New GBTA and perculas. Questions

[FishNutzBoi]

I got 1 female true percula clown and 1 male false percula in an 8G biocube. Today I got a VERY healthy green BTA. Its very brown in color and very sticky.

A couple of pictures:

<img src="http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/5/470218/Image001.jpg">

<img src="http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/5/470218/browna.jpg" alt="browna.jpg" />


Questions:

1. The BTA was in a tank with metal hallide. I think that lighting was too much for it that's why it has lost its green color. Maybe under my PC light it will regain its natural neon green. Am I correct?

2. I have had another tank with a mated pair of true and false perculas and a GBTA. The clowns never hosted the anemone after 2 years of being together. I really want to see the anemone/clownfish relationship so any tip encouraging my current clowns to host?

TIA!

 

[garygb]

An anemone and 2 clowns in an 8 gallon is pushing it, you should start thinking of at least a 20 gallon. MH isn't too much light for a BTA if it is slowly acclimated to it. I wouldn't assume a brown anemone would turn green under less light.

 

[FishNutzBoi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11641087#post11641087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by garygb
An anemone and 2 clowns in an 8 gallon is pushing it, you should start thinking of at least a 20 gallon. MH isn't too much light for a BTA if it is slowly acclimated to it. I wouldn't assume a brown anemone would turn green under less light.

Anemone doesn't count towards bioload does it?

The reason why I came up with the theory it would turn back to green because under stronger light, since there is plenty of light, its photosynthesis cells did not have to be green, which is the best color for photosynthesis cells to absorb light, so it turned brown so it wouldn't absorb too much light. Some corals do turn brown if light is too strong for their needs.

I remember reading something about this but I could be wrong since I have been off the hobby for almost a year until now. Any clarification is greatly appreciated!

 

[garygb]

Because you will likely feed your anemone, it counts toward the bioload. Basically food equates to bioload. Yes, the zooxanthellae in the anemones tissue does convert a significant amount of waste, but I believe some ammonia is still released.

And brown is characteristic of animals that are from lower light areas, the bright colors are pigments the animals use to protect against UV. When a brightly colored animal is placed in lower light, it tends to become brown.

It will be an interesting experiment to see if the color changes at all. BTW, how many watts and what Kelvin are your bulbs now? Do you have any acrylic/glass barriers between the bulbs and the anemone? How far is the anemone from the bulbs?