How often do nems poop?

[BigGimp77]

Figured I'd update the thread.

Went a week doing many water changes. 5 gallon changes for a day for a whole week. Skimmed extra wet.

It took my nitrates down to zero. Everything else it still in check. So if anything my water is now better then it was 1.5 weeks ago.

Nem hasn't looked any better. In fact it's probably doing worse. It's pooped/expelled zoo the past 3 days in a row! I'm guessing that he isn't too found of my nem crabs. They can be kinda rough with him at times (although they do a good job of eating the stuff he expels)

How do you counter expelling zooth? From what I recall, they do this to get energy because they are unable to produce enough from sunlight. To counter this you are usually supposed to feed them more often until they are able to feed themselves. However, the nem tends to spit up probably 50% of what I feed him.

The only thing left for my to alter would be my lights, but they 'should' be adequate enough.

I have begun setting up my New 120g tank. It should be ready by late October/early November. I know your not supposed put anemones in brand new tanks, but in this case should I? It's defiantly not happy in it's current tank. The new tank will have better lighting (ATI Power module), more flow (Tunze 6065), and more rock work to find an ideal spot.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears!

 

[BigGimp77]

He did it again last night. Oh NOES:sad1:

 

[elegance coral]

He'll probably keep doing it until you get the nutrient level under control or he dies.

 

[BigGimp77]

Ugh he did it again. It's an every day thing now it seems. Lights come on he looks terrible... Lights go off and he gets better.

What else can I do? Water parameters are great. I've tried multiple water changes to no affect. Anyone have any thoughts?

How would I got about reducing my 'nutrients' other then water changes? What nutrient would cause this?

 

[bues0022]

Did I read correctly that you have a 37 gallon tank, 30 gallon sump, and you do a 5 gallon water change on the weekends? You're doing roughly a 7% water change. Bring that percentage up to 15% at the least - especially since you are having problems. I also would give it a big water change - 50% and that might do something. What kind of water are you using (tap, RO/DI), salt mix? how long has the tank been setup? Do you have any copper or brass fittings in the tank anywhere?

 

[BigGimp77]

Did I read correctly that you have a 37 gallon tank, 30 gallon sump, and you do a 5 gallon water change on the weekends? You're doing roughly a 7% water change. Bring that percentage up to 15% at the least - especially since you are having problems. I also would give it a big water change - 50% and that might do something. What kind of water are you using (tap, RO/DI), salt mix? how long has the tank been setup? Do you have any copper or brass fittings in the tank anywhere?

I appreciate the reply man!

I've been doing them more frequently ( everyday for a whole week to see if that helped). It's not a total of 67 gallons total. The sump isnt filled to the brim and there was alotta LR in there. I imagine I have close to 50 gallons total water volume. 5 gallons weekly is roughly 20% bi-weekly. I didn't think that is too bad. But I will probably do a 50% water change tonight just to see what happens!

Ro/di water, instan ocean salt, no copper or the like used in the plumping. Unless the screws in the canopy/stand are brass that would be the only place. But all other inverts are healthy so idk if it's a metal issue. Tank is about 7-8 months old.

 

[elegance coral]

Ugh he did it again. It's an every day thing now it seems. Lights come on he looks terrible... Lights go off and he gets better.

What else can I do? Water parameters are great. I've tried multiple water changes to no affect. Anyone have any thoughts?

How would I got about reducing my 'nutrients' other then water changes? What nutrient would cause this?

You have cyanobacteria and maybe some diatoms. These are high nutrient organisms. They are an indication that nutrients are high, even if you can't detect them with test kits. Nutrients like phosphate will help fuel the growth of these organisms and the zooxanthellae inside your anemone. Sometimes it can be difficult to reduce nutrients like phosphate, because it can bind to the calcium carbonate of your LR and sand. It can be done in time though. You will have to do more than just change water. You will have to clean the tank with every water change. Remove the algae from the rocks. Remove as much detritus as possible. No matter where it is. Blow the rocks off with a power head and use a gravel vac on the sand. Detritus will simply rot and feed nutrients to the system. It has to go. The algae is the same way. If you remove it, you remove the nutrients it holds. If it's left in the tank, it will die, rot, and feed its nutrients back to the system.

 

[BigGimp77]

You have cyanobacteria and maybe some diatoms. These are high nutrient organisms. They are an indication that nutrients are high, even if you can't detect them with test kits. Nutrients like phosphate will help fuel the growth of these organisms and the zooxanthellae inside your anemone. Sometimes it can be difficult to reduce nutrients like phosphate, because it can bind to the calcium carbonate of your LR and sand. It can be done in time though. You will have to do more than just change water. You will have to clean the tank with every water change. Remove the algae from the rocks. Remove as much detritus as possible. No matter where it is. Blow the rocks off with a power head and use a gravel vac on the sand. Detritus will simply rot and feed nutrients to the system. It has to go. The algae is the same way. If you remove it, you remove the nutrients it holds. If it's left in the tank, it will die, rot, and feed its nutrients back to the system.

Thanks for the response !!

Thats an older picture. I have since gotten my Cyano under control doing exactly what you said and skimming extra wet. Sucking up Cyano every week was such a pain :sad2:.There is a little bit left on the sand bed but is disappearing on its own. I think the 5 gallons a day water changes really pushed me over the top in the battle with it.

It used to be that I'd clean it on Sunday and it would be 100% back on Wednesday. However, I havent cleaned the rock/sand for about a week and a half and its been going good! I will probably remove the last little bit on the sand this Sunday.

I bought a phosphate test recently and it has been reading zero, but that could obviously be due to the algae using up the nutrients and coming back zero.

If the nem continues to be unhappy, should I consider throwing it in my new 120G tank after it's cycle is done? It's unwise to put a nem in a knew tank, but idk if he could be as unhappy as he is right now.