Bubble tip turning tan

uberlink

uberlink

Active Member
Is this normal? My bubble tip anemone, which I've had for a few weeks in a fairly mature (9 month old) 28 gallon tank, is taking on a brownish hue. He was a very pale pale greenish color when I first got him (almost white). After a few weeks, he's got soem slightly tan colored areas on him. He's fully inflated, and he seems well otherwise. Is this cause for concern?
Tank info:
28 gallon
130 watts of PC lighting (the anemone has positioned himself about 6 inches from the top of the water column, right under the lights)
sg: 1.025 (very stable)
ammonia, 'trites, 'trates: all 0 for months
I do have some phosphates, and I had an outbreak of red slime a few weeks back--now under control. One thought is that color on the anemone might be remnants of that.
Thoughts?
 
uberlink

uberlink

Active Member
I understand that 130 watts in a 28 gallon tank is on the low end, but I did research that persuaded me it had a good shot. Of course, if it does not do well I will either give it to an appropriate home or make the necessary investment to upgrade my lighting.
That said, I thought the classic symptom of insufficient light was loss of color. No?
 
alyssia

alyssia

Active Member
White anemones are bleached. That is not good. The brownish color means it is getting it's xooanthellae (sp) back, which is good.
 
unbreakabl

unbreakabl

Member
Well you do need a little bit of more light. Was he looking bad when you got him. If you could post pics of him i could tell you more about it.
 
uberlink

uberlink

Active Member
Here are some photos. The first was taken the day I received the anemone from swf.com. The second was taken a moment ago, and you can clearly see the tan bits. I'd love any thoughts you might have.
For what it's worth, the anemone spends most--but not all--of its time out under the light. It occasionally retracts under its rock and hides. Most of the time, though, it is fully inflated, and its bubble tips are fully visible. I occasionally squirt a bit of ground shrimp/scallops/garlic in the anemone's direction.

 
mikeyjer

mikeyjer

Active Member
That's caused by insufficient lighting, you should either upgrade or trade it with someone who's got better lighting system. :happyfish
 
uberlink

uberlink

Active Member
Any idea what I'm actually seeing there, then? That is, what is the brown color? Zooanthellae reproducing to try to keep up? Early zooanthelae die off? Just curious...
I hate to invest in MH right now, because I am planning to upgrade to a larger tank and purchase matching MH lighting in a few months. So two questions: First, will this little guy be okay for a few months, or is he being injured by the low light? (I think I know the answer...) Second, can someone recommend a reasonably priced MH unit? I've seen some Odyssea units that seem very inexpensive, but I'd hate to buy a piece of junk--even if it's just a temporary thing.
Thanks.
 
moneyman

moneyman

Member
I think you're okay.
My anenome sat in the dimmly lit tank at the LFS it was pale green. A day after I bought it, it turned redish brown/tan similar to the picture you posted above.
Here is the picture when I first brought it home from my LFS. The picture was taken under 1 daylight and 1 actinic VHO.
 
uberlink

uberlink

Active Member
Whether it would survive or not, I decided to bite the bullet. It will likely be another year (realistically) before I sink my teeth into a major tank upgrade, and I can't in good conscience wait that long to give my guys good light.
So...I just purchased a Current USA Outer Orbit 150w HQI Metal Halide fixture, with 2 65w power compacts built in. It's long been my favorite light on the market, but I haven't had the gumption to pony up. Found it at a website for $309 including shipping, so I finally did it.
Now. If this anemone doesn't survive after getting this installed, I will be upset.
Thoughts on how to acclimate my tank to the new, more intense lighting?
 
uberlink

uberlink

Active Member
Others want to weigh in on that? I still have time to cancel the MH lighting, which I'd rather not purchase just now. I'd rather wait until I move up to a larger tank, and make the investment in good lighting then.
 
oceanists

oceanists

Active Member
Well I wouldnt say that you dont need more lighting I would deffinatly say purchase the lights if you plan on keeping this BTA alive for more than six months ..... It just doesnt look bad now .... Zooanthelae (sp) is a brown algea that feeds the anemone and is produced by light .... completely photogenic .... I would deffinatly upgrade light right now. in the best interest of your BTA ... Good Luck
 
uberlink

uberlink

Active Member
Yeah, I know. The MH light is on its way. I wanted to hold off if possible, because I really want to upgrade to a 72 bow sometime in the next year or so, and I'd prefer to wait to buy lighting until then. But I'm in the middle of buying a house, and it will probably be quite a while before I actually get around to it.
So...anyone want to buy a nice Current USA PC light? Only eight months old...
 
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