Some background: About two months ago I bought a GBTA to host my tomato clowns. Everything was fine until I went on vacation. It ate what I fed it and whatever it could grab when I fed the fish. It stayed in the same spot since its first night in the tank and was regularly inflated (with the occasional bubble tip.)
Two weeks ago I left for a one week vacation. I do not have anybody to watch my tank when I'm away so the tank was not fed or topped off. I also turn off my skimmer because there's no one to empty it. Never had problems with this arrangement in the past.
I returned from vacation a week ago to find a small clam (2") had died. All fish and corals (LPS, softies, polyps) looked good. But the anemone was totally deflated with its mouth gaping. At least its guts weren't hanging out. I tested the water and everything was fine except nitrates (10 ppm) and phos (.03 ppm) were higher than normal. I believe this is likely attributable to the clam death and heavy feeding leading up to vacation. SG went from 1.024 to 1.026. I did a large water change that night and another two days later. All tests were back to normal.
The anemone has not eaten since I returned and stays pretty much deflated with its mouth gaping when the lights are on. When the lights go out it expands (not fully, about 75%) and its mouth closes (mostly). The last couple of days it has partially expanded some of the time the lights are on. Also, yesterday morning it began to move and by this morning it had moved 8" to the opposite side of the "island" it has been on since day one. Its tentacles continue to shrink but there is no sign it is decomposing.
I suspect it was stressed (obviously) by deteriorating water quality and possibly hungry tankmates (flame angel?) and expelled its algae. I'm hoping that begining some expansion under the lights is a good sign.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Is there any hope for my GBTA? Any suggestions on how to proceed?
I've tried to take pictures but all I get is a blur. I need to learn how to use my camera!
Tank: 125 gal, 3x250 10K MH, 2x160 VHO actinic, temp 79-82
Sorry for the long post, tried to include everthing I could think of.
Two weeks ago I left for a one week vacation. I do not have anybody to watch my tank when I'm away so the tank was not fed or topped off. I also turn off my skimmer because there's no one to empty it. Never had problems with this arrangement in the past.
I returned from vacation a week ago to find a small clam (2") had died. All fish and corals (LPS, softies, polyps) looked good. But the anemone was totally deflated with its mouth gaping. At least its guts weren't hanging out. I tested the water and everything was fine except nitrates (10 ppm) and phos (.03 ppm) were higher than normal. I believe this is likely attributable to the clam death and heavy feeding leading up to vacation. SG went from 1.024 to 1.026. I did a large water change that night and another two days later. All tests were back to normal.
The anemone has not eaten since I returned and stays pretty much deflated with its mouth gaping when the lights are on. When the lights go out it expands (not fully, about 75%) and its mouth closes (mostly). The last couple of days it has partially expanded some of the time the lights are on. Also, yesterday morning it began to move and by this morning it had moved 8" to the opposite side of the "island" it has been on since day one. Its tentacles continue to shrink but there is no sign it is decomposing.
I suspect it was stressed (obviously) by deteriorating water quality and possibly hungry tankmates (flame angel?) and expelled its algae. I'm hoping that begining some expansion under the lights is a good sign.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Is there any hope for my GBTA? Any suggestions on how to proceed?
I've tried to take pictures but all I get is a blur. I need to learn how to use my camera!
Tank: 125 gal, 3x250 10K MH, 2x160 VHO actinic, temp 79-82
Sorry for the long post, tried to include everthing I could think of.
