BTA Problems

[green1181]

I have had a BTA for about 3 weeks now, He has not been doing too well, hiding in the back of the tank behind the rocks. Half of it is deflated and half is inflated but the past couple days he has been completly deflated and moving and, it looks like the tips are starting to turn brown. I fed him a couple pieces of scallop but havent for about a week(doesn't look like he can eat it) I would take a pic but I have to hold a mirror to the back of the tank to even see him.
I had a crab in the tank that would try and steal his food but he is out of the tank now.
I have 4x24" T-5's in a 30gal, nitrites,nitrates,amm at 0,
calcium at 420, alk at 120.
I appreciate any help, i really don't wanna loose the guy.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

What is your SG? How often do you do water changes? Do you run carbon?

 

[green1181]

SG is 1.026, Water change once a month (25%), I run carbon in my wet/dry filter, and use reef complete for calcium.
I had a better look and the tips are more green..i'll try and get a pic

 

[garygb]

Alk 120? You mean 12?

 

[green1181]

it's now 110 mg/l or 6.16 dH
here are some pics, the oral disc is not always open.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

Try weekly 10% water changes to see if that helps. See if it will eat a different kind of food like raw shrimp or silversides. It looks hungry or some thing is eating its tentacles. What other inverts or fish do you have in your tank?

 

[green1181]

All I have are some blue legged hermits, sand sifting starfish, snails (astrea,certh, and turbo), 2 cleaner shrimp and a peppermint.
I think I just got it to eat a tiny piece of scallop.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

I know a lot of people say not to move the anemone. In this case I think you should. Move it with the rock to point to the front of the tank. So you can keep a better eye on it, make sure nothing is picking at it or stealing its food. Skunk cleaner shrimp are food thieves. I have two of them so I feed the shrimp first then feed my anemone.

 

[green1181]

I have the rock turned around facing the front and the lights out..should I leave them out for awhile? It seems to go away from
the light.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

I wouldn't turn the lights off. I wouldn't make any other changes to the tank. It can some times take a while for btas to get use to lights. Usually they will go into a cave and then come out later. Make sure that peppermint shrimp isn't picking at your anemone. I have never owned that shrimp ..I just read about them eating tentacles of host anemones.

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

this may be irrelevant, but what are you using for flow/water movement?

 

[green1181]

I have the powerhead on the biolife filter and a 402 powerhead

 

[green1181]

Here is a new pic, looks worse today but I smelled it and it doesn't stink. I don't really want to leave it the night in case it rots in my tank but I don't really want to give up..what does everyone else think, does it still have a chance?

 

[rfosgategt]

how long has this tank been running? what are u dosing into the tank on a weekly basis? are you testing your water or your LFS, and on the note how old are the date on the kits it you are doing them? do you mix your own water or get it from the LFS? Anemones are much more difficult than most of your inverts.

i would stop moving it, they go were they want to, if it ends up the your back wall were you can't see it then that is life in the reef system. it just looks really deflated in the picture, give it some more time. keep your hope ups, as long as it doesn't start to melt i wouldnt get to worried.