Need Help!!! Nem caught in Vortech.

sonofgaladriel

sonofgaladriel

Shiny!
Came home during lunch break to find my gigantea nem caught in my MP10!
All fish dead, all SPS RTNing, all other corals sliming like crazy.
I have performed a 75% water change, cleaned sump and skimmer. Added some Iodine.
Now, the nem is still caught in the vortech propellor. It has attached its foot to the glass and the part not caught in the vortech is inflacting with fairly decent extension.
I have tried to gently remove the caught portion to no avail. Should I leave it to the nem to work his way out or work harder at freeing him?
What else can I do/add to the tank to help this nem survive?
Please help!
This day really sucks!!!
 
Let him try and work it's way out with the pump off is the advice that I always hear from the pro's. I would also add some fresh carbon (in a reactor preferably) and monitor levels close. If Ammonnia, Nitrite start rising do another water change.
 
Thanks. I have added a full carton of carbon could only put it in one of those filter bags. I don't my BRS reactor yet. I have another round of saltwater ready for more water changes if necessary.
Fingers crossed!
Any more advice would be very appreciated!
 
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I lost a gigantea to an mp-40, it was completely mangled. I just pulled it out of the pump because at that point I was more worried about water flow and the rest of my tank.

I had the pump for about 2 months and that same morning I had taken off the mesh guard.. I think it changed the flow a little, the anemone must have moved around and gotten stuck.

All fish died except my clowns, corals were all fine. I did water changes and added carbon as was suggested already.
 
I just added this guy last night. He is a two year captive specimen.
Knowing it could be trouble, I had the Vortech off all night long while the nem settled in. This morning before leaving for work I noticed that the nem was on the opposite side of the tank, so I figured it was safe to turn on the Vortech on its lowest setting to give him some more flow.
Sure wish I had waited to do that when I got home today.
Biggest and stupid mistake and its cost me dearly.
I sure hope this guys recovers!
 
neoalchemist74 said:
You might want to move the pump and nem to a dark spot to encourage it to move.
Click to expand...
Good idea, but the nem has firmly attached himself to the glass and I'd hate to stress him out more by moving him. I think he's slowly dropping loose the wet side of the vortech.
Would still like to know if feeding him some small bits of mysis would be a good idea or bad idea at this point.
 
From other posts I have read they generally say not to feed it until it is free and is looking a little bit better. I would think trying to feed it now would only add to the stress of the nem but I have no experience in gigs or nems that have wandered into pumps so I am not sure. You could try and PM BonsaiNut, Toddrtrex or elegance coral and see what they have to say, they have been keeps nems for a long time.
 
I would not feed him. Let him pull out and get sorted out. You might be surprised that the damage is less severe than you think. I've had anemones recover from HORRIFIC damage, so hope is not lost - as long as the tank conditions are good. I am a little concerned when you say the rest of the tank is crashing(?) Is it a small tank?
 
BonsaiNut said:
I would not feed him. Let him pull out and get sorted out. You might be surprised that the damage is less severe than you think. I've had anemones recover from HORRIFIC damage, so hope is not lost - as long as the tank conditions are good. I am a little concerned when you say the rest of the tank is crashing(?) Is it a small tank?
Click to expand...

Thank you for the positive words! I am not giving up all hope just yet. But I only have one type of luck, and that's BAD luck. :spin2:
I was a bit premature in my assumption that the tank was crashing. First panic reaction to the situation.
It appears that I may have caught this fiasco in time to save most of the corals (small 1 to 2 inch frags mostly). They were initially covered in slime and nem remnants, but with the water change, some cleaning, and plenty of random flow placed back on them, they seem to be weathering the storm so far. I have only definitely lost one small frag that was right under the trapped nem.
Of course, all the fish died, except for the hosting clowns, a fire shrimp, and a coral banded shrimp.
Wet side of the vortech is stil trapped but appears to be loosening a bit as time goes by.
I will avoid feeding it.
Thanks to everyone so far for the advice and communication. It is great to know that there are you guys out there to help!
Sean
 
Here are some pics of the nem as of now. Almost 8 hours after it was discovered trapped in the Vortech. What do you guys think? Does it look like damage he can recover from?
gigantea2.jpg

gigantea1.jpg

gigantea3.jpg
 
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My gigantea wandered into my tunze once. The edges of its tentacles got sheared off but the foot and mouth were spared. It made a full recovery within a month. Hard to tell from the photos but the foot and mouth look okay on yours, that being said the damage could have been worse. Nems are very resilient, just keep up your water params and run carbon and you should (cross your fingers) be okay
 
It almost looks like a mag not a gig. But the damage from the pump really dont look that bad. It should recover in no time.
 
I was able to gently pull the last remaining trapped portions from the Vortech this morning. This is by far the worst damaged section. Its pretty chewed up along this particular edge.
At least the damage was focused along the edges and not more sensitive areas like the mouth or foot.
The nem is still holding up pretty good considering what its been through. The foot is full and firmly attached to the glass, all unaffected areas are full, reactive, and sticky.
I am providing plenty of gentle to a bit moderate flow in the tank, but nothing directly at the nem. Hosting clowns appear to be gentle and not causing it any more harm.
I'll keep tabs on the water chemistry and post some progression pics of its condition.
All other corals are looking good this morning! :dance:
More good news is that the Vortech still works. I was worried that it being frozen for who knows how long would have worn something out. I've got it moved to a more reclusive part of the tank and set on a very very low setting. It would be very hard pressed for the nem to get caught in it again. I'll be looking for some kind of additional screen to place over it for protection asap.

Thanks again all for the input and advice! You guys are great!
Sean
 
1fishkeeper said:
It almost looks like a mag not a gig. But the damage from the pump really dont look that bad. It should recover in no time.
Click to expand...
There are times that from the front and top it does very much resemble a Magnifica, one of the reasons I was particularly drawn to this specimen. Mags are by far my favorite of marine organisms and I've been looking for a healthy one for years!
This one is definitely a gigantea and better yet that is has been a perfect specimen in captivity for over two years now.
I'll post some better pics of the base later today to verify. It has a beautiful bright blue foot with the purple spots.
It was just chance that a local reefer put this guy up for sale a few days ago and I was first to commit to it. God I hope I didn't do it in!
 
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