does anybody know their way around a saltwater tank? need help!

i just got a long tentacle anemone (sp?) the day before yesterday. yesterday it kinda deflated and tucked itself in for a while but then inflated and went back to beautiful!:sunny: but, then this morning, i got up and checked on it and it's not anchored to anything. just kinda laying on the floor, rolling around a little bit... is it normal? should i pick it up and set it upright? leave it alone?

i posted on an aquarium site and have gotten no answers so i decided to try my luck here since there's always someone that knows something about everything! lol!

You are probably going to have to give a lot more information about your setup for anyone to try to help you :)

Its been awhile since I had Salt in the water. From what I can remember they are really touchy to water chem., no ammonia, no nitrIte, the such. How old is your tank?
If they are not happy w/ were they are at, to much current, not enough current they will move. Maybe that is what is going on, or could still be getting used to your tanks chem.
I would probably test the water to see where you are on ammonia etc.
I hope this helps.

I have over 1000 gallons of SW tanks...but Rap is right we need your setup info.


Specifically:
lighting
salinity
flow rate
age of setup
filtration type
other inhabitants

I can tell you an anemone that is just bouncing along the bottom is dying so you need to get it wedge in a rock somewhere near the light.

To clarify this last point about wedging it in a rock...it needs to be a rock on the bottom with the substrate as the anemone needs to anchor in the sand

well, it's a 55gal. i checked all the chem levels, salinity, temp, etc and everything is good. we have live aragonite as substrate as well as live rock. the light is "ocean sun" 10,000k, which i was told was bright enough for the anamone. tank mates include yellow-tailed blue damsels, an algae blenny, a maroon clown, and 5 cortez crabs. they are all flourishing.

It's been awhile since I had anemones (sp?), but it seems like different ones need different care and lighting. I know placement in the tank is important, lighting, water flow, anchoring etc. If they don't like the placement for any of those reasons, they will try to change their position and can become loose. I remember a couple of mine moving from a spot I put them to a couple rocks closer to the light and then they were fine.

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Originally Posted by python.princess

well, it's a 55gal. i checked all the chem levels, salinity, temp, etc and everything is good. we have live aragonite as substrate as well as live rock. the light is "ocean sun" 10,000k, which i was told was bright enough for the anamone. tank mates include yellow-tailed blue damsels, an algae blenny, a maroon clown, and 5 cortez crabs. they are all flourishing.

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Unfortunately whoever told you that 10K on a 55g was enough for a long tentacle was enough is mistaken. These particular anemones need Halides to survive as they use photosythsis to gain more nutrients. They also require VERY deep sand beds in order to achor is. They also have ZERO tolerance for any organic waste...which means if you don't have a protein skimmer and change water weekly it won't survive.

Finally, it you can get it to anchor and open up it will pry eat all your other fish and crabs (except the clown).

Sorry I don't have better news. :(

the specific gravity is 1.024
ph is 8.4
ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite are all at 0.

the tank has been set up for a little over 4 months

we have a seaclone protein skimmer and i'm not sure what kind of filter we have. we also have two powerheads but i don't know the exact flow rate (matt could probably tell you but he's not home)

How much is the skimmer pulling out?

Personally I would say that 4 months is a really short time in the world of SW as your sand bed won't have matured enough yet to support the load you have in the tank. How much live rock do you have? (in pounds). How deep is the argonite bed...it is large pieces or the really small crushed stuff (looks like sand)?

Also, what type of long tentacle did you get? green tip, super color or purple?

we have about 12 lbs of live rock. the bed is crushed into sand and is about 3 inches deep. i think we've emptied the collection cup of the skimmer like 5 times... i don't know how much that is.


and, also, i'm not sure what type of long tentacle it is. didn't say. it doesn't sound like any you mentioned though. it's a soft pink color.

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Originally Posted by python.princess

we have about 12 lbs of live rock. the bed is crushed into sand and is about 3 inches deep. i think we've emptied the collection cup of the skimmer like 5 times... i don't know how much that is.


and, also, i'm not sure what type of long tentacle it is. didn't say. it doesn't sound like any you mentioned though. it's a soft pink color.

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If it is pink is pry a super color. They are very picky and stress easily. You can try and "help" him to latch onto a rock in the sand but it is tricky (also keep in mind they have a potent sting so wear gloves)

How does the foot look? It should be a nice pink color and not torn or damaged in anyway. When the dealer got him out of the tank was he careful or just pull him out?

Honestly, like we would tell new BP owners, your tank really isn't setup correctly to support an anemone. I can help you but it will be too late to save this guy (as you need better lighting, lots more rock, and time to stablize it). Most anemones unless in very large tanks with excellent husbandry don't live more then 3 months or so.

his boot looks good. it's a deep pink color. not ripped or torn at all. we'll probably just have to take it back.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

If it is pink is pry a super color. They are very picky and stress easily. You can try and "help" him to latch onto a rock in the sand but it is tricky (also keep in mind they have a potent sting so wear gloves)

How does the foot look? It should be a nice pink color and not torn or damaged in anyway. When the dealer got him out of the tank was he careful or just pull him out?

Honestly, like we would tell new BP owners, your tank really isn't setup correctly to support an anemone. I can help you but it will be too late to save this guy (as you need better lighting, lots more rock, and time to stablize it). Most anemones unless in very large tanks with excellent husbandry don't live more then 3 months or so.

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Honestly you shouldn't have to "help" an anemone anchor...they are designed to roam around...find a spot they like and anchor their own foot. Long tentacles in particular are substrate anchoring anemones.... If the anemone is laying with its foot upwards...it is most likely damaged from shipping...or careless handling, what the anemone is doing is putting its foot upwards to help it heal....so at this point flipping it over isn't going to help. You need to make sure the water chemistry stays pristine...or it will just fade away.

However 10k lighting means nothing other than the temperature (color) of light that it is putting out. I'm guessing it it a NO fluorescent fixture....which IMO is no where near the lighting needs of an anemone. Long tentacles are often kept under compact fluorescent lighting....and even better VHOs, HO T5s, and Metal Halides... all of which can use a wide temperature (Kelvin) range...6500k-20000k-actinics. Just gives you a different look to the tank. Shallow water to real deep water.

And Jackal, with over 1000 gallons of saltwater in your care...I would think you of all people would know better than keeping anemones is not impossible in smaller tanks...it just makes it much more difficult. I've kept a Green Bubble tip anemone for now 1 year in a 12 gallon nano under Power Compacts...however I do also do 25% waterchanges every 3 days.

You also need to dig up some articles on lighting. MH in my honest opinion is great but you can have HOT5 fixtures that do just as good if not better as far as coral growth and color...and I've seen $$$ carpet anemones doing wonderfully under VHOs.

I could keep going...:rolleyes: Saltwater is my other passion....so if you want to keep throwing out advice feel free...

Python.princess, I'm sorry you're not having luck with your LTA (long tentacle anemone)...but your tank isn't currently properly set up to meet its needs. Check out some HOT5 fixtures...they are relatively lower cost than Metal Halides...and you should be able to keep most corals (depending on the fixture) and Long tentacle and bubble tip anemones no problem. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

-Jason

well, now matt just came home for a few minutes and is determined to go buy a better light, more live rock, etc to try and save it. how much chance is there???

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Originally Posted by python.princess

well, now matt just came home for a few minutes and is determined to go buy a better light, more live rock, etc to try and save it. how much chance is there???

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All live rock is going to do is increase the bio filtration of your tank...i.e add more denitrifying bacteria, detrivores, and the like....and if your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are all 0 like you said...that is ideal for the anemone.

If the live rock that you add is not fully cured then you're just going to make your tank go into another small cycle.

If the foot on the anemone is damaged there may not be a way to save it...

good luck, keep me posted.

-Jason

so, what exactly would you suggest besides taking it back? (i can't convince him to do it) better light, obviously. anything else?


i just checked on it again and it's upright, but not anchored. it's starting to open back up a little bit...

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Originally Posted by JBallPython

Honestly you shouldn't have to "help" an anemone anchor...they are designed to roam around...find a spot they like and anchor their own foot. Long tentacles in particular are substrate anchoring anemones.... If the anemone is laying with its foot upwards...it is most likely damaged from shipping...or careless handling, what the anemone is doing is putting its foot upwards to help it heal....so at this point flipping it over isn't going to help. You need to make sure the water chemistry stays pristine...or it will just fade away.

However 10k lighting means nothing other than the temperature (color) of light that it is putting out. I'm guessing it it a NO fluorescent fixture....which IMO is no where near the lighting needs of an anemone. Long tentacles are often kept under compact fluorescent lighting....and even better VHOs, HO T5s, and Metal Halides... all of which can use a wide temperature (Kelvin) range...6500k-20000k-actinics. Just gives you a different look to the tank. Shallow water to real deep water.

And Jackal, with over 1000 gallons of saltwater in your care...I would think you of all people would know better than keeping anemones is not impossible in smaller tanks...it just makes it much more difficult. I've kept a Green Bubble tip anemone for now 1 year in a 12 gallon nano under Power Compacts...however I do also do 25% waterchanges every 3 days.

You also need to dig up some articles on lighting. MH in my honest opinion is great but you can have HOT5 fixtures that do just as good if not better as far as coral growth and color...and I've seen $$$ carpet anemones doing wonderfully under VHOs.

I could keep going...:rolleyes: Saltwater is my other passion....so if you want to keep throwing out advice feel free...

Python.princess, I'm sorry you're not having luck with your LTA (long tentacle anemone)...but your tank isn't currently properly set up to meet its needs. Check out some HOT5 fixtures...they are relatively lower cost than Metal Halides...and you should be able to keep most corals (depending on the fixture) and Long tentacle and bubble tip anemones no problem. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

-Jason

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If you had read all my posts I was trying to help her...she already has the tank and the anemone, I cannot help the size she has. I already stated she didn't have the tank setup correctly to support the anemone. I also already stated she needed Halides. On top of these bouncing anemone's only chance is to try and help it to attche to a rock in the substrate...it is the only option at this point as most place don't take returns on SW animals..so what is your point? Are you trying to say because you said it good advise and because I said it it isn't? I read your response as very condesending.

Honestly...at this point...taking it back to have it reaclimated to the stores tanks would surely do it in.

Make sure you have good water flow in your tank of at least 10x turnover aka 550 gallons per hour, upgrading the lighting at this point may save it..., and keep the water quality in top condition with 10-25% water changes.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

If you had read all my posts I was trying to help her...she already has the tank and the anemone, I cannot help the size she has. I already stated she didn't have the tank setup correctly to support the anemone. I also already stated she needed Halides. On top of these bouncing anemone's only chance is to try and help it to attche to a rock in the substrate...it is the only option at this point as most place don't take returns on SW animals..so what is your point? Are you trying to say because you said it good advise and because I said it it isn't? I read your response as very condesending.

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I don't see the part where our advice is the same...

You missed my points completely. First off...halides aren't necessary...yes her lights aren't on par for an anemone...

You can't force an anemone to attach....screwing with it more is just going to stress the thing out...I deal with distributors all the time that send torn up anemones...you let them be in a tank with good quality water and they CAN rebound.

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Originally Posted by JBallPython

I don't see the part where our advice is the same...

You missed my points completely. First off...halides aren't necessary...yes her lights aren't on par for an anemone...

You can't force an anemone to attach....screwing with it more is just going to stress the thing out...I deal with distributors all the time that send torn up anemones...you let them be in a tank with good quality water and they CAN rebound.

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No I got your point exactly...you think you are an expert and you didn't like the way I tried to help her. So lead on expert...but I recommend you read before you comment.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

No I got your point exactly...you think you are an expert and you didn't like the way I tried to help her. So lead on expert...but I recommend you read before you comment.

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I did read...all I saw was fantastical opinions with no apparent knowledge to back. But preach on brother....like I said...if she wants additional help she can PM me...

I'm not going to sit around and gripe and bicker about this like a child.:)

Hi, just to add if the anemone is still roaming or floating around you should deffinately cover your powerheads intake area with some filter wadding or something similar because the anemone will get sucked in and die. It happened to me once unfortunately. Luckley that anemone survived and split but it wasnt in bad condition in the begining. Also if it does anchor and it settles down you should feed it once a week. They will survive longer and be healthier if you feed them. shrimp, scallops, krill, silversides, and really any other meat they should eat.

We had anemones a few times, but never had a lot of luck with them. I was told they are very old if they are large and that almost all of them are wild-harvested, so I felt bad about taking a perfectly healthy critter out of the wild to kill it, so we quit getting anemones.
I hope you get your setup so that one lives and thrives, they are such AWESOME critters to watch. We just didn't have any anemone ju-ju I think.
Good luck!

Nowadays the anemones split more often in captivity. My rose bubbletip anemone has split three times for me. Thats 4 anemones from one.

That's awesome to hear! I didn't know they did that often. I know corals do.
I hope that a good number of saltwater inverts can be acquired from captive breeding(splitting, cloning, farming).
I JUST lost my colony of saltwater red hawaian shrimp. Had to move the tank, and lost them in the process.
Wolfy

Ya it's great that propagation of corals and breeding of fish and inverts is really rising up and I know in my area I go on a forum of the boston area and everyone sells frags of there corals on there and sells fish there too. All the corals are from tanks not the ocean which is great.

it died this morning.:( but everything else is thriving!:)

I'm sorry to hear that it died. You should (if you havent already) do a 25% water change.

yeah, we didn't have time yesterday, but will do it today.