Anemone chemical war - is it possible?

[nikoloutso]

I have a 700ltr (150gal) main tank reef aquarium with 4 anemones.
- heteractis magnifica (50cm diameter)
- orange bubbletip (25cm diameter)
- green rock anemone (5cm d)
- white sand anemone (4cm d)

The aquascape, as you can see to the pictures below, has 2 separate islands. All the anemones are in the small island on the left.
The problem is that I think there a war there!! A chemical war between the 2 big anemones resulting the death of almost all the sps and to the opposite fast the growing of the soft corals and the lps, especially the toxics lps.
The exception of the lps are the 2 caulastrea which are melting!!!!

Is that possible?
How can I fix this?
How can I remove the toxins? Only with

Could be another cause of this?

 

[cichlidconvert]

Yes there are issues chemically with other species, but that isn't your problem I don't think. Those nems are way to close and are prolly discharging nematocysts at each other which might crash your tank if you don't seperate them. That and running a filter sock and water changes soon. IMO I might be wrong but seeing that they are touching I'd act quick to separate all of them at the very least. That mag is big enough to sink that tank though.

 

[nikoloutso]

I know that they have chemical issues to other species, but is it possible to melt the caulastrea an to kill the sps?

They do not touch each other. But the last 2 months the magnifica is like an umbrella over the bta.

I have the magnifica 4 years, from the begging of my aquarium and it has a split before 7 months.
The bta is in aquarium the last 4 months.

In other aquariums I have seen the bta always close to the magnifica, even they share the same spot.

To my aquarium they decide to stay to these possitions.

Dont you think if they have any problem they will move to an other spot?
(Like the rock anemone. It was on the rock andd now it's in the sand.)

 

[cichlidconvert]

Well like I said I could be wrong. But remember they all have different "personalities" and get fed up. Nems will move sometimes when things bother them and sometimes they fight back. Maybe run carbon and do a water change. That would help with chemicals but carbon doesn't affect nematocysts so running a sock can filter those out or filter floss. Either way I would be nervous letting them stay that close

 

[Ron Popeil]

what do you use to test phosphates in that tank?

 

[Dapg8gt]

Lots of carbon changed out religiously Imo is your only option other than removing some of them.. Not sure if that's your issue but it wouldn't hurt to run carbon to get the released toxins out..

Def make sure all your other parameters are good to go to rule out water quality..

 

[elegance coral]

Neither one of those anemones are sand dwellers. It looks to me like the BTA is about as far away from the mag as it can get without moving through the sand. Which they rarely, if ever do. I would create another island in the tank for the BTA.

 

[nikoloutso]

what do you use to test phosphates in that tank?

I often test with salifert tests and occasionally with Hanna electronic tests.

Well like I said I could be wrong. But remember they all have different "personalities" and get fed up. Nems will move sometimes when things bother them and sometimes they fight back. Maybe run carbon and do a water change. That would help with chemicals but carbon doesn't affect nematocysts so running a sock can filter those out or filter floss. Either way I would be nervous letting them stay that close

The last time that I change water, everything was good again for 3 days!! The carbon that change was 1/5 from that I usually use because that was left.

Lots of carbon changed out religiously Imo is your only option other than removing some of them.. Not sure if that's your issue but it wouldn't hurt to run carbon to get the released toxins out..
Def make sure all your other parameters are good to go to rule out water quality..

The other parameters are more than good. I use CR and not balling.

Neither one of those anemones are sand dwellers. It looks to me like the BTA is about as far away from the mag as it can get without moving through the sand. Which they rarely, if ever do. I would create another island in the tank for the BTA.

The magnifica every time that I closed the pump that hits is, it left an "œwalked" on the sand!!
This specific bta is a split from a friend of mine and it also moved on sand some times to go to the place that is prefers. But I will put some rock next to it and I will see if and when bta will move.
There is also a small third island to the right side of the aquarium but it has lots of ricordeas. (also toxic and still grow up fast)

So are we sure that the problem in my aquarium is the anemone war and not something else? :headwalls:
(From the symptoms that I write about to the 1st posts.)

 

[Ron Popeil]

without knowing your exact water parameters, i would assume your anemones have nothing to do with your inability to keep sps.

just a gut feeling, but i would wager phosphates.

 

[nikoloutso]

without knowing your exact water parameters, i would assume your anemones have nothing to do with your inability to keep sps.

just a gut feeling, but i would wager phosphates.

Ι am keeping this reef aquarium 4 years. The last 3 with corals. As you can see very close to the anemos the is a big acro. I have it 2 years.
The problems began I think the 4 last months. Everything was good till then. I had lots of fast grown sps.

This big acro is the most toxic acro that i ever see. If you touch it leaves lot of mucus!!! And the edge of this are start to die....

 

[nikoloutso]

Magnifica is moving away. I Think it lost the war......