Please help, BTA dying :/

[tastydog]

I have had a GBTA since March. It was badly bleached when I got it. It was a split from a local tank owner. I nursed it back to health and it has split twice. It was about 7" in diameter two months ago. A 6 weeks ago, it finally got VERY green and got all its color back in the entire body and tenticals. THEN I because of other flow issues in the tank, I _had_ to add another powerhead. It was a larger one. It had 1200GPH of flow, (an older koralia 4). I have two RBTA on the same rock, (it has a bunch of deep larger holes perfect for anemones). They are doing GREAT. This one, over the past two weeks has started showing signs of dying. It doesn't stay inflated more than about 6 hours a day. When it is deflated it has a gaping mouth. At night, it doesn't stay inflated much either, about 50/50. I have found it at night inflated with the maroon nested, and I have found it deflated with a HUGE gaping mouth. It doesn't seem to want to eat. (The tenticals aren't very sticky anymore.) I have been kinda "force" feeding it by moving the food into it, it half way takes it, then I kind play with the sides so that it tightens up around the food, and it then eats it.

I don't know what to do. It would be very sad to loose this one especially since I have taken so much care nursing it back to health. What can I do?

I do not have another tank to move it to.

My tank is a 90 gallon with a sump and refuge and 4x 54w T5's. The anemone is about halfway down in the tank and always eaten very well. I have feed it at least 3 times a week, if not 5 since I got it.

The other parameters of the tank have not changed. The powerheads were oriented in such a way such that there is no direct flow.

If any other info is needed I will gladly provide... PLEASE HELP! I don't want to loose this one... I have may have waited too long to ask for help.

It only started this behavior since we got back from vacation on the 28th. Before I left on the 20th, there were NO signs of this behavior. I added the powerhead on December 4th.

Brandon

 

[bradleym]

One thought, not necessarily the problem but a possibility, is an internal infection. If an anemone doesn't get a day or 2 between each feeding, sometimes it will eat before expelling old, unused food. If this food is held in for too long it can start to rot inside the anemone, causing serious issues.

Second, you seem to imply that this started around the time you added the big koralia. Why not take it out for a week and see if the BTA improves. Being an older PH it could maybe have bad insulation and be leaking electricity into the water.

Both of these are guesses, though. It's hard to say what's up if the others in the same tank are doing well.

 

[tastydog]

Well, older as in BRAND new but the older model. Not the brand new ones they redesigned. I highly doubt there is a current leak. I will test it though.

Is there anything I can do if it is an infection?

Also, EVERY day like clockwork the anemone used to deflate and expel waste 1 hour before the lights went out. (Just more info, don't know if it is relevant.)

Lastly, thank you very much for the reply.

Brandon

 

[bradleym]

I'll have to let others chime in on treating an infection. Aside from some questionable drug treatments in a QT, I would think just give it a week or so without feeding and see if it will heal up. IDK if there's much to be done, sorry. But again I really don't know.

One other thing, I have the same situation, formerly bleached BTA in with some healthy RBTAs. I have noticed that if I overfeed and the water gets a little dirty, the BTA will start freaking out kinda like what you're describing long before the other anemones react. I found (with my situation) if I cut back to feeding once a week or less and do a couple water changes with the skimmer at full tilt he's right as rain again in no time. Maybe it's something as simple as that?

 

[SwampyBill]

What are your water parameters & how often do you do water changes?

 

[tastydog]

Well, I haven't been able to get back online until now and it died, well I assisted it but I wasn't going to let it take the tank with it.

My parameters are 15-20 nitrates, .02 phosphates, 410 ca, 9 dkh, 1280 mag, .06 iodide, ph 8.2-8.4

I do water changes once a week or every other week, 10-20 gallons depending on things. I did slack over the christmas break time frame on the water changes and the nitrates crept up to over 30. It has been 40 for months and the thing was fine so I doubt that was it... I am baffled and upset over this loss. The RBTA's look very healthy and are thriving. I hope I don't run into the same issues with them 8 months from now. :/

Anything thoughts would be appreciated... again sorry I haven't been able to reply back until now, and after it is too late.

Brandon