GBTA failing fast....please help

[tommydee]

:sad2:

Well, my early successes in this hobby have turned to a serious situation. I've had my first ever anem, a GBTA, for 2 weeks now, and it does not seem well. Acclimated via drip method, 30 minutes, but it got stuck in HOB skimmer intake (no blades) the first night. Since then, it has had some great days, but lately it is shrinking at about 1 PM, and blowing back up to normal at night. Brown goo coming from mouth. Has moved around last several days, and sat on the floor the last 2. I moved it to what I think is a good spot today, and took itš photo. We think it ate 1 krill we gave it, but lately not eating the brine shrimp or krill....the food did stick, though.

Info:

29 Gallon sumpless, established good water quality for last 6 months. LR, HOB skimmer, and power filter. Weekly 10% water changes, with NSW (live in Puerto Rico)

ph 8.2
sg 1.026
T 78-82 (this may be the issue....temp always rising at 4 PM, then cools...maybe I must buy a chiller)
Amm, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate = 0
some red algae and green hair algae.

Other creatures: xenia, GSPolyps, mushroom, zoanthids, 2 clowns, cardinalfish, YW gobie, hermit CUC, a few pistol shrimp, 2 featherdusters...all happy (though admittedly these are noob corals) clowns not hosting the GBTA.

I am considering buying a powerhead for more flow tomorrow, since I'm relying only on powerfilter, and eshopps 75 PSK outlet right now. Using more AC to keep tank below 81 until I can maybe get a chiller. Other corals seem ok..is there anything I can do at this point, or is it too late? From my research, this looks bad. Any good thread references would be appreciated.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[tommydee]

sorry for lousy pic...it is zoomed in pretty good, thing to the left is a hermit crab. And it is very shrunken, more than the picture suggests (see foot)

The white things are microbubbles from the filter outlet. My kids drew the background. And, this does zoom in on the glass on my tank w/ the worst of the algae (which I just cleaned)

 

[Toddrtrex]

What lights do you have?

I wouldn't be worry about the temps at all.

 

[tommydee]

woops, forgot lights.

4 X 40w T5 fixture, 36", Nova Extreme. 2 X10K, 2X actinic. bulbs 5 months old (original) This is their newer fixture with individual reflectors, so should be enough lighting. (I bought goofy oversized fixture, for future larger tank!)

however, I'm only running the daytime lights from 9 AM to 4 PM, to cut down on the heating. Also, it does seem that this guy shrivels late afternoon each day.

 

[tommydee]

toddrtrex, thanks for the help...this issue + my algae issue, I'm thinking not having any additional flow beyond a basic powerfilter outlet, and the eshopps outlet is my problem. Anyone recommend a small powerhead for 29 g setup that won't chop up the nem, and won't break the bank?

headed to LFS manana....

 

[ReeferBill]

Gbta?

Gbta?

I would leave all lights on for 10 to 12 hours per day and see what happens. If he stays opened up then it was the lights. What ARE your water perameters? Also add a fan to blow across the suface of the tank to lower temp and get a new pwerhead in their..:thumbsup:

 

[curlykid]

nope, most people have issues with tunzes, koralias, etc because of their large footprint and profile. I've never had a problem with my nems and a vortech.

 

[xtlosx]

nope, most people have issues with tunzes, koralias, etc because of their large footprint and profile. I've never had a problem with my nems and a vortech.

+1. I have two BTAs and two mp10s and have never had a problem because of the footprint... These are great power heads!!

 

[hfleming]

I wouldn't worry about the temps. I have had swings worse than than that for years without problems before my chiller.

I agree with the advice about the lights being on longer. If there is too much light they will seek shade. I would borrow some lights or whatever to see if that helps.

For food I would stick with something small. I always feed mine brine shrimp and bloodworms for weeks before attempting larger chunks.

I would go with low to medium flow at the most until it anchors good.

Just my advice. Good luck.

 

[tommydee]

thanks everyone, this is a great community! This AM, nem is anchored on front glass, and looking a bit pale, but full size...we'll see when the lights come on.

 

[jimmy_beaner]

When I had PC lighting with my RBTA, I had them on for 14-16 hours a day and feedings. It stayed happy. Now I have LED lighting and am cutting the photoperiod way back. You may try adding a little time to your photoperiod, or keep attempting to feed small portions as supplement.

 

[tommydee]

OK..grabbed an Aqueon powerhead at petsmart, and put a filtersock on it so the nem doesn't get sucked in(options limited here in PR)...I moved the nem to other side of tank, higher up in the LR pile...he has slid down to the back of the tank, kind of hanging out, but looking much better...doesn't have bubbled tips, but better, and hasn't done the daily shrinking thing today. I've got a 700gph powerhead in a 29g tank, looks like my xenia are going to blow away, and my fish are looking at me wondering what the heck I fiddled with this time...a bit worried my lazy YWgoby may starve, since he needs to get quicker to catch the food...

now out to CVS to buy a little fan, water went up to 84 today with extra lighting, powerhead, and I didn't run AC today....

Set is up so the nem gets sort of the edge of the flow of the powerhead.

Is frozen brine the best thing to feed these guys? Thanks again for the help, I'm kind of wanting to save this guy.

 

[Rippinfrags]

1. Leave the gbta alone, stop moving it. You will most likely do more damage then good.
2. You need more flow.
3. I would leave your lights at seven hours, if anything slowly amp up the amount of time it's on. You should have plenty of light.
4. Use a fan to control your temp swings. I would have it on the same timer as your lights.
5. Run some carbon.
6. Don't worry about it shrinking/deflating. Once again just leave it alone!
7. What are your tank parameters? Alk, mag, calcium.
8. Dont worry about feeding it just yet. If anything blow some mysis at it with a turkey baster once a week.
9. Good luck amigo!

 

[tommydee]

All,

powerhead (Petsmart 700gph) and fan to keep temp below 81 F seem to be working! greenie has dropped off the back face of my live rock, wedged between the glass and the rock and has looked much better, with no shrinking or anything, tentacles starting to bulb up, and plenty of color. I'll take it....even if it's not in a desirable location, and the clowns aren't hosting.

Thanks all for the help. Live and learn.