Cant make my GBTA happy

[lesages]

I got a green BTA about 3 weeks ago. It's color is very good, not bleached at all. It was huge in the store and looked like it was doing really good. Ever since I've had it it doesn't inflate very much and hides under rocks constantly. There was a condy in there but I got rid of it yesterday.

Tank info:
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0
Phos:0
Alk:4.5
PH:8.1
SG:1.025
Temp:29c

The tank has been set up since November.
Any ideas for what I can do to make my BTA happier? I've got it in a little tupperware thing to keep it under the light. The clowns aren't bothering it at all, one tryed to host it when I first got it but has since left it alone. I'll post a pic later.

 

[redvipe2010]

Your alkalinity is way too high. You sure thats a correct reading? The condy didn't do him any favors.

 

[GSMguy]

that alk is not to high if you run high calcium levels that would be a normalish reading for 460ppm calcium

whats your calcium level?

 

[redvipe2010]

In my experience it is too high for anemones.

 

[lesages]

I don't test for calcium yet. I'm pretty sure that is the reading I got. It isn't usually that high, most of the time it's more like 4. I'm gonna test it again in a second. It's expanded alot while I was out for dinner.

 

[redvipe2010]

Are you dosing with anything? If so, what?

 

[lesages]

I don't dose anything. I maintain the water with bi-weekly water changes using Aqua Medic Reef Salt.

 

[lesages]

Looks like the Alk is closer to 4. The Seachem test doesn't give you a very accurate number but it's definitly between 4 and 4.5.

 

[redvipe2010]

I'm not familiar with the salt. What are you feeding it? How long has your tank been set up? What lighting do you have?

 

[lesages]

I'm in Germany, I guess they don't sell the Aqua Medic salt in the states. The tank has been set up for about 6 months now. I have a Current USA Orbit fixture with 2 65w PC bulbs, dual actinic and dual sunlight.

 

[lesages]

Oh, I feed it a couple pieces of uncooked shrimp once a week. I'd like to try silversides but I'm not sure of the German equivilent yet.

 

[Slakker]

The short tentacles make me think that it's not getting enough food...maybe up the feedings to two or three times a week?

 

[redvipe2010]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9750601#post9750601 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
The short tentacles make me think that it's not getting enough food...maybe up the feedings to two or three times a week?

Me too. You may want to consider trying something besides shrimp. Not all anemones will take the same foods. What is available to you there?

How big of portions were you feeding it? Try feeding more often.

 

[picassoman]

Lighting and water quality are just as important as food. He's a little pale but looks okay. Don't feed anything to big though. Quarter inch bits twice a week is more than enough. I feed once a week and mine does great. The symbiotic algae in the anemone needs light to produce carbon to produce energy for it. I have heard of anemones living for years without a regular food regiment.

 

[lesages]

I've got it to stay in one spot where it is able to get some light so I'm gonna leave it alone. Later on today I'm gonna go get a different food for it.

 

[Slakker]

Sounds good...let us know how the feeding goes

 

[lesages]

I got pretty much all the frozen stuff they had. I figure even if the anemone croaks the fish will enjoy it. I got some mysis, cyclopeeze, fine chopped mussels and some small silver fish called "moderlieschen" that look like silversides. I'd try to feed it now but it's bunched up in a little ball, my wife says it's been like that all day :-(

 

[lesages]

Looks like "Moderlieschen" is a freshwater/brackish fish :-( I doubt it would like that

 

[phender]

I believe Aqua Media sells their salt as "Ocean Pure" over here. Most people seem to like it.

Your Alk measurement doesn't mean anything without units. If it is dKH then it is too low. If it is in meg/eq then it is too high.

 

[lesages]

Looks like it's pretty happy with the mysis Sorry, the Alk is in meq. I thought 4/4.5 is on the high side but otherwise ok?