Anenome Question 1

[bigfellani5]

Hi there

I have a relatively new tank. It is a 2 foot x 2 foot x 2 foot "cube". It is a bigger tank than the small nano tank I have had in the past.

I recent purchased an anemone and it has found a spot at the back of my reef where it can not been seen. I have tried turning the rocks over and moving them to the front but it keeps moving to the back. It is now in the middle of my reef at the back and can not be moved without moving most of my reef. In my opinion the spot it has chosen has less water flow and definitely light than anywhere at the front of the tank. What is the best way to encourage it to move to the front of my reef?

 

[Catchoftheday]

How New is your tank

 

[bigfellani5]

about 6 months

ph is 8.2....no detectible nitrites, amonia and phosphates, nitrates last water check 2 days ago was just detectable but this is not normally the case. Tanks gets about a 1/4 water change once a week. It appears as if water quality is normally pretty well spot on from my humble observations

 

[rssjsb]

I would leave it alone for a couple of weeks. What kind of anemone is it? What kinds of lights/flow do you have? Is the anemone inflated? Is it eating?

If your parameters and setup are ok, I'm betting the anemone will come out eventually. If it's a BTA it could take a week or two. Right now it's getting used to your water and lights.

 

[bigfellani5]

It is a BTA. I would not call it inflated but it is at the back of my reef under a rock with some tenticles seeking out what little light there is as most of my lighting is at the front of the tank. The spot it has found appears to have little water flow. Lighting is a 2 globe 24w t5 setup (one white and one blue).

 

[garygb]

BTAs like to have their foot attached in a hole in the rock. I have taken a piece of liverock and chiseled a hole out for the purpose of attaching a BTA. This has usually been successful for me. Once a BTA finds a hole in the rock that it likes, it will most likely stay there. They prefer moderate flow. So if it finds rock and attaches, you can then place that rock in a more unobstructed location, providing the spot has adequate flow and light.

 

[bigfellani5]

I have tried moving but keeps moving to back of tank. It "spot" is a place where I would have to pull apart half my reef to move it.

 

[rssjsb]

Stop messing with it. It's adjusting and will most likely come out when it's ready. Also, I have to say that 24 watts of light is not really enough to keep a BTA. Actinics don't really give the anemone anything. You should probably try to boost your lighting.

 

[garygb]

I agree with the advice on the lighting. For two 24-watt bulbs to work you're going to need to have the anemone's tentacles within less than a foot of the bulbs. You don't mention the brand of the T-5s, but you will need good quality bulbs and hopefully the fixture has individual reflectors. Good bulbs and individual reflectors make a big difference when working with T-5s. ATI has bulbs such as Aquablue Plus that has a bluish cast and still provides very good PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) readings. PAR is useable light that the anemone can benefit from. The white or daylight bulbs typically have good PAR.

 

[bigfellani5]

My lighting is glo t5 ho 2 foot 24w fluoro globes. One blue and one white