Anemone problems

NickT · Mar 30, 2019

Hi all

Not new to reefs, just getting back into it after a few years off. Had an anemone that was doing fine, left the tank unmonitored for a couple of days, came back to a disaster. Return pump wasn’t circulating the water back into the aquarium from the sump. Have some slime and algae issues, smelled bad. Got everything circulating again, but the only major problem at the moment seems to be the green bta. Any suggestions other than the water change I’m already in the middle of?

mike werner · Mar 30, 2019

Welcome!!Not sure there is a lot more you can do at this point besides water changes.I would run carbon or even better some chemipure

Hitman · Mar 30, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!
Are you running any carbon to filter the water?

dbl · Mar 30, 2019

Welcome to R2R. I moved this over to the nem forum as we have a few experts that keep an eye out there.

NickT · Mar 30, 2019

I’ve got carbon running in a canister filter. I had one around, figured I’d give that a try before getting reactors.

Hitman · Mar 30, 2019

NickT said:
I’ve got carbon running in a canister filter. I had one around, figured I’d give that a try before getting reactors.

Ok good it will help clear your water from the smell and remove any toxins as well.
@Amoo what are your thoughts
Also #reefsquad any other steps other then the water changes and running carbon?

wesman42 · Mar 31, 2019

It looks like a goner...I would personally remove it....but others may feel differently.

jokim · Mar 31, 2019

wesman42 said:
It looks like a goner...I would personally remove it....but others may feel differently.

I wouldn’t say that. Give it some good flow. Once the mouth closes try to feed it small amounts of food.

NickT · Mar 31, 2019

I’m stubborn. It looks better today than it did yesterday. Maybe only 2% better, but better.

wesman42 · Mar 31, 2019

jokim said:
I wouldn’t say that. Give it some good flow. Once the mouth closes try to feed it small amounts of food.

I'm not sure you've had one nuke a tank either [emoji23]

NickT · Mar 31, 2019

I was thinking of putting it in quarantine, but I don’t know how big of a tank I’d need

Gonebad395 · Mar 31, 2019

He definitely doesn’t look good if you have a quarantine I would move him if you can. Well taken care of he could bounce back is he attached to the rock well?

RandyC · Mar 31, 2019

I’d second leaving it the tank as long as this wasn’t a nano tank. Water changes, carbon and good flow as suggested by others are a good idea. I’d test for ammonia and nitrites and make sure a tank cycle isn’t starting.

Ron Reefman · Mar 31, 2019

IMHO either suggestion, leave it in the tank or put it in a QT has merit. I have to admit, that's the least looking like a BTA photo I've ever seen. But I'm an optimist and I'd try to save it.

If your system water volume is small, a QT isn't a bad idea. I have an 80g system and I've pulled inverts, including anemones. and kept them in a 1g tuperware container and simple did a 100% water change 2 or 3 times a day. It's not the best solution, but it worked and I kept 2 anemones that were beach rescues during last summer's Red Tide here in SW Florida. I kept them that way for 3 weeks and they looked better and better over time and I even added them to my tank at the end of 3 weeks. They are still alive and doing just fine even though they do not have any zooxanthellae for photosynthesis. So the rely on me feeding them, just like the fish.

If your system is big enough that a dying nem isn't going to be a big problem to the rest of the tank (and I think nems dying and nuking a tank is overblown) then I'd leave it in place and justt keep up good tank husbandry standards.

reef lover · Mar 31, 2019

Def overblown ron...ive had many nems die over thw years sometimes i didnt find them before they disintegrated into the tank...never had a tank nuked by one...
And op hes not gone until hes a pile of goo....

NickT · Mar 31, 2019

I brought the pic to the lfs, they asked me if I was sure it was a bubble tip and not a carpet anemone. I said “you sold it to me as a bubble tip, so unless they change species, it’s still a bubble tip”. They’d never seen anything like it before. I was pretty surprised it looks like that and is still alive. It’s in a 55 gal. I don’t have a lot of space for another aquarium at the moment, so I’ll probably have to leave it where it is and just get into changing water a lot

Ron Reefman · Mar 31, 2019

NickT said:
I brought the pic to the lfs, they asked me if I was sure it was a bubble tip and not a carpet anemone. I said “you sold it to me as a bubble tip, so unless they change species, it’s still a bubble tip”. They’d never seen anything like it before. I was pretty surprised it looks like that and is still alive. It’s in a 55 gal. I don’t have a lot of space for another aquarium at the moment, so I’ll probably have to leave it where it is and just get into changing water a lot

You really don't need another aquarium, any one gallon container could work if the nem is on a rock that is easy to remove from the tank and put in the container. As long as the nem hasn't died, you can do 100% water changes with the DT. If the nem gets worse, make some new water and either use it for the nem or use DT water for the nem and use the new water to replace the water you take out of the tank. Twice a day works, 3 or 4 times a day is more than enough. A small bubbler and airstone would be a good addition. If you don't have one, you should get one. That come in really handy during emergencies!

NickT · Mar 31, 2019

In an odd twist, before all of this, my clownfish wanted nothing to do with the anemone. Then for some reason, today, one decided it should definitely host. Barely a visible tentacle, but the fish seems to be the most comfortable swimming where the tentacles should be.