Will anemone roam during a 3 day blackout?

goodtimes · Dec 21, 2013

I'm thinking of doing a three day blackout but have 5 anemones in the tank. My concern is that they will start roaming in search of light. Anybody have experience?

mainereefer · Dec 21, 2013

why would you go 3 days without light? I have done this with freshwater because of algae in the water but fw fish dont really care.
sw on the otherhand it will mess everything up!!

goodtimes · Dec 21, 2013

It's common in saltwater also to help get rid of algae. I know the the coral and fish will be fine, I have done it before. Just never with a anemone.

mainereefer · Dec 21, 2013

my thoughts without light on a sw tank it will create all kinds of problems, ph,alk,....... allot goes on with the chemicals in the sw when lights are on!

Imo- not a good idea and DEFIANTLY not common in sw!! my guess is you have something going on in your tank and 3 days of no light wont fix it. you need to find out what the problem is. do you use ro water? quality salt? do you test, what are parameters? is your tank overstocked? do you overfeed?....

but to answer your question: the nem is like a coral it needs light to make zooxanthellae without light it will bleach! heck corals expel the zooxanthellae during shipping all the time and thats hrs without light......

Reefing Madness · Dec 21, 2013

I've not heard of anyone stating their Nems were walking around during a lights out. Very good question though.

Reefing Madness · Dec 21, 2013

mainereefer said:
my thoughts without light on a sw tank it will create all kinds of problems, ph,alk,....... allot goes on with the chemicals in the sw when lights are on!

Imo- not a good idea and DEFIANTLY not common in sw!! my guess is you have something going on in your tank and 3 days of no light wont fix it. you need to find out what the problem is. do you use ro water? quality salt? do you test, what are parameters? is your tank overstocked? do you overfeed?....

Its a very common easy and quick fix for SW tank. Fast way of ridding your system of pest algae. Doesn't harm the corals in any way. In the ocean its not always sunny for days on end, the occasional storm comes in and throws darkness on the mix.

mainereefer · Dec 21, 2013

all I can say is good luck ! wouldnt happen in my tank. the ocean cant be compared to a glass box of water... thats like saying it snowed here in maine last night so in az it will be cloudy and 33 degrees out...

I would fix the problem not guess at treating symptoms... I wouldnt make a good MD

the question is why do you have algae?

vetteguy53081 · Dec 21, 2013

Mine moves with the lights off ( at night) and someone who said without light, your PH etc would fall apart ( REALLY??)

mainereefer · Dec 21, 2013

yes thats why your ph drops at night and raises during the day.... if your ph is off so is your alk. if alk is off it throws everything off

goodtimes · Dec 21, 2013

mainereefer said:
all I can say is good luck ! wouldnt happen in my tank. the ocean cant be compared to a glass box of water... thats like saying it snowed here in maine last night so in az it will be cloudy and 33 degrees out...

I would fix the problem not guess at treating symptoms... I wouldnt make a good MD

the question is why do you have algae?

I understand I need to get to the root problem of the algae. It's a combination of problems I'm working on. I've reduced the algae by probably 90%. I've got a big clean up crew coming soon. In my experience doing the blackout is kinda like pre cooking the algae for the cuc. They seem to consume more when it's partially dead.
I have no worries about a three day blackout. My only concern was the original question about the anemones. I can't afford to have them roaming over all the coral.

ohio reefer · Dec 21, 2013

I've done this when battling algae, I had nems and they stayed put. I think the key is that if you're going for a 3 day black out it needs to be BLACK. The tank was in the basement at the time in an area with no windows near it so it was completely dark. If there is any light I fear the anemone may travel to it, in order to find the best light.