RBTA Brown Hairlike releasing?

[Sbreish]

I noticed over the past few days that my RBTA would inflate itself, look amazing, and the it would deflate itself completely, open its mouth real wide and release some sort of brown stringy, hairlike stuff. Never seen it before. I've had him almost a year. Any idea? Something to worry about? Thanks

 

[velvetelvis]

I'm no anemone expert, but it sounds like it might be, er...pooing?

 

[elegance coral]

Sounds like it's discharging zooxanthellae. I'd do a large water change, because high nutrients may be fueling rapid zooxanthellae growth. Have you changed lighting lately?

 

[Sbreish]

i did a water change this past weekend, nothing out of the usual, no new lighting. Is it something to worry about?

 

[elegance coral]

Can you post a FTS? Do you have algae issues? Do you test for nitrate and phosphate? Are you dosing anything that would cause an increase in zooxanthellae, like iodine?

 

[aoc230]

I'm no anemone expert, but it sounds like it might be, er...pooing?

this is most likely the cause.. they eat and excreet out the same hole.

 

[elegance coral]

this is most likely the cause.. they eat and excreet out the same hole.

But they don't excrete brown stuff unless they eat something brown that they can't fully digest (I don't know of any common anemone food that's brown), or they are discharging zooxanthellae. In other words, this is not poo. It is zooxanthellae.

 

[False_Ideals]

I agree that it sounds like it's discharging zoo. My old RBTA did that occasionally and remained quite healthy until the day I gave it away.

 

[Sbreish]

I do have an algae problem, i cleaned it up a little when i did a water change, but it seems to be coming back. Could that be the problem? What should i do about the algae?

 

[Emoney]

Funny, Mine did the same EXCAT thing the other day..But it was AFTER a water change and hasn't looked right ever science...Im a little concerned

 

[Sbreish]

Yeah, mine was after the water change also! Weird, it looks lazy, inflated, but chillin' on bottom

 

[elegance coral]

I do have an algae problem, i cleaned it up a little when i did a water change, but it seems to be coming back. Could that be the problem? What should i do about the algae?

Yes that can be the problem. Zooxanthellae are nourished by the same nutrients that nourish problem algae. When those nutrients are elevated zooxanthellae can reproduce rapidly, causing the anemone to discharge the excess. I would do a good spring cleaning. Get as much detritus out of the system as you can. Even out of the sand. Make sure mechanical filters are cleaned or replaced daily.

Yeah, mine was after the water change also! Weird, it looks lazy, inflated, but chillin' on bottom

Problem algae release dies into the water that block out light. With the lowered PAR the anemone can allow zooxanthellae populations to grow without harm. At least to a point. When you change water, the water in the tank becomes more clear, and the PAR that reaches the anemone goes up. Now the zooxanthellae population is to high and the anemone must discharge a large amount in a hurry. You end up with brown slimy looking stuff coming out of the anemone.

If you can get your nutrient levels under control, the anemone will have a much easier time regulating its zooxanthellae, and this problem will go away.

 

[Sbreish]

In order to get the nutrients under control, you suggest water change, with a good cleaning? Stirring the sand is ok?

 

[Emoney]

Thanks for the help..gonna try moving the rock the he's on to get less light and also do a water change

 

[elegance coral]

In order to get the nutrients under control, you suggest water change, with a good cleaning? Stirring the sand is ok?

I would use a gravel vac on the sand. This will actually remove the detritus. Not just spread it all over the tank.