"stopping" a roaming carpet

[mayjong]

is it possible?
nem is slowly moving, and since it's about 24" across, that is not a good thing! i have too much other livestock it can damage...
it has come into conflict with my torch coral, it seems as though the torch is "winning" the battle, as the nem withdraws away from it any time they actually touch each other. the torch appears unaffected.
wifey will freak out if i try to remove the nem (which i wouldn't mind, it sure would give me a lot more room for coral!)
the "foot" is partially under a large "base" piece of LR , and seems to be slowly moving farther under it. could it move the whole pile of rock (probably 20-30lb)? i can't take a rockslide, it would be horrific...
i think it is because i have cut back on feeding it. i only feed it once a week, a piece (homemade fish, shrimp, squid mix) about 1" square. i cut back on the food because it was getting so big. should i feed more?

what to do?!?!?!?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Is this a Haddoni or a Gig?

Have you changed anything in the tank lately (( besides feeding the anemone less, which I would be surprised was causing this ))?

The only times my Haddonis have moved are;

Change in flow -- increasing the flow, or even just moving an existing powerhead an inch.

The clowns digging up the sandbed around it.

Another fish and/or invert picking on it.

For good measure, what are your current water parameters, with numbers. And what lights do you have -- how old

 

[E.intheC]

I actually have a question related to Todd's answer.. would you consider a Vortech that's on Reef Crest to be a "change in flow" ?? I mean.. the flow does technically change at some random intervals, but the powerhead positions stays the same. I don't mean manually increasing the flow either.

Thanks.

 

[E.intheC]

Double Post

 

[Toddrtrex]

I actually have a question related to Todd's answer.. would you consider a Vortech that's on Reef Crest to be a "change in flow" ?? I mean.. the flow does technically change at some random intervals, but the powerhead positions stays the same. I don't mean manually increasing the flow either.

Thanks.

I have never used those pumps, so not sure what "Reef Crest" mode does.

However, in my 75 I have 2 MJ sure flows -- on opposite sides of the tank -- each one is on for 10 minutes, and then the other one is on. That hasn't bothered the Haddoni in that tank.

In my 58, I have 2 SEIOs (( 620 & 820 )) that are on the same side of the tank. They are both on a wave maker and come on/off at random times -- they stay in the same position and the flow rate stays the same.

Not sure if that helps or not.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How long have you had it in this tank?

 

[E.intheC]

I have never used those pumps, so not sure what "Reef Crest" mode does.

However, in my 75 I have 2 MJ sure flows -- on opposite sides of the tank -- each one is on for 10 minutes, and then the other one is on. That hasn't bothered the Haddoni in that tank.

In my 58, I have 2 SEIOs (( 620 & 820 )) that are on the same side of the tank. They are both on a wave maker and come on/off at random times -- they stay in the same position and the flow rate stays the same.

Not sure if that helps or not.

Thanks Todd, that helps

Reefcrest mode essentially just slowly (usually it's a slow change) ramps the flow up and down throughout the day in an effort to "simulate a reef environment". They describe reef crest as a higher energy type flow.. I bet its very similar to your setup in this context.

 

[mayjong]

thanks all-
i believe its a Haddoni (no bumps on bottom side of disk)
in tank (and same spot) for 6 months.
no powerhead/flow change (unless accidental, but i don't think so)
lights are 3 months old, changed to the same as before ( 1@ 250W MH, 2@65W actenic)
nem is/has been at 45 Degree angle below MH.
parameters steady nitrate 10,PO 5 (i know, i know, i'm trying) CA 450-500,ph 8.4, alk 8-9, temp 82F

there is one thing, but would a nem care about MG? my MG has dropped recently (salt change) to 950. (dropped from 1300-1400 over the past two weeks) i have been bringing it up about 100 pts per day for the last 3 days...
hmmmm, what do you think?


i really can't afford to have this beast move more than another inch or so...

thanks!

 

[mayjong]

here is a pic, the nem and torch coral are the two biggest things in the tank.
for perspective, it's a 150G.
he is moving towards the center of the tank (towards the torch coral)
the only other thing i've added is SPS frags, no where near the nem...
thanks.

 

[mayjong]

oops, here it is

 

[Toddrtrex]

It is a nice looking Haddoni.

Is that a typo for your Phosphate reading? 5 is very very high. .5 would still be on the high side, but more realistic.

I have noticed that my Haddonis will look "off" if the Mag levels fall, but I have never had them that low before. So, there is a chance that it is moving because of that, or something different in the new salt that you are using. There has to be some trace element(s) in the salt that I use, because mine always look better after a water change -- even when all the other parameters that I test for are where they should be.

 

[mayjong]

sorry, yes typo- .5 on phosphate
i have since switched back to my "old" salt after using the "new" for 3 weeks...

 

[mayjong]

3-3-2010 and still moving.
i've had to move my "centerpiece" torch coral.
if the nem reaches my clams (derasa and maxi) he's going to the LFS for credit...
i can't stop it...

 

[elegance coral]

If the flow is not to strong, and you keep up on water changes, he may stop dead center the tank. He's not real upset. A haddoni that's really ticked off with its environment could cross that tank in a day or less. Haddoni's like light. If they detect that the light is stronger on one side than the other, they often move to the brighter side. Your tank is brightest in the center, so that's where I would expect it to go.

The tank is small, and its good that you are testing your water but, like Tod pointed out, don't assume the water is fine just because you can't detect a problem with aquarium test kits. When my haddoni starts acting up, I know its time for a water change, regardless of what the test show. In a tank that small, this problem will be more of an issue.

 

[mayjong]

thanks Elegance.
i'm hoping it will stop at tank center!
btw- that's the first time i've heard my tank called small... it's 150 gallons.

 

[hartnell]

I just adjusted flow on mine and he settled right down

 

[elegance coral]

thanks Elegance.
i'm hoping it will stop at tank center!
btw- that's the first time i've heard my tank called small... it's 150 gallons.

:lmao: My bad! :wildone: In the pic it looks like a nano cube with one MH in the center. Maybe I should start reading the signature line at the bottom of each post.

 

[OrionN]

I bet it was the salt change that cause your anemone to move. Significant chage in it's enviroment.
I hope he stop at dead center of the tank for you.

 

[mayjong]

thanks, the nem is huge!
looks like he has settled a bit, about 1/2 to tank center. i'll post a pic soon...