why do my nens always die

[oysterxfast5]

I had a h crispa and it died on me i had it for a few months but it was brought to my attention that it was bleached from the day i bought it. I was told it was a white h crispa. Is this y it died or was it my tank 30 gal with 1 65 watt antic 1 65 daytime. I would like to get another for my clowns but dont want to spend all the money for it to just die in a month or two. Are BTA's hardy?

 

[lesages]

You really need to post some water parameters. Some Anemones are done for before they leave the LFS but there are a million variables. Being that it was bleached it probably didn't have much luck though.

How did you aclimate it? What are your water params? How old is the tank? Did you feed it?

IMO your lighting is marginal at best, you should look into getting a MH or T5 fixture, you'll have better luck with it.

 

[joker577]

If you are going to keep it plan on keeping it high up in the tank because your lighting is very low, and a number of reasons could be why they die. Water params being the main reason, they are very sensitive to ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates and any quick changes in the water

 

[Coraldynamics]

Re: why do my nens always die

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10388587#post10388587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oysterxfast5
...or was it my tank 30 gal with 1 65 watt antic 1 65 daytime.

You do not have enough light for any anemone that your clowns will likely host in. Bleached anemone "can" be brought around and back to health if you meet their needs. It would be hard to do for anyone in 30g of water and 65w of light.

Soft corals serve as a good surrogate host for most clowns...might check into some palys, zoanthids, green star polyps, low light things like those.

Hope this helps

 

[joker577]

Gsp's...check my "Silly clownfish...corals aren't for hosting!" post.

 

[oysterxfast5]

Well i dont know what my parameters are right now but its 130 watts not 65. the nen died about 3 weeks ago and i have changed 12 gallons since then so i am sure they are better now.

 

[joker577]

Need to get em' checked

 

[Coraldynamics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10390967#post10390967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oysterxfast5
...but its 130 watts not 65.

Yes but 65w is actinic and of no real use to the anemone, if you had both 10,000k 65w then I would consider that 130w of light.

Even that, at 130w of PC lighting is not enough for the anemone. sorry.

 

[lesages]

I agree. I've had a BTA under the same fixture, and I don't recommend it. I've got an Outer Orbit 150w HQI + 130w PC now and everything is dong much better.

The bottom line is you need more, usable light and better control of your water parameters. Wattage doesn't count for much. 150w of Metal Halide light is a million times better than 150w of PC light.

 

[joker577]

Although one guy did raise them successfully under PCs...I know it was like 2x65 over a 46 gallon tank...so alot of the healthiness comes from keeping the water clean

 

[oysterxfast5]

So basicly better water would mean my lights might be fine.

 

[joker577]

Well I would definately look into an upgrade...but nothing can survive without good water quality thats a given

 

[oysterxfast5]

I cant afford anew light so i guess i might just have to go without a nen

 

[joker577]

Check your water first

 

[oysterxfast5]

I usally have good stuff but i only have a hang on back filter and a live sand bed with about 25 pounds of live rock. and i change at least half the water over a month.

 

[joker577]

To keep your levels in check try doing 10% biweekly