Bubble Tip Anemone Acting Weird Please Help

[offshored]

We recently purchased a bubble tip anemone, and it has been acting very strange.

We put it in the tank on Saturday afternoon, and now it has moved about 5 inches and seems jammed into the live rock upside down.

As for the tank, it's 55 gallons with a Marineland Penguin 350, Remora Aqua C Skimmer w/ maxi-jet 1200, powerhead, LED lighting and tons of natural sunlight. Also about 50 lbs of live rock and 60 lbs of live sand.

Inhabitants : False Percula Clownfish, Dwarf Flame Angel, Blue Hippo Tang, Skunk Shrimp and two hermits.

Everything seems fine with the water, all the fish are happy... even have a random coral which has been growing for the last few weeks.

Is this normal behavior for the bubble tip?

The powerhead is pointed in it's general area... is there maybe too much flow hitting it? Should we point the powerhead more upwards?

Some Pictures:

Thanks

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Redirect the powerhead. They don't like being in a direct flow. It's normal behavior for them to wander around until they find a comfortable spot. Just leave it be and let it settle in. Also, you're going to need to find a home for that hippo tang. They get very large and require a minimun tank size of 240g. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946007

 

[offshored]

Redirect the powerhead. They don't like being in a direct flow. It's normal behavior for them to wander around until they find a comfortable spot. Just leave it be and let it settle in. Also, you're going to need to find a home for that hippo tang. They get very large and require a minimun tank size of 240g. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946007

Should the powerhead be facing pretty much the top of the tank?

I added pictures as well

BTW: Oh I know about the Hippo Tang... it's a baby and we are planning on larger tank when needed. I didn't want to mention it in the post

 

[bradleym]

That tank looks pretty new, I hope it's at least a few months since it first cycled. Otherwise that will cause issues.

That second pic is an aiptasia, they can be a real pain if you leave them in your tank. I would suggest killing it before it reproduces, which it will do.

 

[offshored]

That tank looks pretty new, I hope it's at least a few months since it first cycled. Otherwise that will cause issues.

That second pic is an aiptasia, they can be a real pain if you leave them in your tank. I would suggest killing it before it reproduces, which it will do.

Hey Bradley, it's just over 6 weeks since first cycled. Does the anemone look ok to you? LFS said the bubble tip was pretty hardy and should be ok...

Yeah wasn't sure if it was bad... could we get an peppermint shrimp to eat it, or just pick it out?

 

[bues0022]

6 weeks since cycling is still a very new tank. While BTA's are hardy, and it could survive, it's generally recommended to wait 6 months for a nem. If you are able to, bring it back to the LFS and have them hold it until your tank is more mature. Even if you are testing your water and it shows parameters as being "stable", the reality is that there are quite a few complex processes taking place right now attempting to reach equilibrium. You might have pH go very wonky and never know it besides things dying.

If you only have one aiptasia, it's best to get it out quickly. Be careful with just picking though. It spreads like wildfire if you only pick part of it and leave some behind. I'd nuke it with kalk paste, white vinegar, joe's juice, etc.

 

[offshored]

Seems like the anemone is having a really hard time, I think we'll take it back

We will be fine waiting 6+ months to put another in... only done a few small water changes, so we'll just let everything get settled and happy.

I read the peppermint shrimp can take care of the aiptasia... would buying one and letting him into the tank probably get rid of any current and future aiptasia problems?

 

[NanoReefie]

I would recommend getting some Aiptasia-X, that aiptasia looks like a decent sized one that most peppermint shrimps won't eat. Peppermints will usually eat the smaller ones only. The Aiptasia-X is really easy to use and will definitely take out that one easily. Just make sure you approach the aiptasia really slowly so that you don't cause it to close before you juice it witht he syringe. Think of yourself spot-feeding it, and be really gentle.

 

[offshored]

I would recommend getting some Aiptasia-X, that aiptasia looks like a decent sized one that most peppermint shrimps won't eat. Peppermints will usually eat the smaller ones only. The Aiptasia-X is really easy to use and will definitely take out that one easily. Just make sure you approach the aiptasia really slowly so that you don't cause it to close before you juice it witht he syringe. Think of yourself spot-feeding it, and be really gentle.

Should the LFS stock that? Also, might just pick up a Peppermint to roam around the tank and zap any new ones... wife like's them anyway

Only worried about having a Peppermint with the last fish we are going to add to this tank... a Golden Dwarf Moray... but they stay pretty small, so I'm not sure if he'll go after the shrimp in the tank :mixed:

 

[Indymann99]

With the moray you won't have to worry about the pep... He won't be around for long...