RBTA Anemone Health Concern

[JWags911SC]

I'm concerned that a small RBTA I added to my 40 Gallon several weeks ago is on its way out. It was healthy (or so it appeared) the day I brought it home. The tank has matured and is approximately 10 months old. The RBTA went from 250 or 400 watt halides to T5's initally, but I switched over from T5's to a good strong LED fixture a couple weeks ago. It has remained hidden and closed for the last two weeks and I'm afraid it is not going to survive.

What are the signs that an RBTA is beyond reviving and do you think the downgrade in lighting would cause it to close up and retreat from the lighting? Water chemistry has been consistently within reef parameters, though I have had some issues with cloudy water (?) since right around the time I added him to the tank. Could he be adding to the cloudiness and if so, should I take him out and see if I can find somewhere to rehome him? I want to give him the best shot at recovery and I have researched RBTA's beforehand but don't know what could be causing him to retreat from all lighting.

About the tank:
40 Gallon Breeder w/20 Gallon DIY sump/refugium with Chaeto
Lighting is Orphek Atlantik LED V1 on Coral Acclimation Mode for last 2 weeks
Temp 79.5+-.5 degree, Calc 440, Alk 7.5-7.8, Mag 1500
Live rock, skimmer and I run GFO
Have also been running carbon in a sock to try to clear up the water

I complete a 15% wc every week to week and a half

 

[MacWilliams]

Could be its not liking the intensity of the new LED's. Not sure how powerful yours are but might want to consider lowering the intensity.

You say you have carbon in a sock? Does the carbon tumble or is it stationary? Cause if its tumbling it might be grounding down into ashe and going through the tank. Not sure the effects on a BTA tho.

Other than that just wait it out. If you try to mess with it then you'll just stress the BTA out more. Dont feed it. If its detached and just rolling around then its probably not going to make it. As long as its attached then you should still have a shot.

 

[JWags911SC]

Could be its not liking the intensity of the new LED's. Not sure how powerful yours are but might want to consider lowering the intensity.

You say you have carbon in a sock? Does the carbon tumble or is it stationary? Cause if its tumbling it might be grounding down into ashe and going through the tank. Not sure the effects on a BTA tho.

Other than that just wait it out. If you try to mess with it then you'll just stress the BTA out more. Dont feed it. If its detached and just rolling around then its probably not going to make it. As long as its attached then you should still have a shot.

No tumbling on the carbon, its squeezed into my bubble trap in my sump.

I don't think its the intensity of the LED's because it started shrinking under the T5's that were hung about 18 inches over the water and it started to retreat to the shade the day after I introduced it to the tank. It came from a very brightly lit 250 watt halide lit frag tank, too. My LED's using coral acclimation mode at 18" from the water are not nearly as bright as my T5's were when all six were lit.

The RBTA is attached but closed up and looks a little "limp" for lack of a better term. :facepalm:

 

[RA]

The rbta won't make your water go cloudy unless it is dying. If it's on a rock that you can lift up to the surface then give it a smell check. You'll know if it's dying, and if so remove it from your tank.

 

[JeffyT]

i'm having the same problem. my rbta was bubbling up for two days. now it just looks flat and doesnt have any tentacles. the mouth is closed shut doesnt swell up. the nem flattens out when the lights are on though.

 

[JWags911SC]

I'll give it the smell test tonight, thanks for the tip.

 

[SGT_York]

Mine had a hard time after I introduced him. Crawled under a rock and didn't come out. I tried everything turning the rock, he'd just crawl under again. Eventually he split one came out and settled the other continued to crawl under the rock. Fast forward to a year and I had two beautiful anemones and one still bleached hiding under a rock.

Wish I had a solution for you.