What would cause this?

[TDesaulniers]

What would cause anemones to not fully expand like they use to? I have 3 GBTAs, and one RBTA. They don't seem happy for some odd reason right now. I guess my tank is do for a good water change. They all still have tight closed mouths and full color. Just not full expansion.

 

[garygb]

I would suspect water quality. This is where testing comes in handy. Start with a nitrate test and see what you get. It's been my experience than when otherwise healthy anemones aren't looking their best, nitrates is often the cause.

 

[Friday Night]

I would say water chem as well. What's your bio load consist of?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Why do you feel that you are due for a water change? When is the last time you did one? What size was it? What size tank?

 

[TDesaulniers]

My bioload consists of two smaller maroon clownfish and a small sixline wrasse. I feed them once a day (pellets or frozen food). I usually feed my anemones on average once a week (small pieces of shrimp). I felt a need for a water change because it was very evident. The water wasn’t looking as clear (kind of cloudy actually) and was getting some outbreaks of algae on the sand bed. The last time I did a water change was about 3 weeks ago so it was definitely needed.
The larger GBTA fully inflated were approximately 7 inches in diameter. The RBTA probably around 8. The smaller GBTAs look fine. Actually, just last night the RBTA took a swim and ended up on the back corner of the tank and is now attached there. So there is definitely something going on in my tank that’s making the RBTA unhappy. I don’t think it is chemical warfare. There are no other anemones in the tank of a different species and I don’t have a lot of soft corals or SPS that are competing for real estate. I just did a 6 gallon water change. I siphoned some of the sand out to get a lot of the detritus that was lying on the sand bed between the rocks. The water that was siphoned was pretty murky. I honestly hope it’s a nitrate problem because that is much easier to fix then having it be some unknown underlying factor.

 

[TDesaulniers]

Update: Water is still cloudy and expansion is even less now. The larger GBTA's mouth is starting to gap. I'm getting terrible polyp expansion from my other corals as well. I have NO IDEA what is going on. Will test water (with numbers) when I get back from work.

 

[Slickcg33]

perhaps they are spawning, that would explain the cloudiness.. do water changes, run carbon

 

[TDesaulniers]

perhaps they are spawning, that would explain the cloudiness.. do water changes, run carbon

I'm doing another water change tonight and will be switching out the carbon with a new batch. Hopefully things will improve by tomorrow morning.

 

[TDesaulniers]

Update: I have done three water changes since and the tank is crystal clear. I'm not sure exactly what caused the crash but there was definitey a crash. However, unfortunately, the RBTA that was withering away took a swim and got caught in one my koralias. Fortunatey there was minuscule damage. Small tear on the foot but this will add even mote stress to it. Hopefully it makes it!

 

[garygb]

And those test numbers are?