Bleaching RBTA and Marineland LEDs

[jp5785]

I've been in the hobby 5 years with no issues until now. I recently modified my Biocube 29 to take off the stock lighting and add on two marineland 18 - 24" reefcapable LED lights. I have a brain coral (radiata) and some other misc. corals that are doing great, but I purchased a RBTA a month ago off of Diver's Den that isn't doing well at all. Starting to bleach, mouth is gaping open at times, not accepting food, and tentacles shrinking. Water parameters are perfect, so lighting has to be the issue. I'm frantically trying to adjust my lighting duration and placement to get it in a place where the RBTA is happy.

I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone could answer:
1) Is the anemone bleaching due to too much light or not enough light? I've seen conflicting posts all of the internet.
2) Has anyone been able to successfully keep RBTA's under Marineland LED lighting?
3) How many hours should the RBTA be keep under the LED lighting per day to try to reverse the bleaching and regenerate zooxanthalle?
4) Any other suggestions.

Thank you so much for your help!!!! I really want to save the little guy.

 

[hypnoj]

depending on how close the LED's are to the nem, it for sure might be getting bleached. I know those types of LED's are terribly strong, but it doesn't take much. I'd probably start running those lights for only 6 hours a day.

 

[hypnoj]

I've been in the hobby 5 years with no issues until now. I recently modified my Biocube 29 to take off the stock lighting and add on two marineland 18 - 24" reefcapable LED lights. I have a brain coral (radiata) and some other misc. corals that are doing great, but I purchased a RBTA a month ago off of Diver's Den that isn't doing well at all. Starting to bleach, mouth is gaping open at times, not accepting food, and tentacles shrinking. Water parameters are perfect, so lighting has to be the issue. I'm frantically trying to adjust my lighting duration and placement to get it in a place where the RBTA is happy.

I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone could answer:
1) Is the anemone bleaching due to too much light or not enough light? I've seen conflicting posts all of the internet.
2) Has anyone been able to successfully keep RBTA's under Marineland LED lighting?
3) How many hours should the RBTA be keep under the LED lighting per day to try to reverse the bleaching and regenerate zooxanthalle?
4) Any other suggestions.

Thank you so much for your help!!!! I really want to save the little guy.

You've really been in the hobby for 5 years with no issues? That's gotta be some kinda record. If that's true I think we should probably be asking you for advice.

 

[WillM]

Welcome to the site! I really doubt that the Marineland LEDs are too much light. I would think the opposite is true. Marineland is fairly low key for LED lighting. What were you lighting the tank with previously? What are your parameters (alk, calc, mag, nitrates), filtration, water movement, tank size?

 

[hypnoj]

Welcome to the site! I really doubt that the Marineland LEDs are too much light. I would think the opposite is true. Marineland is fairly low key for LED lighting. What were you lighting the tank with previously? What are your parameters (alk, calc, mag, nitrates), filtration, water movement, tank size?

oops I meant to say those types of light aren't terribly strong, lol.

 

[jp5785]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to purchase a new light this week to try and get my RBTA to start regenerating his zooxanthalle. Does anyone have any recommendations for a T5 or other light that would be a good fit on a Biocube 29 for anemones? I don't use the stock hood anymore, just an overhead light on an acrylic lid.

 

[BigCountry74]

How does it respond to the light? Does it close up (close flaps) trying to cover up it's mouth/flat area when the lights are on it after a few hours? If so it's too much light?

 

[jp5785]

I've attached a picture of the RBTA. Was a really nice red color when purchased from Diver's Den a month ago and is almost fully bleached in a month under the LED's. After about an hour under the LED lighting it starts to close up and hide under it's spot on the live rock.

Once I figure out a replacement light (T5 or whatever) I'm going to get it rush shipped to me this week so I can try to save the RBTA's life.

Any lighting recommendations would be greatly appreciated for Biocube 29.

 

[shred5]

Welcome to the site! I really doubt that the Marineland LEDs are too much light. I would think the opposite is true. Marineland is fairly low key for LED lighting. What were you lighting the tank with previously? What are your parameters (alk, calc, mag, nitrates), filtration, water movement, tank size?

While sometimes it hard to figure out why something bleaches I tend to agree with above.

Things bleach from too much light but also can bleach from to little light.

 

[jp5785]

So would a T5 or 150 watt metal halide clamp-on lamp work better to revive my anemone?

 

[pnavarro170]

I have the AI nano over my 27g cube, and have 11 rbta's in it all looking amazing. i would get that. how many watts are the marineland fixtures all together ?

 

[cichlidconvert]

I successfully kept my RBTA under 4 T5HO lights on my standard 29 gallon. In fact I think they have a harder time with the higher intensity lighting. I don't have any experience with Marineland LED lighting but they don't have a good rep with reefers. I would go T5HO. It would preclude most sps and clams but your RBTA will love it.

 

[jp5785]

cichlidconvert, which brand of T5 lights did you purchase and from which website? thanks again everyone for the replies.

 

[cali9dub]

I have a gigantea under an AI sol blue and it is recovering from being bleached(bought it that way). LED's aren't the issue. Maybe it's marineland LED's. You definitely need to slowly acclimate things to LED's and gradually increase the intensity. Can't just blast things at 100% (at least with the AI fixtures).

 

[cichlidconvert]

It was a coralife fixture. Altough I think any brand would do in that regard. And I dont think LED is the problem either. The dimmable LED's allow you to acclimate your RBTA with great effectiveness. But LED's are very dependent quality wise on what brand setup etc. far beyond my experience can advise.

 

[jp5785]

Looks like I'm going to go with 2 of the 20" Aquaticlife T5 HO Marine lights for my Biocube. I've heard good reviews and they look decently priced. Anyone have any experience with these for anemones?

 

[BigCountry74]

After about an hour under the LED lighting it starts to close up and hide under it's spot on the live rock.

Too much light.

My RBTA is doing the same thing with my LEDs.

I have 3 120w boxes over my 135g. I raised the box that the BTA is under 6 more inches last night and will try to let it recover. I might have to run just blue lights on that box (for a few days) if that does not work. Do not want to lose this thing, its hosting a mated pair of clowns and that would suck!

I have 2 small condys at the bottom under the other 2 lights. When I picked up the RBTA I figured it would need more light than those (I bought it already footed in a nice size rock) so I dropped it and the rock 18" under the led box. It did fine for a few weeks. Then I think it realized "hey I am in a new tank and these lights are starting to get bright as chit!"
lol

Been running LEDs for 4 months now and I am still trying to figure them out. Too much? too little? no heat - and that messes with your head...lol

I built mine in a fashion where I can raise/lower each box though. And run blue/white/both on each box seperately. So that works out perfectly in this case. I can move the LPS next to the BTA to the other lights w/out having to rearrange the entire rock structure..

 

[jp5785]

BigCountry74 - I agree. The LEDs are totally screwing with me. Everyone is telling me my wattage per gallon is too low and that there's not enough light in my tank, but it seems confusing that the RBTA is hiding from the LED when he's supposedly not getting enough light.

Regardless, I'm concluding that my RBTA just hates my LEDs for whatever reason, and I'm going to make the safer choice and just go with T5's to bring him back to life.

 

[BigCountry74]

Just raise the marineland fixture 8-12" more inches and let it heal up. I am not sure if throwing T5s at it is worth the money to be honest. that seems a tad impulsive

Oh, and most people who give you advice about LEDs on these forums do not have LEDs...lol

According to manuf spec, my boxes are equivalent to 250mh. then on the forum, some dude took par measurements on the boxes, and some competitor boxes, and posted them (I thought they were low..). It made me paranoid so I lowered the box above my bta...and here it sat for 3 weeks roasting the dang thing...

gotta be careful on these forums...

 

[wonderz]

If its hiding under a rock, I don't think its too much light especially if you placed it on top of the rock and it moves under the rock on its own. You mention that you have two set of the reef capable led. I would start off just use one set. Then after a while, add the second set with only blue lights on. Then finally have two sets to be fully on.

Oh in the mean time, if you can, try to feed it especially if you haven't in the month that you got it.