"Healthy" LTA Won't Attach

[cmatlosz]

I've read just about every thread for this topic and tried every suggestion I could find to get this LTA to attach. Hoping someone can offer some advice or some reassuring words at least.

I picked up an LTA from divers den about 10 days ago. Looks super healthy, dark brown with some green spread across it's disc and tentacles. Foot looks good, no cuts/damage, mouth closed all the time. Expands and contracts normally throughout the day. Has sticky tentacles and will eat mysis shrimp fed by hand or the resident clarkii.

As the title says, it will not attach to anything...

Buried it in 3/4 inches of sand, inflates out in a few hours. Wedged under rock in sand, same result. Got a 6 inch piece of PVC about 3'' wide. Floated around in there and looked great for two days, 3rd night floated out. This is all true for medium and low flow areas in the tank. It usually ends up floating above the sand in the back or corner of the tank.

Is there anything else I can try at this point or should I leave him be laying ontop of the sand? He will inflate and looks great laying there basking in the light, unattached. So confused.

Tank is about 9 months old with stable parameters all within acceptable ranges. All other soft/LPS/SPS growing great.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Bolivian Ram]

Let him do as he does. It'll bury itself eventually.

Also what type of lighting you got?

 

[Willster]

you might want to add another 2inches of sand minimum. get dry sand not live, since the live will cause another cycle. the live sand you have now will seed the new sand so that wont be a problem. If you add more sand, strong mechanical filtration will be needed to clear up. More sand, strong lights, and a low/med flow will help the anemone attach.

 

[brittanysmith18]

Add more sand, and take a rock that has a flatter side and place in on there away from any flow. It will after an hour or two attach to it. I had this trouble with mine when I had one, and it prefers a flat area. Once it attaches to the rock, it will crawl and find it's place, but won't be all floating around the tank.

 

[cmatlosz]

When I said 3/4 inches of sand I meant 3 or 4 inches, not 3/4 of an inch. Apologize for the confusion.


Lighting is a 48 Cree LED DIY over a 90 gallon bowfront.

 

[Willster]

When I said 3/4 inches of sand I meant 3 or 4 inches, not 3/4 of an inch. Apologize for the confusion.


Lighting is a 48 Cree LED DIY over a 90 gallon bowfront.

OHHHHHHHHHH!! Makes better sense now lol. Are your lights adjustable? And how much current is blowing on him

 

[cmatlosz]

The LED's are run on dimmable meanwell drivers controlled by an Apex.

I left him alone for about 3 days in the corner and he was still just laying there on his side inflated. Decided to try the PVC again in a medium to low flow area. Left it bare in the bottom to see if hell attach to the glass.

Will get a picture today when I get home from work.

 

[Willster]

Turn your lights down and light adjust him. How readily is he eating?