GBTA help

dmbnj

New member
I posted earlier how my anemone wasn't looking well after moving some rock around. He seemed to perk up a bit once he found a new spot. I fed him a small piece of shrimp two days ago which he spit out. This morning I found him drooping off the rock. Part of his foot was attached on the rock and his mouth was open with some brown stuff hanging out. I was concerned that he was dying and gently removed him from the rock (I placed him in a bowl under water) and set up a 30gal hospital tank with about 50% water from the old tank and new saltwater. I didn't want him dying in my DT.

What next?

Tank 75gal
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 50 (been trying to bring this down with 2x week water changes but no change so far)
Temp 79
PH 8
Phosphate .4
Calcium 450

Tank is 18 months old. I've had the Anemone for 4 months.

 
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So far it's survived the day. Since this is a new tank how often and what volume water changes should I do? When or should I attempt to feed him? I have frozen mystis, krill, scallops, clams, and shrimp. Which would be easier for him to digest?
Also, what light cycle should I keep him on?
 
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the anemone don't look to bad but is bleached. between your nitrates being high and your phosphates very high I am guessing he is just not happy with your water.

what lights do you run on the tank? what water do you use to make NSW? tap, ro, or rodi?
 
It is bleached. How large was the pieces of shrimp you tried to feed it? If it's too weak it will spit out the food. Pieces need to be tiny and feed only a little at at time. I would put that anemone in a QT tank with proper flow and lighting because keeping it in a bowl will not help it recover. IME the nitrate and phosphate is not a terribly big issue with these anemones. I have high nitrates and phosphate currently and my RBTAs don't care one bit. Still huge and happy.
 
I use RODI. I'm waiting for a lighting upgrade. I'm currently using a cheaper LED fixture and am upgrading to AI Vegas. He's in a hospital tank. I used the bowl to move him so he wasn't out of water. I placed the bowl in the HT and he hasn't moved from it. I fed him a very small piece of shrimp. The lighting in the tank is only 48w T5. I ordered a bigger light for that tank as well. I never intended to use it for anything that needed stronger lighting. Should I move a small piece of LR from the DT to see if he will attach?
 
To me the tentacles look fine but it is bleached. When the tentacles are extended its a sign of looking for food I believe, when the anemone looks transperant like that, its symbiotic zooxanthellae is decreasing in numbers. It will easily recover provided to proper lighting. Your tank is established enough but your water isn't stable enough giving the phosphate and nitrate reading for the anemone, you need to bring those nitrates down too, 25 to 30% water changes should do the trick otherwise it would be a good idea (if their not restricted in your area) to get a red mangrove seedling or two.
 
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Brown stuff coming out of the mouth and droopyness are usually signs that it is expelling waste. Although it is a little bleached, it doesn't look to be in bad shape. Leave it in your dt. No qt necessary.
 
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