Anemone not doing so well, need suggestions please

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cynful
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users None
WWC
Jump to Last
Cynful

Cynful

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
May 26, 2021
Messages
53
Reaction score
37
Location
St. Louis
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Long Tentacle Anemone - I've had it about 2 months now. It's been doing well until this last week or two. It's mouth doesn't look well at all and today it's not eating. It deflates a lot more than it usually did. I'm also battling a bad cyano outbreak.

Tank is about 8-9 months old. Started with live and dry rock and sand. Fish are doing well and clean up crew (besides a few missing thanks to wrasse I think). It's 55 gallons, HOB filter and oversized HOB Octopus 2000 skimmer. I'd like to save it but not sure how. Can you give me some suggestions please?

Oh water tested 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5 nitrates. I don't have a phosphate test kit. I need to get one but I can't afford Hanna right now. I do water changes weekly of 5-10 gallons. I use ro/di and it's always testing at 0-2. I'm about to change out the DI resin.

Thanks,
Cyn

272438175_3218056211798312_3458362008338087625_n.jpg
271906213_474027744299257_7914979165008108314_n.jpg
271779923_368323521299410_352180266783687250_n.jpg
 
Deltec
hi,are you running carbon? salinity staying stable?
how often do you feed?
has been on decline last couple weeks?
@Eagle_Steve got a minute ?
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Salinity is 1.025 and I've kept it there all along. I fed it yesterday, usually just a squirt of mysis. It didn't eat any today and it's not "sticky".
 
fishguy242 said:
hi,are you running carbon? salinity staying stable?
how often do you feed?
has been on decline last couple weeks?
@Eagle_Steve got a minute ?
Click to expand...
Salinity has been stable. I feed a squirt of mysis, plankton, fish eggs every other day or every three days. It's been declining for the last week or two. Oh and yes I usually run carbon but there isn't any in right this second.
 
Deltec
Not sure if related but about 3 weeks ago, I did use Chemiclean to try to eradicate the cyano. Didn't help that much so I'd rather go more natural and wait it out. I do add some Fritz9 bacteria every few weeks after water changes. It seemed fine both during and after the chemiclean.
 
did you run carbon after chemi c ? are you running now ?
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
fishguy242 said:
did you run carbon after chemi c ? are you running now ?
Click to expand...
Yes I ran carbon after chemiclean and did a 10 gal water change. Also ran an airstone. I did a water change last night and forgot to add the carbon back in. Should I go ahead? Wanted to check here first.
 
Deltec
Ecoscape Reef Rock
rinse and add new carbon. do not try to feed rt now ,just observe.
 
Cynful said:
Not sure if related but about 3 weeks ago, I did use Chemiclean to try to eradicate the cyano. Didn't help that much so I'd rather go more natural and wait it out. I do add some Fritz9 bacteria every few weeks after water changes. It seemed fine both during and after the chemiclean.
Click to expand...
Chemipure unless in high concentration shouldnt.
Bacteria should be added to sump but doubtful on that.
Has the clown been in it and going Nuts?
ALSO- What test kits are you using ?

Some things that will make nem unhappy:
High nitrates
Water temp too warm
Insufficient water flow
Lights too bright

Anemone lighting is a very important aspect of their care. These creatures need a lot of light to thrive because they’re photosynthetic which means that they absorb light to produce food and growth. The anemone has zooxanthellae in its body, which are symbiotic microorganisms that they feed on. Without proper lighting, the anemone will expel the zooxanthellae and turn white. This process is called bleaching and often leads to death.
A moderate amount of flow is recommended. Many aquarists soon find out that too much flow will cause the anemone to stretch out and look stringy. Keeping things moderate will help avoid this from happening. Avoid directing your flow directly at the anemone. These creatures enjoy subtle movement at all times but too much direct flow hitting the anemone will force it to move.

Here are some water parameters to follow.
  • Water temperature: Between 77°F and 80°F (stay close to the middle of this range)
  • pH level: 8.1 to 8.3
  • Water hardness: 8 to 11 dKH
  • Specific gravity: 1.024 to 1.025
  • Nitrate < .5
 
ReefBot Lab, Automated Water Tester
vetteguy53081 said:
Chemipure unless in high concentration shouldnt.
Bacteria should be added to sump but doubtful on that.
Has the clown been in it and going Nuts?
ALSO- What test kits are you using ?

Some things that will make nem unhappy:
High nitrates
Water temp too warm
Insufficient water flow
Lights too bright

Anemone lighting is a very important aspect of their care. These creatures need a lot of light to thrive because they’re photosynthetic which means that they absorb light to produce food and growth. The anemone has zooxanthellae in its body, which are symbiotic microorganisms that they feed on. Without proper lighting, the anemone will expel the zooxanthellae and turn white. This process is called bleaching and often leads to death.
A moderate amount of flow is recommended. Many aquarists soon find out that too much flow will cause the anemone to stretch out and look stringy. Keeping things moderate will help avoid this from happening. Avoid directing your flow directly at the anemone. These creatures enjoy subtle movement at all times but too much direct flow hitting the anemone will force it to move.

Here are some water parameters to follow.
  • Water temperature: Between 77°F and 80°F (stay close to the middle of this range)
  • pH level: 8.1 to 8.3
  • Water hardness: 8 to 11 dKH
  • Specific gravity: 1.024 to 1.025
  • Nitrate < .5
Click to expand...
My clown loves it. I bought her and the nem together. She barely lets the little clown in it so he sleeps under it. She does steal its food though so I have to keep her away after I feed the nem. LOL I am using API but saving to get better ones. I was using them more as a guide in seeing patterns. I keep the temp around 78-80 but maybe it's a little too warm, I'll check it. He's moved twice, I think because of flow but has seemed happy where he is now. Lights, I don't know if too bright or not. Would the four bulbs be too much? I can do just the actinic and not the whites if that's better?

I've been worried that I'm battling cyano and this is happening at the same time. I've been overall feeding less and doing more water changes to try to help.
 
I don't think it's water params. Lots say anemone are "very sensitive" but I think it is just that it's hard to get a healthy (especially wild) specimen. Anemones often are collected poorly or get damaged in the supply chain. They look fine for weeks or a couple months and then succumb from that damage. Often they get infected and don't start to look bad until that infection gets the upper hand (which can take a while!). There are antibiotic treatments you can try in a hospital tank. I've not done such a treatment myself so I'm not the guy to ask how, but there are threads about cipro on here and how to use it. Worth a shot

Do you have any other corals in the tank? If everything is sad then I would be more likely to suggest something is systemically wrong (like water params)
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
Chewy.com
World Wide Corals
Tidal Gardens
Top Shelf Aquatics
Nutramar Foods
TCK Corals
Deltec
New Posts
Back
Top