Frustrated - what to do with bleached RBTA that is shrinking and won't eat

[WDLV]

Are there nitrates in the water?
My rbta d obad when nitrates are zeroish.
Add some nitrates (ish food) to the water and see if that helps.

Glad to hear someone else say this. I have found nitrates not to be the big evil gremlin people make them out to be. Of course the other side of the coin is that you need critters to control algae.

I didn't look at your other thread yet, but do you have other cnidarians in the tank? If so, are they healthy? If they're healthy I wouldn't even bother testing your water but if they're not healthy I would test both your tank water and test your top off and mixing water for heavy metals.

Have the nems ever been healthy in your system or are they new to the system? If new, it may not be your fault. If they were healthy and now are not you probably have an environmental change or compatability issue to correct.

Another thing you could look into is light intensity. Are your lights old or brand new? Either a dimming of old bulbs or a spike in intensity from new bulbs can cause problems. If you're looking into bulbs, keep in mind that MH should last about 10 months @ 12 hrs per day. Flourescents should last 6 months @ 12 hrs per day.

 

[SlvrSurfRidr]

do you have other cnidarians in the tank? If so, are they healthy?

Nope - nothing else in there

I would test both your tank water and test your top off and mixing water for heavy metals.

I top off with pure RODI water, I checked the parms and it looks good

Have the nems ever been healthy in your system or are they new to the system? If new, it may not be your fault. If they were healthy and now are not you probably have an environmental change or compatability issue to correct.

I had it for a little over a year before it got stressed and split. Params are good, but it is struggling to recover from the split

Another thing you could look into is light intensity. Are your lights old or brand new?

Running a 3 month old 150w 14k Pheonix bulb. Originally, I though the bulb might be the problem so I replaced it. I also run a 2x18W actinic set, bulbs are about 4 months old.

Either a dimming of old bulbs or a spike in intensity from new bulbs can cause problems. If you're looking into bulbs, keep in mind that MH should last about 10 months @ 12 hrs per day. Flourescents should last 6 months @ 12 hrs per day.

yep, was well aware of that one, but thanks for the reminder

 

[Reefbox]

Try targeting 5ppm nitrate and see how they like that range. My rbt anemones are optimum at that range. Feed heavy, have good flow and skim heavy.

 

[WDLV]

Running a 3 month old 150w 14k Pheonix bulb. Originally, I though the bulb might be the problem so I replaced it. I also run a 2x18W actinic set, bulbs are about 4 months old.

If I undersand you correctly, the MH bulb was old and you replaced it after the problems started... which if it is the problem it might have taken a couple weeks to rectify but should work itself out.
Actinics I wouldn't worry about because they're more for color enhancement than function.

Have there been any equipment changes or changes in flow intensity or direction? ie: re-aquascaping, cleaning of PHs, redirecting of PHs, PH upgrades, new tank cover, new skimmer...

Have you started using a new chemical media or have you failed to replace one that you were using?

Pics with FTS may be helpful....

That's all I've got.