How long does it typically take for an anenome to recover from bleaching?

[psimitry]

So back in December, I had a really crappy day when I returned home from vacation. Though most of my preparations for being gone 5 days were fine (modded skimmer to include drain, added auto feeder, used a 15 gallon (clean) trash can for autotopoff water), the one thing that didn't work was because of a stupid mistake on my part: I forgot to set my lights from manual to automatic.

I was in the process of leaving and turned my lights on just before they were due to come on in their automatic cycle. Unfortunately, as I was leaving, I forgot to switch them BACK to automatic. The result: my lights were on. For 127 hours straight.

I was angry to say the least. I had algae outbreaks all over, my clown fish were clearly sunburned, and worst of all: my really pretty green bubble tip anenome had bleached.

Now it's almost 4 months later. The anenome is still alive. It's moved - a lot, which doesn't surprise me because I recently tripled the flow in the tank by adding a pair of maxi-mods. I'm feeding it every three days (although since its most recent move, that's become difficult since it moved into an upside down position in a crevice I can barely reach), and my light is more than sufficient for this anenome.

However, it's still looking pretty pale. It's healthy otherwise (healthy enough to move, and it eats like a pig), but I'm just curious how long it typically takes for them to get some color back.

Thoughts?

 

[redvipe2010]

If your anemone is still moving, it is still unhappy, can you list your water parameters?

 

[psimitry]

Sorry. Should have specified - it hasn't moved as of about a week ago.

It's still in the aforementioned hard to reach area, but it hasn't moved (although considering I re-positioned one of my powerheads tonight to get more surface agitation, this may change).

Current params:

Current test results:
Temp: 81F
SG: 1.026
pH: 8.04
ALK: 2.5 meq/L
PO4: .12 PPM
NO4: Undetectable
CA: 375ppm

 

[redvipe2010]

Every time you move your flow, your anemone may move. However, given the fact that your anemone has been bleached for 4 months and still has not regained any color, tells me something is still wrong.

What kind of lights are you using, and is this on your 50 gallon?

How old are the bulbs?

What are you feeding, how big of portions and how often?

Soaking foods in Selcon will help.

 

[psimitry]

The anenome is indeed in my 50G tank. I currently run 4x individually reflected T5HO bulbs. Bulb configuration is 1x 11000K, 1x 6500K, 1x Blue and 1x Actinic. Using Tek reflectors and ballasts. I know that the only PAR emitting bulbs are the 11000K and the 6500K - it's worth noting that the anenome came from a 90G tank with nearly the same lighting setup and his anenomes are doing awesomely. So was mine until it was under constant lighting for nearly a week and bleached.

The bulbs themselves are about due for replacement and will be replaced soon. They are about 10 months old at this time.

I WAS feeding about 1/2 a silverside every three days. Unfortunately, since the anenome has moved, I can no longer reach it to give it silversides. I've been forced to move to foods that I can project towards it. At present I use a turkey baster to squirt PE mysis shrimp at it every three days.

I will try soaking it in selcon.

 

[davocean]

As far as recovering from bleaching, that can vary, but there was a really cool thread by 55SEMIREEF showing the transition w/ timeline, maybe search that.
BT's don't need heavy light, I would make a little ledge or cave so it can be protected from flow and light.

 

[GatorReefman]

Feed it often with small bits of food, try formula one for instance. Use moderate, not strong currents- it would only blow the anemone around. Watch water quality closely and try to keep it as stable as possible. Good luck!