So I've had my tank for couple almost couple months now. Was already established when i got it and saved 75% of the water ive done weekly 15-20 gallon changes and just got my firat anemone couple days ago. He looked great at first only moved couple inches from placing but got home today and was totally closed up. As lights turned down he came back out. I test the water every few days. Everything has looked good only difference today was nitrates were up some, in the 5-10 ppm range on the API test.
Mystery diagnosis. .
- Thread starter Jgeebs413
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Brew12
Electrical Gru
Maybe it is the picture, but that rock does not look well established. It looks like fresh dry rock to me and might not be mature enough to readily support a nem. That said, it isn't terribly abnormal for BTA's to close up and open throughout the course of a day. I'm still shocked at just how small my BTA can get when it closes up.So I've had my tank for couple almost couple months now. Was already established when i got it and saved 75% of the water ive done weekly 15-20 gallon changes and just got my firat anemone couple days ago. He looked great at first only moved couple inches from placing but got home today and was totally closed up. As lights turned down he came back out. I test the water every few days. Everything has looked good only difference today was nitrates were up some, in the 5-10 ppm range on the API test.
BoomCorals
2500 Club Member
Yea that isn't established enough for an anemone just yet. 
Where did you get the nem from?
Where did you get the nem from?
Some of the rock is newer but was in a tank at the LFS for quite a while I believe. I'd rather not say exactly where but they seem to be very knowledgeable. What would make it established enough for an anemone?
BoomCorals
2500 Club Member
Time. If the tank is growing coralline then it should be ready for a nem. Was the nem on a rock? Did you get the rock with it or did they take it off the rock? How long did it take to get it off the rock?
Brew12
Electrical Gru
New rock isn't completely chemically stable. The rock will react with the salt water (very slowly) as new equilibriums are reached based mostly on pH. It also helps when you start getting biological growth such as coraline on it. Nems seem to be very sensitive and don't care for being place on new rock.
Well this is my learning curve still. Getting bits and pieces of info from everyone. If the LFS would have explained this after seeing pictures and hearing details the nem wouldn't be running laps I the tank
tdileo
Valuable Member
People already told you about the nem but please cover your powerheads ASAP unless you want to risk the nem climbing in and killing everything in the tank. I don't cover mine and that's why I bought a flower anemone instead of a bubble tip
James Kanouff
Active Member
I have seen folks take a established rock that has a hole in it, place it in the center of the tank area. place a plastic soda bottle cut in half and then shoved back together with rock n em inside, with small holes in it over the rock the BTA and leave it there till the NEM attaches to the rock. then place said rock where you want it making sure the rock is the highest spot around. They will climb to the top to get more light regardless of how much light you give with in reason of course. Huge ones will get thru just about any normal intake mesh. down to about 1/16 of an inch. go right thru 1/4 over flow teeth for sure. cover submerged pump intakes with simple polly floss or a old sponge from an old HOB filter with a hole poked in for the intake tube. comb teeth are a bit harder as messing with them raises the water level and effects a ATO system as well as it gets dirty. They will still let go and walk if there not happy or if its a lunar eclipse or if you forget to wash the soap from your dishes before you make a meal. There weird like that.. mind of there own sometimes. Then they split into two and it starts all over again with twice as many to deal with. Ohh they sting everything as well don't forget. lovely little critters.....
Thanks for all that info. Appreciate you taking your time. He's been kinda local to one area now. Few times he wandered into dark spots but I brought it back out and been doing pretty good. It's eating and opening up pretty well, moved little last night so see where he is when I get home. Just got a blue throat trigger hopefully he's not playing with it too much.
