GBTA bleaching question

[mikeandjenn99]

I bought a GBTA at the beginning of August, and it was fairly bleached at that time, looking pretty neon green more than green. I have been feeding it silversides, mysis, and shrimp every other or every third day, and it eats well and overall, looks healthy.
My question is about color. It is still bleached, and I can't really say I have noticed any change in color since I bought it from the store. Any ideas if there is something else I should be doing? It's in a 55g mixed reef. My lights are 260w PC, which he seems to really like, as he stays bubbled most of the time. My params are as follows: S.G. 1.024, Ph 8.3/8.4, Alk 10dKH, Cal 450, Nitrites/Ammonia/Phos 0, Nitrates are maybe 5, but closer to 0. Nothing is stressing him out physically, he isn't near other corals, and neither of my clowns are using it as a host. Any ideas?

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

It could be the light you have. Most people recommend t5s or MH for anemones. They can do ok with that light but they need brighter light to regain their color.

I also wouldn't allow any clown to live in an anemone that is bleached. If a clown trys to move into the anemone in that condition, the anemone will never recover from losing its zooxanthellae. So its a good thing your clowns haven't accepted the anemone as their host.

[mikeandjenn99]

And I knew the lights would be the first thing mentioned I know it would do better under brighter lights, but its hard for me to believe that they aren't bright enough. I mean I have SPS in my tank that are thriving, so how can an anemone really need more light than SPS?

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

I don't know..I don't have any experience with sps so I couldn't tell ya. Maybe your sps is healthy and are good with any light. The bta lost its color so it needs more light to regain its color. *Shrugs* I'm sure you'll hear from some bta plus sps owners soon.

[mikeandjenn99]

Thanks Christina, I do appreciate the input I guess I'm just hoping that things will be ok without a lighting upgrade for a bit.

[garygb]

Pics? Maybe that's its natural color. Are the light bulbs old? Is the anemone close to the bulbs? Is there an acrylic shield between the bulbs and the anemone? Is the anemone within a foot or so of the PC bulbs?

[mikeandjenn99]

Well, I don't think its the natural color, but I could be wrong. The bulbs are right at 4 months old. The anemone is about 11 inches from the lights when opened, but this is where he moved and has remained since going in. There is an acrylic overflow box above him, but it is offset in relation, so the light gets to him unimpeded. Here are some pictures:

1st introduced in Aug.:


About a month later:


And today:

[dc]

With all that food I'm surprised it hasn't colored up more. It looks healthy otherwise tho. I'd just keep feeding.

[garygb]

Yeah, doesn't look like a color variant, just looks bleached. What color temp (Kelvin) bulbs do you have?

[mikeandjenn99]

Yes, I am surprised as well. I mean it looks so healthy, and it eats every other day!
My bulbs are 10k for daylight and 460nM blue for actinic

[garygb]

The blue light is basically useless for an anemone--very poor PAR.

[garygb]

i.e. to say, don't factor the blue in to the watts for your tank.

[MrManz1691]

just fyi some sps requires less light than others. But to be honest if its eating, i woudlnt worry. If you get the chance for better lighthing get it and it might color up faster. But it looks good to me. Besides the slight bleaching.

[hybridgenius]

Give some MORE time lol. Everything will be ok.

[mikeandjenn99]

Ok, I'll give it more time. Thanks everyone for the input. I just thought it should have colored up more by now.