Bubble tip shrank

[TLisciandra]

I bought a Bubble Tip four weeks ago and it was fine. Friday it shrunk into a hole. Family members say it have expanded for a short time today. I am at a loss as to what to do. It is in my 170. My parameters are Nitrate .04 ppm, Alk 9.3 dkh, PH 7.8, Cal 430, Gravity 1.024 and temp 79 to 80. Lighting is two 96 W 10K pc's two 96w Atenics and two 250w metal halides. I run the pc's and the atenics twelve hours a day and the MH's seven. I am thinking the PH is the problem and I started trying to drive it up tonight with Kent's DKH. I moved it's rock to the bottom of the tank to make sure the MH's were not to much. Any help would be more than welcome.

 

[garygb]

How often do you do water changes in the tank and what percentage of the water? Do you use RO/DI water, also what brand of salt? How are the other animals in the tank doing and what types of animals do you have in the tank? Do you run activated carbon/chemipure? Do you have a skimmer and what type?

 

[TLisciandra]

I do a water change every week. I switch up form 20 to 40 gallons every other week. As for salt I am using Seachem reef salt. I have a six stage RO/DI and changed out the filters two weeks ago. TDS test on the water is 0 PPM. Skimmer is a Top Fathom. I use Chemi pure.

 

[TLisciandra]

I have a blue tang, three chromis, an alge blenny, purple dottyback and two true percs. The percs are transplants from my nano and they have not found the anem. I have three shrimp. One of the cleaner shrimp has been over to the anem and tried to clean it. I have not witnessed this since Friday.

 

[garygb]

Well, sounds like you're doing all the right stuff. The ph is on the low side as you know, but I'm not sure if that could be the cause for the change in the anemone. Sorry I'm not anymore helpful. I wonder if it could be trying to shy away from the strong lighting?

 

[TLisciandra]

I was thinking the same thing. I think I will pull the atenics and add two more 10k's then leave off the MH's.

 

[garygb]

That should help if in fact the strong lights are the problem.

 

[TLisciandra]

So the Anemone is out of the hole it was hiding in. Our Lawnmower Blenny forced it out of the hole and then moved in. I gave it a small piece of Silver Side this morning. It was not aggressive about eating. When I left for work is was in the mouth and the mouth was still open. Tuesday I turned off the 250w HM and remove the atenic bulb. I put a second 10K PC 96 watt in it place. The anemone is not looking to hot. I attached a photo. Please make any suggestions as to what I can do to recover this guy. Thanks.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/148129Anem.jpg