Blue Carpet Anenome

[mikedachamp]

I have had a Blue Carpet for about a week now and i noticed it does poorly when my MHs are on. During the morning and night it looks excellent and during the day it looks like its droopy. I was told by everyone that it needs high lighting and moderate flow. I have a tank 60" x 18" x 24" with two 250 watt MHs 12k Reeflux bulbs and two actinic T5 HO 54 watt bulbs. 1 Koralia 3 and a Koralia 4 and two return pumps for as well. Can somebody help? Is this an acclimating issue?

 

[E.J. Coral]

What species of carpet?

 

[mile sq. reefer]

I have a Blue Haddoni thats under one of my 2x150w Pheonix 14k lamps. I also have 2xK4's. It has been doing well and has been in the tank a little over a week. I acclimated it for hours. How long did you acclimate it? Was it purchased at the LFS or online? Is it real sticky with a closed mouth? What are the tank parameters? Please post pic.

 

[mikedachamp]

i am not sure what species carpet it is. its baby blue in color with blue spots under it. it is lighter than other blue carpts and it has longer tentacles too. my ph is at 8.4. kh is at 10-11. salinity fluctuates from 8.3-8.5. temp is at 76-78. there is no amonia, nitrate or nitrite. calcium is at 540.

 

[elegance coral]

Sounds like you have a Gigantea. They have bad reputations for being hard to keep. Good luck with it. Do you have any pics?

 

[E.J. Coral]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12692223#post12692223 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikedachamp
i am not sure what species carpet it is. its baby blue in color with blue spots under it. it is lighter than other blue carpts and it has longer tentacles too. my ph is at 8.4. kh is at 10-11. salinity fluctuates from 8.3-8.5. temp is at 76-78. there is no amonia, nitrate or nitrite. calcium is at 540.

Firstly, if it hasn't acclimated to the light yet, it needs direct feeding. Try too feed it mysis shrimp first. Secondly, it is goinfto need good flow. Make sure your powerheads ar positioned such that the tentacles are moving quite a bit. Occasional surges that "fold" the anemone over are also good. Thirdly, make sure that it has something to attach to. I keep gigantea on the rocks. Even if it is in the sand, make sure that it has something firm to grab on to. Also, I am a firm believer in adding clowns ASAP, ifthe anemone is large, and doesn't have "one foot in the grave" I think it helps, IME. Others may disagree WRT the addition of clowns. I also liketo keep my temps at around 83, but YMMV.

What is the salinity? How old is the system? Are there any other anemones in the tank? do you run carbon?

 

[mikedachamp]

 

[mikedachamp]

currently the salinity is at 1.023. the system is about 3 months old. there is a long tentacle and tube anemone also. no carbon right now, but im getting one today

 

[Toddrtrex]

Looks like it is in pretty bad shape.

Need to raise your salinity up to 1.025/6. They require tons of flow, and you really should be running carbon since you already have other anemones.

And to be honest, with your tank being only 3 months old, and the track record of Gigantea, I would take it back if you could.

 

[mikedachamp]

i searched images of a gigantea. it doesnt look like one. dont gigantea's have long tentacles?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Yours is a Stichodactyla gigantea, and yes they do have longer tentacles then a Haddoni, but compared to other anemones I wouldn't say so.

 

[mikedachamp]

oh ok. any suggestions on what else i can do?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Get more flow in there, and raise the salinity.

And if you plan on keeping the gigantea, get rid of the other anemones. I had issues keeping LTAs and Haddonis together, and gigantea's are more sensitive then Haddonis.

 

[E.J. Coral]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12692773#post12692773 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikedachamp

OK. This guy is in pretty bad shape! Is it still sticky? If so, you absolutely need to feed it some enriched mysis ASAP. You probably need more flow, but at this time I would wait to see if it survives before you make any purchases.

 

[mikedachamp]

ya its still sticky. it ate chopped squid last night

 

[mikedachamp]

 

[Der_Iron_Chef]

As an aside, looks like there's a little anemone crab in there. Interesting.

I'm assuming the anemone is on the top of the rockwork on the right, to the lower-left of the Koralia 3? From what I understand, they require some pretty serious *random* flow. You may want to get another pump (Koralia) and point it so its stream intersects with your existing Koralia 3...if that makes sens.

Also, I don't think your MH would be the issue...but I could be wrong. They are shallow water species and are used to pretty high intensity sunlight.

 

[mikedachamp]

yes you're right. also, the MH are 1"-2" from the surface of the water. my canopoy is only 6" high, very short. so would you suggest that i point the Koralia 3 directly at the anemone?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Not directly at it, but more directly then it is right now --- if that makes sense.

 

[mikedachamp]

yes it does. the problem is, the pump is already hitting it with enough flow, where the tentacles are moving. i dont know what to do anymore