Sick Bubble tip anemone

bnk810 · 01-02-2008, 09:47 PM

Hi all,

I've had a rose BTA in my tank for about 3 months now and all was good until about 7 days ago. It started to turn grayish, and the tips became very small. It dosen't open all the way and it just looks sickly. About 3 weeks ago i introduced a pulsating xenia and a candycane coral to my tank. Is it possible that one or both of these are the problem? I have no idea what to do. I've heard that as anemones die they release toxins in the water that can claim your whole tank. Is this true? Any suggestions?

Brian

tbittner · 01-03-2008, 08:50 AM

It's doubtful that the corals caused damage to the RBTA. What kind of light do you have it under? What have you been feeding it and how often?

When an anemone dies it just fouls the water something fierce. That in of itself creates toxic conditions.

lcstorc · 01-03-2008, 10:38 AM

How old is the system?
Anemones require a lot of light and very stable water parameters. Also they have a very slow metabolism so it can take quite some time before the anemone shows stress from an unsuitable environment.
Do you have any clowns in the tank? They can also stress an anemone.

bnk810 · 01-03-2008, 05:51 PM

My system is 6 months old. It cycled for 3 months before i put anything in it. The nitrates finally stopped spiking so i slowly added organisms. I have a percula clown that hasn't hosted the BTA, an yellow tang, a red sea blenny, a pulsating xenia and a candy cane coral. The last two were the last ones i've added to the system about 3 weeks ago. About a week ago my BTA took a turn for the worse and started losing it's color.
My water parameters have remained very stable. I have the Odessa 350W compact flourescent lighting with a metal halide. My nitrates have remained around 10 ppm. I was feeding the BTA prawn shrimp once a day as directed by the store where i purchased the BTA. Should i rid my tank of the BTA before it kills everything or is itn possible to nurse it back to health

Bri

panmanmatt · 01-03-2008, 05:55 PM

Compact fluorescents aren't nearly enough light for a BTA. You should have T5s at the very least or metal halides to keep a BTA.

Also you should wait until your tank is at least a year old to add an anenome. In the first year a tank is still maturing and going through changes.

reefman420 · 01-03-2008, 07:42 PM

matt he said he has pc and the halide,But i would have also waited,i have a seabae but i waited a year and a half to get it,Ure tank still has changes u might not be able to see or tell.And the nem could have been on its way out a long time ago also.

panmanmatt · 01-03-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefman420

matt he said he has pc and the halide,But i would have also waited,i have a seabae but i waited a year and a half to get it,Ure tank still has changes u might not be able to see or tell.And the nem could have been on its way out a long time ago also.

Sorry, I totally missed the halide part.

sasquatch · 01-03-2008, 08:35 PM

Bri, remain calm, stop feeding the anem!!! once a day is TOO much its probably got heartburn lol, only 1 way in and out for food. Keep an eye on it, they dont release anything but they decompose rapidly, you cant really predict survival, it will or it won't, as long as its moving and is still sticky leave it be, good luck Steve

lcstorc · 01-03-2008, 08:38 PM

I would keep feeding but less often as long as it is still attached and sticky. You might try smaller foods like mysis since it is easier to digest. Let it go where it wants and try to get it to eat.
Do you have a pic?
If you aren't already start running carbon. It is possible you have chemical warfare happening. A water change is never a bad idea either.
Hopefully it will come back, just keep an eye on it and your parameters.

bnk810 · 01-03-2008, 10:32 PM

Thanks for the input, i'll keep you guys posted on it's progress.

Bri

01-02-2008, 09:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
bnk810 Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sick Bubble tip anemone Hi all, I've had a rose BTA in my tank for about 3 months now and all was good until about 7 days ago. It started to turn grayish, and the tips became very small. It dosen't open all the way and it just looks sickly. About 3 weeks ago i introduced a pulsating xenia and a candycane coral to my tank. Is it possible that one or both of these are the problem? I have no idea what to do. I've heard that as anemones die they release toxins in the water that can claim your whole tank. Is this true? Any suggestions? Brian

01-03-2008, 08:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sick Bubble tip anemone It's doubtful that the corals caused damage to the RBTA. What kind of light do you have it under? What have you been feeding it and how often? When an anemone dies it just fouls the water something fierce. That in of itself creates toxic conditions. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

01-03-2008, 10:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 19,875 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sick Bubble tip anemone How old is the system? Anemones require a lot of light and very stable water parameters. Also they have a very slow metabolism so it can take quite some time before the anemone shows stress from an unsuitable environment. Do you have any clowns in the tank? They can also stress an anemone. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

01-03-2008, 05:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
bnk810 Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sick Bubble tip anemone My system is 6 months old. It cycled for 3 months before i put anything in it. The nitrates finally stopped spiking so i slowly added organisms. I have a percula clown that hasn't hosted the BTA, an yellow tang, a red sea blenny, a pulsating xenia and a candy cane coral. The last two were the last ones i've added to the system about 3 weeks ago. About a week ago my BTA took a turn for the worse and started losing it's color. My water parameters have remained very stable. I have the Odessa 350W compact flourescent lighting with a metal halide. My nitrates have remained around 10 ppm. I was feeding the BTA prawn shrimp once a day as directed by the store where i purchased the BTA. Should i rid my tank of the BTA before it kills everything or is itn possible to nurse it back to health Bri

01-03-2008, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,975 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sick Bubble tip anemone Compact fluorescents aren't nearly enough light for a BTA. You should have T5s at the very least or metal halides to keep a BTA. Also you should wait until your tank is at least a year old to add an anenome. In the first year a tank is still maturing and going through changes. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

01-03-2008, 07:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
reefman420 Elegance coral Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: minneapolis Posts: 1,085 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sick Bubble tip anemone matt he said he has pc and the halide,But i would have also waited,i have a seabae but i waited a year and a half to get it,Ure tank still has changes u might not be able to see or tell.And the nem could have been on its way out a long time ago also. __________________ 155 oceanic bow front,20 long refuge packed with caluerpa and mangroves,40 gallon sump,175lbs LR,3x250 watt xm 10ks,aqua-c remora,and pro-clear 150 skimmers sailfin tang,kole tang,royal gramma,cinnimon clown,2xpink skunk clowns,six line wrasse,mandarin, 155 bow coral-orange montipora cap,superman monti cap,scripps green polyped staghorn,ORA pink poccilipora,ORA blue millipora,green slimer,yellow UK acro,pink birdsnest,armor of god zoas,various zoas and shrooms,hammer,frogspawn,clove polyps,favite,fancey toadstool,reg toadstool,yellow leather,purple leather,devils hand,2 types xenia,ricordea florida,ricordea yuma,kenya tree,galaxia,bubble coral,button polyps inverts are lots of snails and hermits,crocea clam,maxima clam and seabae anemone,rbta

01-03-2008, 08:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sick Bubble tip anemone Bri, remain calm, stop feeding the anem!!! once a day is TOO much its probably got heartburn lol, only 1 way in and out for food. Keep an eye on it, they dont release anything but they decompose rapidly, you cant really predict survival, it will or it won't, as long as its moving and is still sticky leave it be, good luck Steve

01-03-2008, 08:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 19,875 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sick Bubble tip anemone I would keep feeding but less often as long as it is still attached and sticky. You might try smaller foods like mysis since it is easier to digest. Let it go where it wants and try to get it to eat. Do you have a pic? If you aren't already start running carbon. It is possible you have chemical warfare happening. A water change is never a bad idea either. Hopefully it will come back, just keep an eye on it and your parameters. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

01-03-2008, 10:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
bnk810 Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sick Bubble tip anemone Thanks for the input, i'll keep you guys posted on it's progress. Bri

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)