions

 

[laverda]

I have decided to keep at 35% white and 30% blue., White is on currently 7 hours a day, blues on 2 hours (1hour in morning before whites, 1hour in evening after whites)

That is really very low light. I am not surprised your corals responded favorably. I would keep the blues on while the whites are on as well.

 

[homer1475]

That is really very low light. I am not surprised your corals responded favorably. I would keep the blues on while the whites are on as well.

Was just going to post the same thing when I read that post.

Whites and blues should be on at the same time. It's perfectly fine to use the blues as sunrise/sunset, but keep the blues on when you turn the whites on.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Yes sorry (correction) blues come on first then throughout the day for longer duration, whites come on a little later for shorter duration, meant to say blues 2 hours longer then whites so my apologies in my last post, so 9hrs for blues and 7hrs for white.
I am a little hesitant with playing/adjusting lights as I had a bad experience (my own fault) I played with settings to show family (lights on) after timer set and next day my lights was on full 100% for nearly 1 HR and all my newly purchased corals was toasted
@laverda @homer1475

I am also hesitant in buying more corals until I get my lighting correct so I only have mushroom that was 1 head now 3, green Star polyp but these the only ones to survive , I have candy cane and firecracker clove that are responding well, luckily my fish survived.
Do you suggest I increase light more? My varied clean up crew seem to be doing a good job and I guess they happy as they still alive so algae won't be a problem if I do,
Thank you for your help

 

[laverda]

The corals you have don’t require much light. Your anemone requires a lot of light. Even with the blues on all day your still have very little light for an anemone. I would slowly increase your lighting.