Why ?

bump · #1 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 02:15 AM

My two new beaded anemones will blow up while the lights are off then after the lights come on they will deflate within the HR. Why ?

I fed them yesterday & they showed me how much they liked by swelling up very nicely today. Then I turned on the lights & down they went yet again.

Water is fine. They are in a 20L holding tank. The light strip & bulbs are from Coralife & are T5s, one is a 10k & the other one is blue. The two bulbs are 14w each for a total 28 watts. I have plans to move them under MHs soon. I am just waiting for them to get happy & eating well.

I did feed them last night & they puffed up really nice this morning then after lights on & I got some pictures it wasn't a HR & they went flat like a tire.

Here are what the look like before lights & after lights on.

WDLV · #2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 12:55 PM

My best guesses are that they are night predators, are acclimated your lights yet or there it is a day to night pH fluctuation that they do not like. These guesses are really a shot in the dark. No pun intended.

Fearlessmoto · #3 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 02:56 PM

Try placing them in a shady spot and moving them out into the light over the course of a couple of weeks to see if it makes a difference, this will acclimate them to the light, if not WDLV is right and its the PH flux.

bump · #4 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 11:50 PM

no place to put them in the shade. They are pretty big & the tank is only a 20L. The biggest one can open from front to back. I will move the light strip all the way to the back so its not right over the top of them like it is now. On the PH, I will ck it tomorrow before the lights are turned on then a HR after they have been on & see what my readings are. I have one of them PH prob things.

Right now they are both open & its been almost a HR.

Got my fingers crossed. Hope they stay open.

bump · #5 (**permalink**) 04-10-2009, 12:29 AM

Ok they flattened out again. I will for sure use my ph probe & see what it looks like tomorrow. I will also test my water yet again. I moved my light strip all the way back to the back of the tank.

Fearlessmoto · #6 (**permalink**) 04-10-2009, 08:06 AM

Moving the light strip probably wont give enough shade try placing a section of tinfoil over the tank, between the light and tank, I have used this tecnique for acclimating shipped corals to my metal halide lights with great success because it blocks all direct light.

then you slowly move the foil allowing more and more direct light(maybe between 1/4-1/2 in a day untill the anemones are in full light, if they start showing adverse effects, leave the tinfoil for a couple days before moving it again.

hope this helps!

bump · #7 (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 01:40 AM

OK my PH with the lights out was 8.15 with the lights on it is 8.22. I tested twice before the lights & twice after the lights came on both time it came up the same.

WDLV · #8 (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 04:42 AM

That's all I've got.

bump · #9 (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 10:35 AM

Ok it must be the light so I will fix it up to get them out of it & see how they do. I would not of thought 28watts would of been to much but will give it a try. Will feed again today.

Thanks for the help.

Fearlessmoto · #10 (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 11:06 AM

28 watts wouldnt seem very much but you have to remember lumens are whats important, its not a powerfull wattage but t5 is more intense light than a normal output lamp. try comparing a normal flashlight to an LED flashlight next time your in the hardware store.

the LEDs are brighter but have a lower wattage rating.