My nem has lost color

[Aquacrazed]

My Chicago BTA has lost it's color. It's been 2 months since I added him and I don't think he was happy and was moving around. He's been in this new spot for a few days. Any advice?

 

[Fish & Coral Store]

This often happens due to issues with lighting, water quality, or stability.
Can you share your tank size, lighting setup, and water parameters?

 

[Aquacrazed]

This often happens due to issues with lighting, water quality, or stability.
Can you share your tank size, lighting setup, and water parameters?

My tank is a IM 20g running a XR15 Pro Gen 5. The nem is getting around 225PAR.

Mag: 1500
Calcium: 480
Alk: 10
Phosphates: 2 (trying to get it down using Chemipure elite)
Nitrates: <5
Temp: 78 - 80F

 

[Aquacrazed]

Bump

 

[D-Nak]

What are the other inhabitants? Any other anemones or soft corals, such as leathers or xenia?

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

My tank is a IM 20g running a XR15 Pro Gen 5. The nem is getting around 225PAR.

Mag: 1500
Calcium: 480
Alk: 10
Phosphates: 2 (trying to get it down using Chemipure elite)
Nitrates: <5
Temp: 78 - 80F

Are your phosphates really 2 or .2?

If 2 that might be contributing to your issue.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm also wondering if you meant to say .2 on phosphates.

 

[Aquacrazed]

Yes it's 2, not .2 so it's pretty high. Most of my corals are doing just fine, colors are good but SPS is growing quite slowly. I'm assuming because of the phosphates. However all my LPS is doing great. I have another baby rainbow BTA in the tank, he's on the other end of the tank.

Here are some pics of it: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/im-20g-mixed-reef-nano.1100372/

 

[D-Nak]

The other BTA may be affecting the ChSB. They don't need to physically touch. It could be allelopathy--chemical warfare that is often blamed for BTAs not being able to live in the same tank (CSBs and ChSBs are typically on the losing end). Since your tank is only 20 gallons, this affect is compounded. If you can remove either BTA and place in a temporary tank for a few weeks, and run carbon on your DT, you'll know if it was indeed the RBTA that was the problem if the ChSB recovers.

 

[bluemon]

The other BTA may be affecting the ChSB. They don't need to physically touch. It could be allelopathy--chemical warfare that is often blamed for BTAs not being able to live in the same tank (CSBs and ChSBs are typically on the losing end). Since your tank is only 20 gallons, this affect is compounded. If you can remove either BTA and place in a temporary tank for a few weeks, and run carbon on your DT, you'll know if it was indeed the RBTA that was the problem if the ChSB recovers.

Seconded, some BTAs just cannot be in the same tank.

Running carbon, UV or Ozone helps, but I would try to separate

 

[Aquacrazed]

Thanks, will try this and report back.