Rose Bubble Questions

[mcoomer]

Hi all,
I've got a rose bubble that was given to me several months ago and it has split sometime in the last few days. I've had this in my little 20G with a 150W HQI Sunpod and have always been afraid that it wasn't getting enough light but since being moved to the tank it detached itself from the top of a rock and reattached near the bottom of the tank. So, it was about 12" from the lamp and is now about 18-20" from it. Water quality is good and I feed a small sliver of silverside every week or so.

My questions are about the lighting and whether this split was becasue it's happy or is it a defense mechanism because it's not getting what it needs to survive. Do you think that 150HQI is enough light? I have a 250W HQI ballast I could put on the tank but would need to get a reflector. Should I be feeding more frequently? What are some things I can look for in a rose bubble to gauge it's health (color, polyp extension, etc.)

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Mike

 

[cediss]

Mike,
I am no expert, but I had my RBTA for years and it began to split as it got bigger. Eventually I had 1 mother and 2 clones. I had to sell them all last year due to prolonged move and no tank.
IMHO the 150 HQI is sufficient. The anemone will move toward light if it isn't getting enough. When my anemone first split it did so after moving down and away from the light. Maybe that was coincidence.
You are correct if you were referring to stress sometime provoking a split, but it also tends to happen if you feed a lot and the anemone is growing. Just keep the water quality up and avoid powerheads and you should be good!

 

[mcoomer]

Anyone else? And yes, I was wondering if this split might be due to stress of not having enough light.

Mike

 

[mr9iron]

IMHO the 150 is enough. I kept a beautiful green BTA and it thrived.