RBTA problem

Ok reefers, I need some help. My new set up has been up for a couple months now which was basically a swap from my 36 BF to my 55. All has been great and growth is unbelievable. My nems have been getting in worse shape however and I'm getting concerned. They've been showing more disk than tentacles lately and never bubble up anymore. They still feed so I'm assuming that's good. There's more light now compared to the old tank but I acclimated them slowly. There on a rock where they can retreat from the halide light as well. the first pic they seem fine, second pic is a month after and how they have remained since. My params are as follows.
Alk-11
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
Phos-barely visible
Calc-420-450
Mag-1380
Salinity 1.26-27

 

51 views and no advice for help?

 

What are you feeding them? Your lighting should be more than adequate for BTA. Are you running any GFO ect...I suspect a reduction in surface area secondary to the lighting change.

 

ill take a shot.....my understanding is there are 2 important things to look at on a nem...its mouth and foot...if the foot is attached really well and the mouth isnt gaping open I would think that you would be ok? but thats based on research after getting one myself.

only time my rbta bubbled was in the morning before lights on...so maybe more light is causing yours not to bubble?
with regards to more disk then tentacles...maybe it doesnt need as many due to increased lights

 

Cheryl has helped me many times with the two BTAs I have/had, she will have some good advice.

Your second picture looks like what my first BTA looked like while he was on his way out.

Is there a second nem in the second picture? Are they acting as hosts for your clown(s)? Are the clowns being a bit rough?

 

for what it worth..... i have an orange bta that has been holding fast till now, it even split (yes this is both a good or bad sign, but seeing the "baby" is doing great i would like to think it split out of joy...) however! as much as i would love and tried, and tried i did... red bubble tips seem to be impossible for me to keep. they would slowly bleach to a light pink color till they eventually vanish into a small polyp and then to nothingness......

i dont feed mine but i do make my own fish food, and i have seen them catch what floats around. my female clown on the other hand takes good care of her condy home (literally she would grab a chunk of food and drop it in one of my condys tentacles for her to eat)

...needless to say.....AWESOME!

 

They look a bit stressed. Have you been moving them or changing the environment around them to try to make them feel more comfortable? Have you added anything new that might be disturbing them?

 

I haven't changed anything at all. There on the same rock they were on back in the old tank. I've had an alk swing here and there from 11 to 7 if that might stress them out. There foot is on solid and when they want light they come out but the tentacles aren't the same at all.

 

That's probably the issue. Nems are quite sensitive to parameter swings. Keep everything stable and keep a close eye on them. The fact that they still accept food tells me they should be fine.

 

Thanks bill. I've had a tought time keeping my alk stable. I dose alk twice a day to keep up to the 10 range but alk and calcium get sucked out of the aquarium really fast.