Ritteri getting smaller over time

[finrod2]

I've owned once was about a 12-14" ritteri for about 2 years. Over the last year it has slowly shrunk in size,now it is under 10". I usually feed 1x per week. My nitrates tend to be around 20. SG 1.026/27. Lighting is a combination of 250MH and LED.

If we assume that I'm not feeding enough, How much and how often should I feed a ritteri of this size. Could there be any other causes? Thanks for your help.

 

[joshky]

Does it ever deflate completely? Tentacles a little droopy at times? Mouth open? If so these are possible signs of an infection.

One of my brothers mags shrunk in size when it was infected.

 

[finrod2]

I don't see it deflating or mouth open. A few tentacle do shrink occasionally. Seems healthy other than getting slowly smaller.

 

[garygb]

Those nitrates are high for long-term success with magnifica. I would focus on getting the nitrates down to undetectable. It may be that the anemone is not expanding normally because it is irritated by the pollutants in the water.

 

[Mirror Pond]

I've had my mag for about 7 years or so and mine is also smaller than it originally was. I don't directly feed it very often so I think that is my issue. I used to worry about it, but since it has lived this long, I don't think much about it anymore.

 

[ca1ore]

Question is whether anemone is actually shrinking in size or just not expanding as much. Only way to tell, really, is to measure the base/foot. If it really is getting smaller, then I would think that nutrition is probably the culprit. I have rarely fed mine, but my clowns often do. If the anemone is just not expanding as much, then some kind of irritant is likely at play, and it could be elevated nitrate.

 

[OrionN]

Anemone change in size possibly due to condition. Brighter light and more flow, Magnifica will be more compact.
Why don't you post a picture for us to see. This will help us assessing the condition better. My anemones do not get smaller, they either stay the same or get larger with time.

 

[phender]

How old is your Metal Halide bulb? If you haven't changed it over the two year period, that could be your culprit.

 

[finrod2]

The MH bulb are not yet a year old. I just recently removed my Kessil LED and changed back to MH and added some AI Hydra 52s in combination.

I did start using vinegar as a carbon source about 10 months ago. Has anyone seen issues with vinegar? The RBTA's that I have in the tank seem to be doing fine.

 

[finrod2]

I recently pickup one of the coralvue gyre pumps and have 2 other big tunzes for flow. The nem gets alot of flow, could it be too much?

 

[OrionN]

I recently pickup one of the coralvue gyre pumps and have 2 other big tunzes for flow. The nem gets alot of flow, could it be too much?

More flow most liekly result in more compacted anemone. I think likely this is the cause.

 

[addictedreefer]

Those nitrates are high for long-term success with magnifica. I would focus on getting the nitrates down to undetectable. It may be that the anemone is not expanding normally because it is irritated by the pollutants in the water.

+1. Need to get those nitrates well under 5 ppm (undetectable would be best). I would not be surprised if that was the problem.

 

[finrod2]

getting nitrates down is certainly something that I've been trying to do for my SPS as well. Feeding less and added more live rock, and remote sand bed.
Thanks

 

[ca1ore]

Nitrates may be a contributor, but I'm with Minh that it is probably a result of physical conditions - either light or flow levels. I must say, despite the fact that these animals like flow, I do not find that they like strong laminar flow.