2 New clown fish and Anemone help

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Just bought two clown fish and there host anemone from my LFS. They were so happy in the store, got them home and now the clown fish are spending all there time together with my polyps(both fish are together). The Anemone is now shrivling up a bit, it kinda looks like something is in its center and its tenticals are bent over to it. The other side is still a little open.

1. Are the clowns going to go back to there anemone?
2. Could the anemone just eating? Is it sick?
3. Should i try to get the anemone to a higher point of my tank, im only running my t8 lights at the moment. What kind of lighting should i give him?
4. Where should he be placed in the tank. (high, low, middle)


The tank is well established, my nitrate is a little high aprox 10ppm, and my phosphate is also a little high at 2.0ppm. So im in the middle of a water change. Any help is greatly helpful.

 

[2Addicted]

What kind of anemone? What kind of lighting do you have?

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

The anemone is a bubble tip type, small about 3inches when fully open, it apears to be feeding on something brown. Its got its mouth torwards on side of its body, and something in its center.

Im running 4 t8 bulbs, 2 10,000K and 2 18,000k bulbs(actinic and daylight bulbs).

 

[2Addicted]

can you post a picture?

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Here is one pic, if you need some better ones let me know, but this is his current state.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Your phosphate reading is more than a little high -- it is very high. 0.5 would be high.

What is your salinity level?
Temp?
What size tank?

 

[pandarider007]

he might just be adjusting still. just my 2c

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Salinity level is 30ppt.
Temp is right now at 80 deg F ( after a hot day today).
My tank is 125g with a 29g sump/refregum.

I just did a 10% water change, ill check my water parameters in the morning. But i did also notice my Ca levels were really low, around 80ppm. So ive also added a calcium supliment.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Your salinity is too low, it should be at 35 ppt, which is about 1.026 SG.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Yeah i figured so, like i said i just did a 10% water change so the salt level is still adjusting. I dont want to add anymore salt till the morning.

What about the clowns, Assuming the anemone makes a come back, will they return to it? They are paired up, so im happy about that, but there staying in one spot of the tank just swimming in one place.

 

[MassiveCaC]

takes some time for the anemones to find their right spot(mine took a week to settle). try turning your power heads off so he can find a good spot without having to fight the current or get killed by getting sucked in.(happens a lot). My salt level is between 1.024-1.025, but I have a 75gal tank. try marine snow, works great for most..corals and anemones.. I think so. But I think he is just adjusting. thats my 7cents... good luck.

 

[3seconds2live]

DO NOT TURN OF POWERHEADS!!! Its pointless. the reason a bta moves is to find optimal conditions for where it resides. When your looking for a house do you want to live in the slums where its 7000 degrees and the wind blows 80mph all day? No you dont the nem is the same way. It will look for the pristine spot in your tank and it wont care if something is already there it will sting it and kill it and take it over. Your salinity is too low 1.026 is where it should be i keep mine at 1.025 due to the fact that when evaporation occurs salinity rises a bit and i dont have auto top off yet. Nems are amazing creatures they can either get energy through photosynthesis or through eating like anything else would. Your lighting may be a little lacking. I Have metal halide lighting (eats power for breakfast) i suggest either halide or t5's but now led fixtures are an option too. you can get some cheap fixtures no problem if your on a budget but where u cut cost you cut quality. I cant tell from the picture but is it still colored or is it turning white? The tips look fine that isn't shriveled. Just cause the tips aren't inflated and "bubbly" is no sign that the nem isn't happy. now it does look closed up a bit but not horrible as said before it appears to be adjusting give it some time. Here is a site all about rbta's or just the bubble tip type in general Read learn and be happy
http://karensanemones.com/

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

So this morning i looked in my tank to find the anemone gone!!! After a carfull search i found him hanging on an adjasent rock. Moved the rock to an uprite position, then fed him a piece of shirmp. It is definatly opened up more then last night. Im going to check my water parameters again when i get home today.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

DO NOT TURN OF POWERHEADS!!! Its pointless. the reason a bta moves is to find optimal conditions for where it resides. When your looking for a house do you want to live in the slums where its 7000 degrees and the wind blows 80mph all day? No you dont the nem is the same way. It will look for the pristine spot in your tank and it wont care if something is already there it will sting it and kill it and take it over. Your salinity is too low 1.026 is where it should be i keep mine at 1.025 due to the fact that when evaporation occurs salinity rises a bit and i dont have auto top off yet. Nems are amazing creatures they can either get energy through photosynthesis or through eating like anything else would. Your lighting may be a little lacking. I Have metal halide lighting (eats power for breakfast) i suggest either halide or t5's but now led fixtures are an option too. you can get some cheap fixtures no problem if your on a budget but where u cut cost you cut quality. I cant tell from the picture but is it still colored or is it turning white? The tips look fine that isn't shriveled. Just cause the tips aren't inflated and "bubbly" is no sign that the nem isn't happy. now it does look closed up a bit but not horrible as said before it appears to be adjusting give it some time. Here is a site all about rbta's or just the bubble tip type in general Read learn and be happy
http://karensanemones.com/

The anemone has not lost his color, i think he had what apeared to be fish waste in its central opening. It was pulled to the left side of itself( looking at the picture). I was gone this morning so i gave it a pice of fresh shrimp and it pulled it right in.

I have had my MH off for a few months since i moved, so i have been running just my T8's. What type of lighting do they like? What Kelvin range. I was thinking of going with a MH bulb in the 18,000K range since there due to be replaced.

Where in the tank should i put him? High, middle, low?

Are they dependent on Ca levels, b/c last night befor my water change it was very low?

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Here is a picture of the Anemone today.


<img src="http://imgur.com/PQcYQ.jpg" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" />

 

[Toddrtrex]

Is it trying to eat something?

To be honest, it doesn't look all that great -- and have a feeling that it came that way. It is partially bleached, and the tentacles are too short and sparse -- it would appear that it has been consuming itself for energy.

 

[3seconds2live]

Is it trying to eat something?

To be honest, it doesn't look all that great -- and have a feeling that it came that way. It is partially bleached, and the tentacles are too short and sparse -- it would appear that it has been consuming itself for energy.

Agreed dude that this is bleached and is not looking well at all. If it came that way i'm sorry to hear that. OK dont move it at all it will stress and you dont want that. They need good lighting thats key. As far as kalvin rating i dont know if there is a standard i have mine under 14k pheonix i think 18ks would be fine do not move it high or low or anything just leave it be. You can nurse it back to color so dont worry but its going to be a long road. Feed it smaller pieces if you do feed it in that it will reduce the energy required to process it. also get the food as close to the mouth as you can but dont get stung and once every few days should be fine. Deffinately get it some good light asap it will move to a spot where it can hopefully heal itself and prosper.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

The pice of white in the center is a pice of shrip its been chowing down on since this-morning. The foot itself is a dark tan color, it does apear when you look a it close the upper right corner looks deflated. Is there anything i should do to help him out? It is definatly alot more open then last night.

 

[3seconds2live]

Like i said next time you want to feed small pieces that it can fit in the mouth easily other than that i suggest just leave it be. Did you go to that site i linked it has a wealth of knowledge on bta's and it will show you bleached nems and tell you everything you need to know. keep up with water changes but keep parameters (temp and salinity) exaclty the same cause any sudden changes stress it out. It will take time u can pm me or keep posting here if u have any more ?'s oh and no they are not dependant on calcium but you should get that up and in range.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Ok so after looking over that website it is definatly bleached. Now the challange is to try to feed it and nurse it back to health. I moved the rock it was on to a higher position in the tank to get it closer to the light. Im going to go to the LFS and see what they have to say about it. Ither way im on a mission to bring it back to life. I will keep everyone posted on its status. Right now its critical.