I have a few questions. I have had a 55 saltwater aquarium set up since last august. I have about 40 to 50lbs of live rock, a clam, a flowerpot, and a 4 stripe damsel and a yellowtail damsel, and 2 bubble tip rose anemones and a pink anemone. Since i have put these anemones in my tank they have never acted right. I have a t5ho lighting set up. During the day when my lights are on the anemones are very small, they shrink against the rock. At night when the lights are off they reach for the lights which indicates to me that they are still alive. They are also bleached. They do not feed often because they are often shrunk. I need help trying to figure out what is wrong in my tank. My water has been tested often and nothing has ever been wrong with my water. Does anyone have any ideas for me?
Anemone Questions
- Thread starter mswalter
- Start date
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
How often do you do water changes? Do you use carbon?
kimsie
New member
Question - since you've had the tank set up since last august - that's just now about 6 months, right? If you've had the nem's in them for several months - maybe you put them in when the tank wasn't quite stable enough for them and the natural tank changes that happen to a new tank were just too much for them? Just throwing something out there...
Have you tried feeding them at night when they are open?
Have you tried feeding them at night when they are open?
kimsie
New member
Sometimes people just give bad information - not that they even are doing it on purpose, maybe they had an anemone go into a tank very early on and it did find. The general rule of thumb for anemone's is that they take a tank that is at least 6 months old - or the subtle tank changes will make them slowly die. If they're not eating - it's not a good sign. Here's a site that I like especially for RBTA's - maybe you can get some information from there... http://www.karensroseanemones.com/index.htm
I too was told it was fine to put an anemone in my tank right away, but have since learned that it's not always the best option.
I too was told it was fine to put an anemone in my tank right away, but have since learned that it's not always the best option.
kimsie
New member
On that site you can see what a 'hungry' anemone looks like - with it's lips puckering? I'm nursing back a 'bleached' anemone (or trying!) and it made this sign when I fed my other fish... Then I held a little mysis shrimp over it with my fingers long enough for it to take hold - it took a minute...
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
You should use carbon once a month. Its a good thing to use when you have anemones. Do you have a protien skimmer? What is your SG? Can we see your other tank parameters? Nothing is wrong with my water doesn't help us figure out how to help you or what could be wrong with your tank.
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
Not all local fish store employees can be trusted with their advice..a lot of them only care about getting the livestock out of their tanks and into yours.
Do you have a picture of the anemones?
Do you have a picture of the anemones?
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
There is one of your problems there. it needs to be 1.025 or 1.026.ok what is the other tests reading?
ammonia?
nitrates?
nitrites?
Phosphates?
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
Don't raise it fast though..raise it no faster then a few points over weeks ..raising it too fast could shock what ever fish you have in there.
Thank you for the help. Yesterday I topped of my water with salt water. I am trying to slowly reach 1.025. Last night when i turned off my lights i tried holding small shrimp over each one of my anemones. For the most part i noticed each anemone change in shape and close up around the food. I think that they took it. I will keep trying this method to see if i can get some more nutrients into them. Hopefully this will nurse them back to health. Also I recently got a flower pot. Yesterday I noticed a red, purpleish flim or slime over the top of it. I know that it isnt dead because the arms still move and reach out. Do anyone know what it is doing?
