My BTAs seem to be dying

[LargeJohn]

A fellow reefer gave me a single white BTA about 3 years ago. I put it in my 125g mixed LPS/SPS tank and it didn't seem to like the conditions. It survived there for 7-8 months, but never seemed to thrive.

So, I took it to my office and placed it in a FOWLR 54g tank with some aggressive fish and a large gold-striped maroon clownfish. This tank had much less intense light and nutrient rich water because of the fish and their appetites, so I wasn't sure how the anemone would react. Well, the anemone thrived here although the color turned slightly tan and its tentacles seem to have lost their bubble tips. Within the first 3 months in the new tank the anemone split. Over then next 2 years it has split several more times, and I now have 8 anemones in the tank. However, over the past 3 months the anemones have shrunk and lost their vigor. I have tested the water and nothing has changed. The lights have not changed, although the bulbs may need replacement. No new fish.

The only other possibility may be the introduction of some soft corals earlier this year. I added some zooanthids, a toadstool leather, and some green star polyps. The corals seem to be doing very well. Could they be battling the anemones for territory? I may just try running some carbon for a little while.

Any other ideas? This tank runs pretty high on nitrates because of my fishes appetite, but that hasn't changed since Day 1. All other parameters test good.

 

[NYIntensity]

Do you feed the anemones individually? Perhaps the tank's hit its capacity for sustaining the nems.

 

[garygb]

I would definitely suspect that the addition of the zooanthids, etc. is to blame. I would probably relocate the soft corals and do water changes, heavy skimming, and constant activated carbon until the BTA's perk back up. And, if your bulbs are old, then replace them.

 

[LargeJohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11370882#post11370882 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NYIntensity
Do you feed the anemones individually? Perhaps the tank's hit its capacity for sustaining the nems.

I have started to target feed the anemones since the decline began, but I never did before. It seemed like the clownfish took good care of them feeding them.

 

[NYIntensity]

Do the clowns favor one anemone more than another? If so, how is that one doing?

 

[LargeJohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11372602#post11372602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NYIntensity
Do the clowns favor one anemone more than another? If so, how is that one doing?

I only have one clownfish, and it tends to stay near the front of the tank and pay more attention to the 2 or 3 anemones in that area. Those seem a little better off than others, but they are still far from their best.

 

[Haddonisreef]

I would say get new blubs if they are 3 yrs old theres the problem!

 

[LargeJohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11374118#post11374118 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CHARLIE AGUILAR
I would say get new blubs if they are 3 yrs old theres the problem!

They are not quite that old, but they are probably pushing 2 years.

What spectrum is everyone running? I didn't mention it earlier, but I am running 2 - 65w PCs on the tank. One bulb is a 10,000K and the other is a 50/50.

 

[Haddonisreef]

Pc lights should be replaced at least every 8 mths! I run mh 14 k 2x20 on my 46 bow and single 250 on my 33 and 16 bow!

 

[LargeJohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11374190#post11374190 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CHARLIE AGUILAR
Pc lights should be replaced at least every 8 mths! I run mh 14 k 2x20 on my 46 bow and single 250 on my 33 and 16 bow!

I've always heard that anemones generally prefer high intensity lighting, but these seemed very happy under the PCs. There were some noticeable changes in the appearance (color and tentacle shape) when I placed the anemone in the 54g FOWLR, but it really seemed to thrive until recently.

I should have mentioned earlier, that the decline also seemed to coincide with a color change back to white. Could this be indicative of a loss of zoanthele (sp?) which would have affected their ability to photosynthesize? I'm treading just beyond the edge of my knowledge here.

 

[garygb]

Yeah, if your anemones became white it is because they are bleaching. The identified light issue is a very likely cause for the zooxanthellae to be expelled. 10000K is probably the best Kelvin all around, 6700K would be better, but it might be too yellow for your aesthetic tastes--however the anemones would like it better. PC lighting is fine for anemones, I've had very good luck with them. PC just doesn't penetrate very deep into the water--t-5 or MH is better deeper, and only MH for really deep tanks (>24 inches or so). If I were you, I would replace the bulbs. I would go with all 1000K (or 10000 and 6700K if you can take the yellower color). Replace one of your bulbs one week and then wait until the next week to replace the other to give the anemones a chance to acclimate a little to the change. I would still be somewhat concerned that the zooanthids, leather etc. that you added to the tank might be a problem. Again, regular frequent water changes, good protein skimming, and the use of activated carbon will go a long way to minimize the effects of the corals on the anemones.