I just took over someone's 20g reef tank w/ 10g refugium. I was a bit worried by the anemone in there but he says he hasn't had problems. I know they are sensitive to water quality and can move around and adversely other corals. When I got the tank the anemone was attached to a piece of rock which I put in the corner of the tank. He seemed to be ok for the first 14 hours or so but now he has moved out into the front of the tank on the glass near the sandbed. I really would prefer having him in that corner, but I don't know how I would convince him to stay. Also, how would I move an anemone?! I am thinking gently with a rubber glove, I don't know how bad they sting, etc. Obviously I don't know much about anemones and have never had to care for one before. Any tips from anyone on making him happy, healthy, and less disruptive?
Moving anemone stressing me out
- Thread starter cblack
- Start date
Ok, posting again, just kind of stressed out over this, perhaps more than I should be, and I know that patience in reefkeeping is important so I don't want to do anything rash like move him incorrectly...
My next question is how dangerous a wandering anemone is to other tank inhabitants? I am mostly concerned with the corals (all softies such as mushrooms, davil's hand, star polyps, etc). If the anemone touches them will they be damaged or will they adjust and be ok?
My next question is how dangerous a wandering anemone is to other tank inhabitants? I am mostly concerned with the corals (all softies such as mushrooms, davil's hand, star polyps, etc). If the anemone touches them will they be damaged or will they adjust and be ok?
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My brave wife got home and moved the anemone very carefully off the glass and onto it's original rock (no tears, etc). I've been watching it since and it seems to have attached fairly quickly. It has it's tentacles wide out and seems very "big" right now. I don't know how to interpret this. I am used to soft corals shrinking when stressed (I know, totally different), but I don't know about anemones. I do know that a moving anemone is usually a sign that it is looking for a better location. I adjusted the powerhead a bit in hopes that this might help him be more satisfied.
I'm still tracking some of this info down, I don't know the type of anenome, but it is light pink with tapering tentacles (not a BTA, not a rose). As for lights I have a T5 white and an HO actinic. I have a socket for an additional T5 bulb but the original owner said he has been doing fine with the current set up. As for waterflow, I have a return from the refugium as well as a siphon/drain in addition to a 550 powerhead and a whisper filter. Salinity is around 20, I haven't checked everything else yet, everything else in the tank seems to be doing great though.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
For your salinity I am assuming you mean it is 1.020 --- if so, that is too low, should be around 1.025/6. That might be part of the issue. What wattage are the T5s? Depending on what type the anemone is, that MIGHT not be enough.
A picture would help a lot in determining what type of anemone it is. From how you described it, it might be a Condy, but that is purely a guess.
I kept my previous tank at around 24-26 (1.02x as you said). This one came in at 20-21 and that is how the previous owner said he kept it. I can raise the salinity but want to do so somewhat slowly. I'll look into more details about the lights, but these are the lights the previous person had with this tank and anemone for months with success.
And of course the anemone found the intake to a powerhead... sigh. Oh well, very little damage as it had a long screenish cover on it and I discovered it quickly. I turned the PH off, waited for him to get extricated (fairly quick) and then relocated the PH. Since then he has moved further into the corner so he is a bit obscured. I am happy letting him settle there for awhile where he can be stable and stay out of trouble until we get some more rock and figure out a good permanent place for him.
Check out this document there is tons of info on anemones along with some photos to help you identify it.
From what you are describing it sounds like the anemone is not happy with something about the tank and is causing it to wander trying to find somewhere it is happy at. Moving it back will just stress it more and it is just going to move again. You need to resolve whatever is not making it happy.
Tank Parameters (Salinity, NO3, PO4, Temp, etc..), Lighting, flow... You need to make sure everything is stable and within an acceptable range. Small tanks change fast and require a closer watch to make sure they stay stable. Test everything and figure out what's causing it to stress. If your salinity is really 1.020 you need to raise it! I have no experience with raising salinity but I would imagine you want to do it very slowly, for your top of water use SW mixed to 1.025/6 instead of RO/DI water.
From what you are describing it sounds like the anemone is not happy with something about the tank and is causing it to wander trying to find somewhere it is happy at. Moving it back will just stress it more and it is just going to move again. You need to resolve whatever is not making it happy.
Tank Parameters (Salinity, NO3, PO4, Temp, etc..), Lighting, flow... You need to make sure everything is stable and within an acceptable range. Small tanks change fast and require a closer watch to make sure they stay stable. Test everything and figure out what's causing it to stress. If your salinity is really 1.020 you need to raise it! I have no experience with raising salinity but I would imagine you want to do it very slowly, for your top of water use SW mixed to 1.025/6 instead of RO/DI water.
bassist6108
New member
He will keep finding your powerhead. You need to either remove it, or do something to ensure that when he does he doesn't get munched up.
05TurboS2K
New member
I use that EXACT same square piece myself. 
When I checked this morning he had moved over another few inches. I don't think he'll find a good place on the other side of the tank so I'll just protect the PH intake. I do have a pump intake sponge type of thing I can use, I guess I will put that on tonight.
I read a few articles about trying to get an anemone to settle. I read about ppl caging them or tying them down to a rock but I'd rather let him find his own spot. I also read that they often stay if they are on a rock peak as they won't go AWAY from the lights to move. Any other tips or thoughts on my 1st anemone adventure?
I read a few articles about trying to get an anemone to settle. I read about ppl caging them or tying them down to a rock but I'd rather let him find his own spot. I also read that they often stay if they are on a rock peak as they won't go AWAY from the lights to move. Any other tips or thoughts on my 1st anemone adventure?
this one article stated if its foot is big and long enough then you can find a rock with a hole deep enough in it.
Place the anemone into the clean hole and it will adjust.
They like to position themselves to hide their feet.
I'll take some pictures tomorrow to show the hole I put one anemone and it was like potting a plant.
Place the anemone into the clean hole and it will adjust.
They like to position themselves to hide their feet.
I'll take some pictures tomorrow to show the hole I put one anemone and it was like potting a plant.
Thanks for the tip. Do you think you could find the article? The pics you mentioned would be great too. I am not sure I want to force him to move to the hole, and I really don't know if it is big enough (probably about 2-3cm in diameter and 2cm deep). I am hoping he either stays where he is or finds the hole near him, we shall see. One somewhat worrying situation is that he is kind of between two rocks, which means if either of them move/fall a bunch he may be damaged if he is attached to both.
