Splitting Anenome

[Kjmsmith]

I’ve had a BTA in the same spot for 7 years and hosts 2 ocellaris. It’s tentacles have always been long and thin and gets to the size of a large dinner plate. My 90g mixed tank has always had chronic high NO3 (50) and PO4 (.5-1) but all livestock and LPS do well and some SPS struggle as would be expected. I decided to try get a handle on the NO3/PO4 parameters and started vinegar dosing at the start of January. I have been going very slow using the chart posted on this site and many others. I’ve been conservative and have been using the 50g regime. I’m currently at week 9 and dosing 35ml daily and there has been no change yet on parameters. What I did start noticing about a month ago was that my BTA started having some of its tentacles bubbling. Yesterday after a water change some of the tentacles were very bulbous. Today the anenome is splitting as seen in the before (a month ago) and current pics below. Any thoughts on why? Water params including Kh, Ca, Mg and NaCl have been stable. Is it the vinegar dosing causing stress? I’ve read that BTA’s actually do well with carbon dosing. Is it coincidence and its just time for it to reproduce?
Thanks for any input.

A month ago:

Today:

 

[TORX]

Looks like the dosing is working. You man not notice it on test kits, but I would keep it going. I am sure you are just about to see the high numbers break by the sound of and thepics of the anemone.

 

[Kjmsmith]

Thx Torx, I have to agree. The tank is looking pretty good and being at this for 7 years I trust the “look” test sometimes more than the numbers test. I’ve shut the pumps off for the night in case the nems decide to move. I’ll update the status tomorrow.

 

[Copperkills]

taken from an excerpt.....


In older and more established set-ups, carbon dosing is not recommended, at least not recommended without a lot of carful research first. Older systems that have maintained prolonged higher levels of nutrients in the water will likely have absorbed nutrients into the rock and substrate. This makes determining the correct dosing amount difficult at best. As you start with the recommended dose and increasing it over time according to the instructions, you may not see any impact. The reason being is that as the nutrient level are lowered in the water; more nutrients will leach out of the rocks and substrate to replace it. If you keep increasing your dosing amount until you got a measureable impact, the dosing level could get high enough to cause other problems with your water parameters.

In some instances you can promote the grow of other forms of bacteria, such as cyano, or dinoflangellates (commonly thought of as algae) as these types of bacteria can also use the carbon as a food source resulting in their growth in low nutrient environments. It is important to note, there is no recorded cases yet (at least that I was able to find) of carbon dosing leading to the growth of pathogenic bacteria (the bad bacteria that can lead to tank crashes).

Carbon dosing can also lower the amount of oxygen in your tank. This will in turn lower your PH and your alkalinity. Both can lead serious and negative effects on all your livestock and corals in extreme cases if you are not closely watching your parameters and react to it quickly. You should always carefully watch your corals for signs of changes and stop dosing should you notice anything and verify the cuase of the change.

You should also be aware that carbon dosing in systems that already have lower levels of nitrate and phosphates can potentially cause problems with your water parameters or not produce any of the desired benefits of carbon dosing. You need to carefully research carbon dosing in low nutrient set-ups before you start.

 

[Copperkills]

Anemone are sensitive to changes on Oxygen levels, perhaps the reason yours are starting to split.

 

[Kjmsmith]

Thx @Copperkills - I read this also. I did a lot of research before starting down this path, understanding the risks and watchouts. I was thinking the same with O2 depletion but the anenome has actually looked healthier than it has in years. It has changed from a beige-brown to the green that I think it was when I first introduced it. Even after the split, it looks remarkably healthy (pic below). Everything else in my tank also seems to be perking up and there is less algae/ diatom buildup. I have been watching for the dreaded cyano outbreak that can happen with carbon dosing and so far so good. I agree that with the length of time the tank has had these high values its even more of a reason to proceed slowly and make careful observations of changes in the tank and its inhabitants. NO3 and PO4 leeching is defintly possible. I dont intend to get to the max dosage levels. Randy Holmes-Farley seems to have done a lot of research on this. I have been monitoring Kh closely however I dont check PH but dose vinegar when lights are on to help avoid chance of a swing in PH.
The nems have moved to opposite sides of the rock it once perched on. Not sure if they will continue to move but will keep the pumps off at night until I know they’ve settled.