Help - Anemone Distressed - I think

[drblank1]

I have a long tentacle anemone for about 2 months. My tank is 13 months old. My water parameters are:

Sal - 35ppt
Alk - 7
pH - 8.3
Cal = 425
Mg = 1450
NO3 - 0
PO4 - 0

It has been happy and the clownfish live in it comfortably. The first pic show the nem close to the front window. It was a beautiful brown and green. About 6 inches in diameter.

It moved from the front glass because a large turbo snail parked under it against the glass and the snail's shell point was poking into the nem's base. So 3 days ago, the nem moved back toward the rockwork. But was still very happy. This morning, I found the nem BIGTIME shriveled up. I thought it would bounce back after a few hours but still looks the same after 10 hours.

Since I didn't find much wrong with the water chemistry (a little low on the alk) I went ahead and did a 30% water change and added carbon.

I've never seen him like this in the time I have had him. This is my first nem. Should I be concerned? if this is normal, how long does it last?

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[fishguy242]

hi, do see nitrates and PO4 bottomed out, not good, but most likely not this issue,
@F i s h y @Eagle_Steve ??

 

[drblank1]

hi, do see nitrates and PO4 bottomed out, not good, but most likely not this issue,
@F i s h y @Eagle_Steve ??

Yes, I feed heavy and have a hard time keeping my nitrates and phosphates above 0. I've turned off my fuge light to see if I can get them to be around 5 and .05 respectively.

 

[JonEB]

Have you tested for a random ammonia spike?

 

[drblank1]

Have you tested for a random ammonia spike?

Just tested, show 0.

 

[drblank1]

I just pulled my filter socks and found a dead stink bug. Could that be it?

 

[JonEB]

I just pulled my filter socks and found a dead stink bug. Could that be it?

I’d hate a stink bug in my water to lol

 

[Nemguy123]

Sometimes nems just shrivel you like that I’ve seen my long tentacles do that have you changed lights or flow at all?

 

[N.Sreefer]

Lets say the stink bug released its smell the chemicals responsible for the smell are aldehydes trans-2-octenal and trans-2-decenal. I'm not sure if this would irritate the nem but carbon would strip them from the water so you could try running carbon to see if it helps.

 

[drblank1]

Lets say the stink bug released its smell the chemicals responsible for the smell are aldehydes trans-2-octenal and trans-2-decenal. I'm not sure if this would irritate the nem but carbon would strip them from the water so you could try running carbon to see if it helps.

Yes. I added carbon after the water change.

 

[drblank1]

Sometimes nems just shrivel you like that I’ve seen my long tentacles do that have you changed lights or flow at all?

Yes I’ve been acclimating some new corals for the past three weeks so I lowered the light from 50% down to 20% but then gradually increasing at 5% a week. The Nem has been happy until yesterday. No change in flow.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What test kits are you using ?
Mag high (you want 1300-1350)
Alk slightly low ( you want 8-11dkh)

Isa that clown in pic constantly diving into anemone and going crazy once in a while? They can be a culprit to stressing an anemone out . Assure its getting good, not bright lighting which they need to produce zooxanthellae which prives color and energy to the nem.

 

[Danroo]

I’m not sure if this will help but I’m dealing with low alkalinity as well and my anemone doesn’t like it ( recently found out ), I have this anemone for 8 months now barely any growth, also seeing some white patterns on it. Nothing alarming it’s eating normally deflates when the lights go out.

 

[TaylorP78]

Has it been like this for a few days? Anemones can look super un happy when they are pooping and that could take up to a day or two but they usually bounce back soon after. I’d definitely keep an eye on him though, From my experience long tentacle and ritteri anemones need more established systems (preferably over 2yrs old or just having very established liverock helps) that could also be an issue. Just a guess though since your parameters seem fine.

 

[drblank1]

What test kits are you using ?
Mag high (you want 1300-1350)
Alk slightly low ( you want 8-11dkh)

Isa that clown in pic constantly diving into anemone and going crazy once in a while? They can be a culprit to stressing an anemone out . Assure its getting good, not bright lighting which they need to produce zooxanthellae which prives color and energy to the nem.

Alk - Hannah checker, it was a bit low because I had turned off my doser for maintenance forgot to turn it back on for a few days.

Magnesium - aqua forest. Magnesium is a bit high because I miss calculated and slightly overdosed a couple weeks ago.

The clown fish living in the nem. I don’t see them divebombing it ever. They lay in the nem most of the time swimming around gently loving its tentacles wrapped around them..

Up until yesterday the color was beautiful. It got darker and darker with shades of green and bright green tips. It looked extremely healthy. It’s difficult to see from the picture but with it contracted like it is, the tentacles have a very intense color. Its tentacles tips are very bright green now.

 

[drblank1]

I’m not sure if this will help but I’m dealing with low alkalinity as well and my anemone doesn’t like it ( recently found out ), I have this anemone for 8 months now barely any growth, also seeing some white patterns on it. Nothing alarming it’s eating normally deflates when the lights go out.

Thank you. I’m gradually bringing the alkalinity back up to 9 where I normally keep it. I’ll keep you posted if that helps.

 

[drblank1]

Has it been like this for a few days? Anemones can look super un happy when they are pooping and that could take up to a day or two but they usually bounce back soon after. I’d definitely keep an eye on him though, From my experience long tentacle and ritteri anemones need more established systems (preferably over 2yrs old or just having very established liverock helps) that could also be an issue. Just a guess though since your parameters seem fine.

Thanks for the input. He’s been like that for about 20 hours. I got up in the middle of the night last night and he was bald up like he normally does. So at least that’s normal behavior. I’ll keep you updated.

Yes I didn’t get him until I knew my water parameters were very stable. Just had a problem with my alk but that was my own stupid mistake.

 

[drblank1]

Now I am very worried. This is him this morning.
But his mouth is still closed.

 

[Danroo]

Thanks for the input. He’s been like that for about 20 hours. I got up in the middle of the night last night and he was bald up like he normally does. So at least that’s normal behavior. I’ll keep you updated.

Yes I didn’t get him until I knew my water parameters were very stable. Just had a problem with my alk but that was my own stupid mistake.

Yeah I feel like swings in alkalinity can make hard corals and anemone distressed, I think it would be fine once you bring up your dkh.

 

[drblank1]

This is with lights on. Thoughts?