Poorly anemone.

[Tetradon]

Hello all on Reefs.Org!

We have a Haitian anemone which has been with us for about 4 1/4 months. It is at full size about 2.5 inches across with a 1 1/2 inch tube. More recently it has stayed quite small and althought now settled on a rock, was at one point quite lively. As the tank is maturing we have noticed that it seems to be constantly heading AWAY from the lightsource and hides on the undersides of rocks or as far down in the tank as possible. The setup we are using is that of an ecosystem tank with Miracle mud and live sand with a sump containing various macroalgae. We have 2 percular clowns, 2 green chromis, chalk goby and a pyjama wrasse who has quite recently dissapeared - we understand that apparently this is common? We also have red legged hermits and several tube fans and a sea pen. The lighting contists of the main tank having a 18,500k red/blue tube light and a 10,000k daylight tube on between 8 - 10 hours per day. The sump has a T5 on all 24 hours.

Have you got any suggestions as to why the anemone is fading away and how to rectify this?

Kind Regards,
Tetradon

 

[Len]

I find an anemone often retreats into the rock when it's either physically bothered (e.g. clowns that it does not want in it, some crustacean picking at it, etc.) or there is something with the water condition it does not like. It may also retreat because it does not like the spectrum of the lights. What I recommend is the standard approach to "mystery" problems. I'd do a water change, and if the anemone does not rebound, I'd consider trying different bulbs (the 18.5K would be the first I swap out in favor of an old fashion actinic).

If the anemone will accept meaty foods, I'd feed it to sustain it. It's frustrating when anemones go on this self-deprivation path.

 

[brandonberry]

What is your maximum daily temperature? If the water change helps, you should consider testing for phosphates, nitrates, etc. to see what may have been off with your water and take measures to prevent it from reoccuring. What is your salinity and are you allowing your salinity to fluctuate a lot. Anemones prefer stability.

 

[Tetradon]

Hello there Len & Brandonberry,

Thank you for your responses - we shall try the suggested and give it a go. Hope the anemone responds. Maximum daily temperature is between 25 and 28 degrees and the salinity is steady at 1.022.

Thank you both,
Tetradon

 

[brandonberry]

Your temperature is fine, but you should slowly raise your salinity to a specific gravity of 1.025 or 35ppt. This is more in line with the salinity level where they naturally occur. I really think that might be the smoking gun.

 

[Anonymous]

Your temperature is fine, but you should slowly raise your salinity to a specific gravity of 1.025 or 35ppt. This is more in line with the salinity level where they naturally occur. I really think that might be the smoking gun.

Agreed.

 

[Tetradon]

Yikes! 1.025 that is really high. Would that be ok with the other creatures in there do you think - percular clowns, red leg hermits, green chromis, goby and sea pen?

 

[Anonymous]

Yikes! 1.025 that is really high. Would that be ok with the other creatures in there do you think - percular clowns, red leg hermits, green chromis, goby and sea pen?

Put me down for aonther vote for raising your SG. It is generally accepted in the hobby nowadays that inverts (your anemone and that seapen most certainly) do much better with a higher (more like natural) SG than you currently have. Sceptical ? Do a google search with the keywords "Anemone specific gravity" and you will see many posts and articles.

Most fish do well at most SG levels provided they are given time to acclimate themselves so if the process is done slowly there should be no worries.

 

[brandonberry]

Yeah, 1.025 is not high at all. It is the pretty close to the specific gravity of most oceans. The Red Sea, is even saltier from what I understand.