Anemones won't attatch

[Seahorse Reefer]

Hello all! I have two long tip anemones that I have had for about 6 weeks and they still wont attach to anything! They eat table shrimp only and stay in one corner of the tank on their sides. They close up at night and open back up during the day. But they are slowly turning white. I dont know what to do to make them happy. Please help!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Pictures of them please.

 

[Bogue Chitto]

Something must be wrong with your water, Do your test and see. Once I reduced my phosphate my anemones started doing better.

 

[Indymann99]

For a long tentacle anemone, you should dig a hole in the sand the size of the foot of the Nem, (if possible go all the way to the glass). Position the hole so that it is up against the base of live rock and that it gets plenty of light.

 

[Kearnel]

I've never had luck with long tentacle anemones, mine would never attach to anything either yet something like my two carpets do just fine.

 

[Seahorse Reefer]

thanks for all the comments! sorry I haven't replied, I set my page up to send me emails when I get replies and its not working! ARG! ok, my water tests are-
POS-0
AMM-0
Nitrites-0
Nitrates-0 at the LFS, but when I test it at home it reads 60-80! I trust them on the tests more than myself.
I tried the hole trick and it didn't work, they just tumbled out as soon as I turned on the powerheads. Right now one of them is kinda stuck in the corner behind a rock and the other is still just moving around. I will post pics in just a sec.

 

[Seahorse Reefer]

here they are

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I'm pretty sure that only one of your anemones is a LTA the one with the red foot, still could use a better picture to be sure. I'm not sure on the ID of the bleached one. I'm sure someone will have a positive ID on the bleached one, but I'm pretty sure it's not an LTA.

 

[A1t2o]

What size tank, and what type of lights? You may not be giving them enough light, or maybe too much if there is a large difference from the last tank they were in. Just try to keep stable conditions for them since they recover so slowly.

 

[Indymann99]

If you can throttle your powerheads down (flow rate - not aiming them down) that may help. If you cant throttle your powerheads down I would turn them off for an hour or so and let the Nem settle into the hole you dig for it.

 

[Seahorse Reefer]

my tank is 150 gallons. I have LED lights the brand is Current. I will try to dig another hole and leave the PH's off for awhile. Thanks!

 

[Seahorse Reefer]

here are some pics of them when I first got them

 

[Seahorse Reefer]

So do nems like low flow or high flow better?

 

[Indymann99]

here are some pics of them when I first got them

your middle picture looks like a great spot. I would dig a hole next to the rock put the nems foot in the hole and leave the powerheads off for an hour. Then turn on 1 powerhead, wait hour or two more, then turn on other powerhead(s). The low flow will let it get settled/attached.

 

[shifty51008]

Current leds? What make and model? I dont think you have nearly enough light for anemones. Especally when you see the pics of when you got them and your recent pics, they are bleaching more.

 

[Seahorse Reefer]

Ok I will try that spot, thanks. I'll let u know how it works. I will have to look at my paper work on the lights.

 

[jusn317]

I have had a similar issue with a LTA that seemed healthy, but would not attach. Eventually traded it back in to LFS for credit.

I also agree though that the lighting you have may not support anemones, but need more on the exact type of Current fixture.

 

[Seahorse Reefer]

My lights are a Current ramp timer pro. It has a Coral light setting which I need to switch it too. I forgot I had it on that setting a while back and I had a green hair algae outbreak and switched it to the lower setting. I will switch it and see if that helps. So nems like high light and low flow? I thought they liked high flow?

 

[shifty51008]

The ramp timer pro is just the controller, what are the lights you are controlling?

 

[Indymann99]

So nems like high light and low flow? I thought they liked high flow?

They dont necessarily like low flow... the low flow just helps the nem attach its foot when placed in a new tank.