anenome and water change ??

[jimmer]

i have a good size ritteri at the very top of the tank.i want to do a big water change.it will be out of the water for 20-30 minutes.is this too long??will it slime up or tear from the rock?ive been doing smaller ones and it just looks a mess on the rock when out of water,but he wasnt out very long and always seemed ok afterwards thanks
jimmer

 

[sarahkucera]

I've got a RBTA on the glass at the top and he's been there for several months, through water changes and all.
My water changes are very quick, we can do our 25 gallon water change in about eight to ten minutes, so he's never out of water for too long and we always cover him in a wet paper towel wrapped up like a little turban to keep him from getting too angry.

 

[mobert]

I don't know the answer to you question but here are some things to consider.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

Randy seems to suggest that numerous smaller water changes might be almost as good as larger less frequent water changes. That plus the fact that your anemone is sure to be releasing toxins in the water while it is uncovered would make me rethink doing a big water change. But what do I know...my nitrates are higher than I'd like.

Sorry I couldn't answer you question but only provide food for thought.

 

[dantodd]

AFAIK most shallow water anemone species are used to being out of the water at low tide. I'd be moe worried about tearing on the rocks than anything else. As long as the bommie is about 1/2 the anemone's diameter without very sharp areas I'd think you're ok. Of course if it's on top of a 5" wide bommie with razor sharp edges you might be less so....

 

[jimmer]

thanks for the link mona!i handpicked the rock-its much bigger then the foot.and is very smooth .i have a 40 gallon fuge i can drain but i hate to lose all the critters in there!!

 

[rkelman]

can you move the whole rock to a lower spot then put it back after the water change?

 

[OrionN]

When stressed, H. magnifica can release something into the tank and wipe out all the fish except for clowns (not my personal experience but I never have my anemone ecposed when I change water). I would recommended not to get the H. magnifica out of the water when you do water change. Can you lower the rock in question down lower in the water when you drain the tank and put it back after you added the water back?

 

[SVXH6]

to me personally moving a rock with an anemone of this size would be a bad idea.. if it gets upset from just being moved for 10 min. and starts to walk about your tank you are in trouble.. it has been in this spot and likes it, dont move it.. maybe drain some water from the tank, and some from the fuge.. if you could choose losing some of your critters in your fuge or worrying about this huge anemone roaming which would it be??

 

[puter]

Jimmer -

Make the new water slightly cooler than the tank water, shut off your return pump, pump the new water in, and discard water that overflows to your sump. That way you can do as large a water change as you want without exposing the anemone to air.

- Mark

 

[psilo]

Briliant idea puter for me to impliment into all of my water changes from now on. Thanks x infinity.