Roaming Anemone

[LoneStar45]

I have a green bubble anemone that cant seem to get situated. He is roaming around and this has me worried about him rubbing up against my corals. He is presenlty laying on my Chili coral as he makes his way around a rock. Will he hurt my corals on his journey?

 

[sundance1]

Mine did the same thing,I chased him around the tank moving corals out of his way.He finally settled down and hasn't moved for months.

 

[ahill3780]

Your question would probably find a better answer in the Clownfish and Anemone forum but here is a link that will give you some ideas on what you can do to make him happy and settle him down.

The Anemone FAQ

 

[conda]

Mine does that every four months or so. Each time he moved he got stuck in my intake strainer of the canister filter. Beleive it or not, each time he recovered.

 

[rbp 4 135]

make sure that all of your perameters are in check. also they will often wander to the highest point of a rock work. Is your lighting sufficent?

 

[Blown 346]

While the Anemone is moving about yes it can sting and damage corals that it comes into contact with.

 

[TippyToeX]

An anemone that is moving around is unhappy for some reason.

How is your water quality? Lighting?

 

[LoneStar45]

No, I have 3 250w MH;s on it. I put him up high and he moved to the back of the tank. I also have a carpet anemone that is doing great. I put him at the bottom of the tank and he is staying put.
All water parameters check out.

 

[Amphiprion]

I agree with TippyToeX, something is amiss to cause the anemone to move. In the wild, if an anemone is forced to move (lack of food, microhabitat, proper flow, or light) it generally means certain death (though it is certainly not the same scenario in the aquarium, it just serves to show that anemones only move if they absolutely must). It will sting corals that are in its path, so that poses one problem. How long have you had it? Give some concrete numbers for your parameters. Try feeding the animal also, as this is one of the more common reasons, besides flow, for its movement.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that it's probably moving for a reason. What are you feeding it?

 

[LoneStar45]

I had been putting Mysis shrimp in on Mondays and Fridays and I alternate Zooplankton and Phytoplankton a couple time a week.
My No3 is borderline and I do water changes about once a week. My ph is 8.5-8.6. I have to buffer it down after water changes. Nitrate/nitrite is 0, Calcium is 400. Alk is 2.9, phosphate is 0.
I know he is stressed. His mouth is also hanging open.
Any ideas? When and/or if he croaks, will he poison the tank?

 

[Amphiprion]

I don't think the pH being that high is helping it out much, but you are making the effort to get it down. Why don't you try lowering pH before adding new seawater to the tank? That way you aren't shifting the pH of the tank (much). I can't say that this is the reason for your anemone's general "unhappiness", but definitely work on that. Keep trying to feed and even step up the feeding. Don't bother feeding it any of the planktonic-style foods--you will need a lot of them (and anemones don't generally eat phytoplankton). Feed them meaty foods like the mysis shrimp, cut table shrimp, silversides, krill, and the like usually at least 3 times a week for an unhealthy anemone.

 

[schristi69]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6574048#post6574048 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LoneStar45
I had been putting Mysis shrimp in on Mondays and Fridays and I alternate Zooplankton and Phytoplankton a couple time a week.
My No3 is borderline and I do water changes about once a week. My ph is 8.5-8.6. I have to buffer it down after water changes. Nitrate/nitrite is 0, Calcium is 400. Alk is 2.9, phosphate is 0.
I know he is stressed. His mouth is also hanging open.
Any ideas? When and/or if he croaks, will he poison the tank?

Feed you anenome a small chunk of fish/shrip/clam/etc 2-3 times a week. It is probably starving and looking for food.

 

[Jasonanatal]

I agree with the consensus that you should have a moderator move this thread into the appropriate section of Reef Central so that you can get positive remarks concerning your issue. I would try lowering your PH level to no higher then 8.3 and adjust your feeding habits to provide the appropriate level of nutrition for the Anemone hopefully in time it will settle down and stay put.

 

[bertoni]

Hmm, sounds like a reasonable feeding schedule, and the lighting sounds fine. The BTAs often like less light than full MH, so moving to the back of the tank isn't surprising.

Are you target feeding the anemone? I feed mine silversides and krill, and place the food on the tentacles. I always wear gloves when I feed.

The pH is a bit high. What salt are you using, and what does the pH of the salt read after it's been aerated for a while. I use Crystal Seas salt, and it mixes to a high pH (around 9.2 or something like that), but it drops to 8.3 after some time with water circulation.

Also, how are you measuring pH? I am wondering whether there might not be some measurement error. What are you using to lower the pH?

 

[Jasonanatal]

I would suggest maybe using a chemical PH Buffer such as the Seachem PH Buffer. Using it weekly or Bi-weekly will regulate your PH levels and their is no worry of over doing the chemical it will top out at 8.3. It's great stuff in my opinion.

 

[LoneStar45]

Im using a hagen test kit for Ph. To lower it, Ive been using an acid base ph down made by APi. Just some generic product. I'm not real comforatble with using it in a reef system. As to the other reply, on the seachem buffer, I thought those buffers raised the ph. Is there one that lowers it safely?

 

[Jasonanatal]

Seachem PH Buffer will do the trick and its reef safe.

 

[bertoni]

The SeaChem buffer products will tend to raise the pH, at least the ones I've seen will.

I think it might be worth double-checking your pH test kit against another, since kits do go bad from time to time.

Are you adding any products to the saltwater besides the pH Down?

 

[TippyToeX]

This is all in your 150 right? Along with the carpet anemone. Try a search in the clownfish anemone forum. You will find that there are times the two will not mix at all. Chemical aggress (you would not be able to see it, only it'e affects) is something to consider.