purple tip anenome problem

[dannyp408]

I have a purple tip anemone that keep turning brown instead of keeping it original color which is neon yellow. I have had one purple tip anemone b4 too and over time it totally lost it color and turns dirty brown. I don’t know what wrong with it. So I bough another one and now this new one is turning dirty brown too but slowly.

I was wondering could it be that I don’t have the blue light actinic light.


right now I just have 150 metal halide with 60 lb s of sand , 50lb live rock, with a fluval 303 filter, and prizm protein skimmer, it is a reef tank, with only a tomato clown fish, and a sand shifter goby, about 8 hermit crab, and couple of astrea snail, and this is a 20 gallon long tank. Everything seems ok but only the anemone changing color. The anemone is healthy though with no sign of dying but just color change. The tank is set up about a year now. I am new to reef so can some one help me.

Also one more question I seem that my coralline algae is not prospering as much and I was wondering could it have to do with the actinic light. Should I buy an additional pc with just the blue light? I hear that the actinic light helps the coral prosper and also the coralline. I want to know because I am thinking of changing to a bigger tank but I want to be sure I know how to control and maintain it.


Thanks

I will try to pose some picture of the tank tomorrow when I turn on the light. My tank look ok but the live rock doesn’t seem to have that wow look to it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[KillBill75]

Coraline algae grows in low light, it is a Ca+ pig and needs to have levels maintained if that is what your shooting for(Coraline that is)400-440 and Alk of 9-10 dkh.
The only problem I see with your tank set up is the Fluval 303. This is not necessary and in fact is detrimental in the long run.
If you are packing the Fluval as they recommend then over time it will become a Nitrate/Phosphate factory even with the chemical filtration you place in it.If you run it with out the foam pads then you'll be in better shape!
Also in regards to the purple tip,check for the nasty's e.g.Phosphate/Amonia/Nitrate-trite. These may be the cause of the discoloration but then again it could not be and maybe is the lack of the actinic spectrum.Although,At my LFS they have all the Anemone in a very low light tank and they all look fine(Go Figure).
Anenome's are kind of a pain in the ass to keep since they are on the move alot and if they die makes a mess of your tank.

[piggiemomma]

Hi Dan, I have had a similar problem and noticed that with the addition of actinic lighting it really brought out more color, almost like a black light. Something else you may consider is if your anemone is getting the proper water flow also.