Nursing a Magnifica back to health

[E.J. Coral]

I went to go check out an anemone that was for sale on craigslist. From the decription it sounded like a GBTA, which i felt would be perfect for my AP24 BTA species tank. When I got there I was shocked to find a 10" H. magnifica bleached and half sucked in to a power filter. It had been
in the tank for 6+ months, under NO flouros,and was still alive. Aparently it had been eating all the owners fish and he was tired of it! I decided to make an attemp to rescue the animal. It was doomed in this guys tank. Don't get me wrong, he was a very nice guy .... but the dude asked me to wash my hands with soap before I put them in the tank to get my "plant.":eek2: :eek2:

So this post is concerned with:
1. nursing this thing back to health
2. if 1 is succesful, setting up a species tank

1. Currently the anemone is badly bleached. It is however sticky, and it attached to subrate immediatly upon adition to the tank. There is a single tear on the foot wich is clean and doesn't seem to be infected. I will post a pic as soon as I figure out how
Should I feed it ... if so, what should I feed it? Should I have a full light cycle. Is there anything else that i can do?
Tank stats:
-NEW TANK... mature enough for a small BTA, but not for a 10" Mag
-150w DE MH
-3 MJs on a wavemaker and a mj1200 as a return from my chiller

2. If by some chance this guy makes it, I will set up a species tank. Will a 24"x24"x~18" tank be adequate? It would need to be shallow because I only have this 150w HQI and a 2x175w retro kit available. What about flow, wavemaking, and skimming ... I need to do this on a shoestring budget, so any suggestions are welcome.

 

[traveller7]

It would be best to find an experienced anemone keeper with a ready tank, but if that is absolutely not an option:

If the 6+ months is reliable, the worst is over and the next challenge is well at hand.

Small, new tank, is going to swing in parameters quite substantially, and possibly mortally.

Magnifica wants to be on rock, build a pile straight up in the middle of the tank, directly under the point lighting source. don't let the rock pile touch the sides although your tank is not likely deep enough to keep a wandering mag on the rock.

Allow it to adjust to the 150DE slowly over the next weeks, too much and it will race to the bottom of the tank. Place some screens, raise the hood, or try to reduce the light times to a few hours on...few off, few on, etc.

See if it will eat some mysis, or other smallish meaty food. Frequent small feedings now are going to be better then a large meal it spits out overnight and pollutes the small tank. Keeping it eating consistently is good, cut lancefish/silversides(1cmx1cm) should be started very shortly.

Greatest immediate concerns:

- it will find a powerhead intake fast....cover them, cover the heater.
- it will slime up a small tank, pollute it fast, etc. Have new saltwater always on hand, and small frequent changes which maintain pH, SG, etc., are good.

fwiw next tank: shallow tank, right bulb, 175wt is sufficient, but you want a tall enough rock pile that the magnifica decides not to go to the bottom in the hope of finding a structure closer to the light. A pillar with a flat top is the target. Personally, I would try a 250wt system and go a bit deeper with the tank, say 24" minimum

If on a budget, a natural wave timer with some small alternating air pumps driving air stones generated quite a bit of flow in my 60gal. Cheap and anemone safe, but makes quite a mess

 

[E.J. Coral]

Thanks for the input.

I am actually quite experienced with anemones, but not with Mags ... and not with anemones that have wondered into filter intakes, nor with ones that have huge gashes on there foot:rollface:

This tanks is set up for BTAs so no heaters or PHs present.

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[SVXH6]

can you get a pic of the injury? like you already said, it is bleached badly. i personally would feed as much and as often as it would accept food(silversides, mysis, fresh shrimp, or scallops soaked in selcon would be great). but also with that you will have to stay on top of water changes. is there a skimmer on this tank?

 

[E.J. Coral]

Sorry, no pic of the gash as it is on the underside and I don't want to disturb the animal.

I only have a CPR backpak on the tank , but I also have a HOB filter jam packed with chaeto and rubble.

I plan on putting some macro in the display to help with nutrient export, as well as 25% water changes with NSW every other day.

I will try to feed it in a few days ... I want to give the biological filter a few days to catch up...

Any other opinions on acclimation to light ...do I really need to go easy on it?

 

[OrionN]

Stressed H. magnifica does better with less light. I would leave the light as is and feed the anemone. Once he is eatting then slowly increase light level.
I know a friend who owns a LFS. He told me that at the LFS, the mortality of H. magnifica is much less if he use low light (NO) than VHO or MH. Once he recovered from his injury, you need to increase light level to the brightest you can afford, and keep the temp of the tank stable. They would be much happier with at least 250 W. Mine thrive with 400 W MH.

 

[E.J. Coral]

Thanks. I guess that i will go easy on the light!

I have started to get quotes on tanks ... just in case this guy makes it. Looking to get a 60 cube. Is this enough? I am also getting quotes on a 30x30x18 custom ..... The tank will only house the H. mag. and two clowns .... and maybe some quick growing stuff on the barebottom, but that is it.

 

[OrionN]

I have a 30X30X24 that I plan to use to set up a system for either H. magnifica or S. gigantea. I think this is a perfect size for an large anemone like these two species.
Your anemone seem beautiful. I hope he will make it. Lots of flow, lots of light and clean water is what he need.

 

[E.J. Coral]

Well the mag took two pieces of siversides yesterday

I still haven't been able to get a picture of the cut, but I got a better look at it. It's 1" long in the vertical direction around halfway up the base. I have been cycling the lights 2hrs on/off and the anemone has stayed on the top of the rockwork. This guy better survive, I just ordered a 60 cube

Still trying to get the flow right. Here is a quick video and pic of the beautiful red base:

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[elegance coral]

Thats a beautiful anemone. I sure hope he makes it. Good luck.