Rose anemone changing colors?????

[Clownkeeper]

I just got myself a rose anemone. I have been feeding it krill 2 times a week and i have noticed since it has been added to the tank about a week and a half that it seems to slowly be turning a orangish green color. Is this normal or does it have to do with it being under 20k bulbs? They are 250w XM's.

Anyone have any ideas?? My tank is a 75 RR with a 30g sump and a 38g refugium. All levels are 0 alk is at 12 and Ca is at 400-410.
All corals look great just noticing the anemone appears to be changing colors.

Troy

 

[John_Brandt]

Hi Troy,

These anemones do not always retain their vivid color. As the zooxanthellae multiply in their tissues they may take on a darker look. Are you using any Actinic fluorescent bulbs?

So this is a 75 gallon with 500 watts of metal halide lighting, yes? What is the temperature and what is the duration of illumination? Can you take any digital pictures of the anemone? Other than the color change, does it look healthy?

 

[Clownkeeper]

Since my MH are 20k I dont feel that any actinics are needed as they are quite blue already.
There is 500w (duel 250's) of MH over the 75. Temp is about 79 at night and 80-82 during the day. The light cycle is a 10 hour day. 1st lamp on at 12 and the 2nd comes on at 12:30. Then they turn off at 9:30 and 2nd at 10pm like the sunrise and sunset.


http://www.fwmas.org/Clownkeeper/anemone001.jpg
this pic does'nt show the green.

 

[shr00m]

wouldnt know for sure but my LFS had some "rose" anemones that were actually green btas, they looked like roses in the store whenever not under actinic lighting, but under good light they are green, i got one becuase there cool and were only 25 bucks, but mine def isnt a true rose, dont know if this is your situation, but there are green BTAs.

 

[John_Brandt]

Troy,

This is a very pretty and healthy looking Rose bubble-tip anemone.

I asked about the Actinic because it can make them look very vivid when used on an aquarium. If they begin to accumulate large quantities of zooxanthellae in their tissues they will become darker and more brownish in color.

The 20K lamps do have a lot of blue, but they are not exactly high in the Actinic range (420nm). Just for viewing enjoyment, you might want to try placing a true Actinic fluorescent bulb over the tank. But I'm afraid that this combined with the 20K metal halides might make a very blue tank.

Does you anemone appear greenish mostly when it is deflated, or even when fully inflated?

 

[shr00m]

looks nice john, see if it doesnt look like the pic john has and is more green its probally a green BTA.

 

[Clownkeeper]

shrOOm that is the pic of mine...heh.
It is very much orange when deflated. Just has the green tenge to it when it is all inflated up. Dont look green with my Ushio 10k MH though.. so maybe it is just the k of the bulb that maybe gives the illusion?

Troy

 

[shr00m]

hehe i seeeee... well nvm what i was saying then! i bet the coloration thing is just from lights...

 

[Clownkeeper]

That is what I am beginning to think

Troy

 

[Kalkbreath]

I have been doing some tests in my store on rose BTAs. I am beginning to think they like white light. Seems to make sense since they are from shallow locations on the reef. The deep water BTAs are much more rare, might actually be a separate species. Only the deep water Rose BTA spawns, while the shallow water rose splits to reproduce. Does anyone else keep the new China rose BTAs in bright white light?

 

[shr00m]

is there any place online to order the cheaper BTAs? im almost positive my LFS is getting them becuase they have had a lot in stock lately, but they still are raping customers at 95 dollars....