I think I need help

LadyMac · Jan 10, 2018

Hey guys! I think I need some help with my anemone. Saturday I purchased a nice healthy green bubble tip. So that night it didn’t like the rock and flew to the back wall where it wedged between my in tank skimmer and the glass. The next morning it was still there. So I move it to another rock. It stayed for the day and was looking ok though trying to go in the rock. Which was fine. Yesterday it was fairly closed but still colored. That night, I noticed one of the clowns close by and it seemed to be nipping. So I researched and it said this was fine and normal. This morning I wake up and it’s mostly deflated and the color was going away. The tentacles seemed to be quite shriveled. It was still on the rock but not completely. So I panicked. I’m doing a large waterchange as a precaution.

Params are:
40 gallon breeder
Hydor in tank skimmer
50lbs live sand
60 ish lbs live rock
Current USA Marine Orbit LED, 24”
Two 400 gph powerheads
Ammonia, nitrite zero
Nitrate 0-.5(have trouble telling)
Alk 9-10
Mg 1240
Salinity is 1.021

Tank is over a year old.

Advice?

LadyMac · Jan 10, 2018

Here are some photos of the progression.
I forgot to add how I acclimated. I floated it for about 20 mins for temp acclimation. Then I dripped for about 2.5 hours, and then gently added to the tank.

hijinks7 · Jan 10, 2018

They will hide up to a week in a new tank till they come out.. Just give it time

Robink · Jan 10, 2018

No expert on anemones but I think you salinity is low. Should be a little higher 1.023-1.025. They will also move around a lot till they find a spot they like.
Also, what kind of lighting was it under before you got it. could be adjusting to your lighting.

Crabs McJones · Jan 10, 2018

You may want to up your salinity. 1.021 is on the low side, for corals and anemones you generally want it in the 1.024-1.026 range. other than that your parameters all look good. Is your light the pro or the regular?

Tahoe61 · Jan 10, 2018

I would let the SG drift up to at least 1.023.
With lighting you get what you pay for and Current USA Marine Orbit LED, 24 might not get the job done. I have not used it but I encourage you to upgrade the lighting when able.
Yup to anemones go through weird stages of acclimation. I would not however attempt to relocate the anemone as long as it's not in danger of making it's way into a powerhead/heater/overflow.

LadyMac · Jan 10, 2018

Thanks guys! The light is the regular. Upgrade is in the works but I was told with the height of the tank it would be fine and he could eat much closer if it wanted to. Also it hasn’t really moved it just looks blah lol

Crabs McJones · Jan 10, 2018

LadyMac said:
Thanks guys! The light is the regular. Upgrade is in the worlds but I was told with the height of the tank it would be fine and he could eat much closer if it wanted to. Also it hasn’t really moved it just looks blah lol

No problem

just up that salinity, and do it very slowly. Best way is to mix up some salt water that is slightly higher than your current salinity level, if you have an auto top off turn it off, and top off with salt water until you get the salinity to where you want it