Help: BTA might be DOA

[1sleeper]

Hey guys, I'm wondering if my poor BTA has had it. My clown has been fatally attracted and a total freak. The nem got sucked to (not through) a powerhead a few weeks ago and moved to the side of the tank where I couldn't directly feed and analyze it. The clown brought the piece of shrimp to it every other day but I had no idea if it was feeding on it. Last week it started deflating/inflating every single day sometimes twice a day and the tentacles on one side were full and on the other half they stayed deflated. This coincides with a dark green, black, red cyano outbreak. My water is really clean, I skim 24/7 and run rowaphos through a reactor. This keeps my phosphates below .10 and my nitrates are barely detected. I have cheato in a refuge and run T5 lights. The pic is of Sunday night at 8:15 pm est. I'm wondering if I should run to the LFS for selcon tomorrow or is it lost?
Thanks much,
Jim

 

[Anemone]

Sorry, that pic is too small to really tell anything.

Kevin

 

[redvipe2010]

I agree, need a bigger pic.

 

[1sleeper]

Sorry guys. Lets try this.

 

[1sleeper]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/142589nem1.jpg

 

[redvipe2010]

Definately not looking good. How long has it been like that? It needs to be protected from the clowns. Inverted strawberry basket will work. What kind of clowns?

 

[1sleeper]

My clarkii has been hosting (mauling) it. I removed it to QT to look after it. It is slowly taking an eraser size piece of krill but it's going slow. It's been deflating for about a week. It was inflated earlier but it was on the backside where I could only see it with a cosmetic mirror. Needless to say, I couldn't see much.

 

[redvipe2010]

As long as its eating that is a good sign, and yes, I would get some selcon to soak it's food in. Do you have adequate lighting for the QT?

 

[1sleeper]

I don't think so. Good point, it's only a 36" tank with 2 36" florescence. I should probably put 2 fresh bulbs in it anyway. Should I skip the actinic and go with 2 10k?

 

[redvipe2010]

florescence? Got a link to the fixture?

 

[1sleeper]

No, they're just old perfecto t-10 fixtures. I don't think even VHO

 

[redvipe2010]

Not familiar with it. Sorry. I'm guessing it's not enough though.

 

[1sleeper]

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/productInfo.web?&infoParam.itemKey=209225

 

[redvipe2010]

You may want to start a new thread asking if this is adequate lighting for a BTA. I have no experience with it, and am just now researching T-5 lighting. I really hate to give you the wrong information.

 

[1sleeper]

I researched and went with the Aquactinics 5x54 T5.
It's a nice piece, better than MH? I have no idea.

 

[GreenPuffers]

I had the same bulb, and I can tell you I was told by MANY people it was not enough lighting. I have compact florescents now. Everything is much happier.

 

[Slakker]

T5's are stronger than power compact...

 

[1sleeper]

My QT has the t-10's though and I think that's what green puffers meant. I'm going to throw in new bulbs and hope for the best for today. Feed some selcon and see what happens.