Long Tentacle Anemone quick question.....

[MSUschmidt]

So Ive had a FOWLR tank for 2 years. I upgraded to a 180 a few months ago.

Water Parameters

Nitrate 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Ammonia 0 ppm
PH 8.2

So it seems my PH is a bit high.

I Do weekly water changes of 2.5% a week, but then do a large water change once a month.

I got 2 Long Tentacles Anemones I got on Sat. Its now Wed afternoon / evening.

They both stuck almost instantly, but since I have never had one, think one of them the tentacles look a little deflated to me. Shouldnt they be more "inflated"?????

I have them Under a Marineland Reef LED.

I also have two frogspawn, A Kenya Tree, Zoa Rock, and Leather that are all looking great and that I have had for a month.

First pic is of them, second pic is after I used the Food Squirt to shoot some Brine / mysis on them.

Guess my Question is.....does it look like its doing ok Bec I think the Tentacles are laying down instead of floating up?

I have light flow on them

 

[MSUschmidt]

Forgot to add, mouth seems tight. Hes sticky and much wider In my tank the LFS, but tentacles arent "floating" and seem as thick or as full as they should be.

Do I need more flow to get them up and moving or will the animal do it on its own?

 

[zooman72]

I hate to say this again and again, but you should have researched their basic needs before purchasing them - long tentacle anemones prefer to bury their pedal disc and column in deep sand, and need relatively bright/ powerful lighting, which your light does not provide...

 

[MSUschmidt]

I did read up on them....then went to the Fish Store looking to buy a different Anemone.....but the owner instructed me to buy this. When I asked about burrying in the sand, he said sticking in the rocks would be fine.

So thats what I did....its the most well known fish store in my area.

 

[addictedreefer]

I did read up on them....then went to the Fish Store looking to buy a different Anemone.....but the owner instructed me to buy this. When I asked about burrying in the sand, he said sticking in the rocks would be fine.

So thats what I did....its the most well known fish store in my area.

Well your LFS was wrong and I would be wary of taking their advice in the future. LTAs invariably must be placed on the sand where they will dig themselves in. Also, they require stronger lighting than you have. You need to upgrade your lights and place that nem on the sand if you want it to survive long term.

As for ph, I don't know why you are concerned. 8.2 is right in the sweet spot.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

2.5% water change per week? What do you hope to accomplish by changing that small amount of water? I'd think you would evaporate more than that. 10% on a 10 gallon tank is only one gallon. 2.5% is a quart!

You accomplish nothing with this number, where did you get this number from for water changes?

 

[zooman72]

I did read up on them....then went to the Fish Store looking to buy a different Anemone.....but the owner instructed me to buy this. When I asked about burrying in the sand, he said sticking in the rocks would be fine.

So thats what I did....its the most well known fish store in my area.

If you read up on the needs of a LTA, then why are your nems up in the rockwork - because a LFS employee told you, and that supersedes what is considered proper husbandry by most experienced aquarists?

Sorry, but that LFS may be well known, but for what?

As noted above, they were wrong to inform you as such, and I would be hesitant to rely on their "expertise" going forward.

Put them in the sand and address the lighting, take them back, or watch them perish - a month is not long enough to claim success with your corals either...

 

[kjboggs]

Yes, read up some more on lta's, they do prefer to be on the sand, preferably next to rock work. And do need good lighting.
I've had one for years.

 

[OrionN]

I think your tank, specifically your light are not up to par for LTA. In order to keep them you much chage your light and add a sand bed. They don't need a whole lot of curculation, but bright light, stable tank condition and a sand bed are must.
Best of luck with them.