Need help with LTA

[nps9981]

I need help with my LTA that I've had for over 6 years. I switched over from 300 watts of MH to 36 LEDs (12 white and 24 blue) from rapid led about a year and a half ago and ever since my LTA has slowly shrunk. It is now a quarter of the size it used to be. The tentacles are no longer sticky so not sure how I can feed it. They are also very short and stubby. Tank is a 45 tall with a clarkii that uses the anemone as a host. Any thoughts?

 

[nps9981]

Photos

 

[timnem70]

Pics. What type of fixture? Add a couple of t5 bulbs for additional. Hard to believe it's just lighting though. Could be, he's just old? Anyone else have a clue?

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[nps9981]

Pics. What type of fixture? Add a couple of t5 bulbs for additional. Hard to believe it's just lighting though. Could be, he's just old? Anyone else have a clue?

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Pics added. I made the fixture. Combination of a few blues and neutral whites and mostly royal blue and cool white. How old can they live?

 

[nps9981]

Here's one more for size comparison.

 

[davocean]

They live a long long time, like 50-100 years has been the claim, so I'm sure it's reacting to your light change, maybe shade it w/ screen in that area to see what it does.

 

[nps9981]

They live a long long time, like 50-100 years has been the claim, so I'm sure it's reacting to your light change, maybe shade it w/ screen in that area to see what it does.

But would too much light cause it to shrink?

 

[davocean]

From my observations and experience an anemone may expand to increase surface area in order to draw in more light/energy, and a shock of sudden increased light can make them actually decrease in size, so often size itself is not a be all indicator of health like we may think w/ most all other animals

 

[worm5406]

What are your tank parameters:

pH
temp
Light timing
inhabitants
feeding
nitrate
nitrite
water type
Sg

 

[oahureefer]

I would not think you are getting to much light, I bet if you par metered both lights the MH would be more than your new LED set up but I am no expert in lighting. If lighting is the only change and your other parameters are the same then that's your issue.

 

[nps9981]

I took down my LED's and put my MH back up. We'll see if that helps. Also, I noticed the mouth is gaping about a half an inch. Any suggestions? Do I need t treat it with antibiotics?

SG 1.024
Temp 78
PH 8.3
Nitrates - not sure, need to get a new test kit.

 

[timnem70]

Don't know how old they get. That shows quite a bit of algae. Anemones like stable water parameters, and relatively clean water. Need more info and a closer look at that Nem.

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[nps9981]

A couple years ago when I switched from MH to LED I threw out my old magnetic ballast thinking I'd never need them again. Thinking my LTA's decline was due to the lighting I bought some electronic ballast for my MH bulbs and hooked them up over the weekend. I'm definitely not getting the intensity I had with my LEDs, so I switched back last night.

The anemone is definitely getting worse. The mouth is gaping about 5/8 of an inch and tentacles are getting smaller. My Clarkii has also been digging into it trying to find a place to sleep, which has caused it to uproot.

I decided to move the LTA into a container to keep it away from the Clarkii. At what point is it time to give up on this thing?

 

[worm5406]

When have you calibrated the SG and other test kits?

It is upset over something.

 

[nps9981]

Just calibrated refractometer RO\DI. It was spot on. Test kits are brand new. This is a very established tank, over 14 years old.

 

[worm5406]

How does its foot and all look? Nothing got at it or anything right?

Anything new added or dosed over the past year?
DI resin good?

 

[Raintree]

I think you should remove it and treat it with cipro in a hospital tank. It may or may not improve but at it's probably your best shot for now

 

[pfan151]

Has that clown been with it the whole time? Curious if the clown might be beating it up.