Carpet Anenome Problem

[JeffH]

I have a 150g tank that has been setup for 10 months now. All params are good 0-amm, nitrate, nitrite, 8.2daytime PH, temp from 79-82, alk <.7, Calcium @ 400. I have been battling hair algea for several months (i'm starting to win)but my reading has led me to understand this is normal fo my tank age. 30G wet/dry that I'm in the process of removing the BioBale(a little every week). I know now these are difficult to keep and think my problem may be lighting. I have 392watts of PC lighting. LFS told me that would be enough when I bought him six months ago. I plan on adding 2x400 MH in the future but want to know if moving him up high in the tank will help. He is starting to lose his color (white anyway but the light brown is going white as well) and has started shrinking. I have a Tamato Clown who has not ever taken an interest in the anemone

Any suggestions or help that is actually helpful I would greatly appreciate. Sorry for the long post.

 

[JennM]

Not sure which species of carpet you have, but the Tomato clown (Amphiprion frenatus) is not a natural symbiont with any of the host carpets. In the wild, most carpet species host perculas, ocellaris, Clarkii, bluestripe, saddleback etc. While occasionally, exceptions to the "book" occur, that probably explains why your tomato has no interest, because it's not her natural "home".

Have you been feeding your anemone at all? Most feed weekly or bi-weekly, small pieces of raw shrimp or squid, or other meaty food. IF the animal isn't receiving enough light, supplementing with meaty foods can sometimes help.

Your proposed upgrade will be a HUGE change. I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice how to slowly acclimate your livestock to this more intense light source. Doing it slowly and carefully will minimize any bleaching or trauma due to the change.

Jenn

 

[JeffH]

Thanks, I am feeding twice/three times weekly frozen(thawed) brine shrimp. Will moving him up in the tank help with light deficiency? Here is a picture

Hope you can see it.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Try to feed him chunks of shrimps or fish. Brine shrimp is not going to do him much good.

 

[JeffH]

Thanks (from the grocery> ) I'll get that in the AM. Appreciate the help keep it coming!!

 

[JennM]

Minh beat me to it....brine is too small for them to catch from what I've seen.

Try placing a chunk of shrimp, squid, clam, krill or anything meaty like that (thawed, like you said) on the tentacles. HOPEFULLY the tentacles should still be sticky. If they aren't you've got bigger problems....

The anemone will move the chunk of food toward its oral disc and eat it. Also, do not be surprised if sometime later, you see it spew a big mucousy-looking thing from the same oral disc...whatever doesn't get digested will be defecated.

Jenn

 

[JeffH]

Thanks, Just got back with some raw shrimp chunks. His tentacles are sticky but his mouth/other is wide open so I put the shrimp directly in. LFS told me flake would be good but since I do Brine for the fish that would be okay as well. On another note, I have a leather coral, green button polyps, and a green open brain all high in the tank. Do I do direct feeding of these or just keep my levels including Iodine up? Thanks a million for the help.

Jeff

 

[Mike02]

if the anemone is at the bottom of the tank, i think that 392 watts PC is not enuff. How deep is the 150g compared to a 75g? 392 watts would be good for a 75g. i would move the anemone higher in the tank or get the new MH lights that you are talking about. feeding doesnt seem like it would be important. if the anemone is getting pale, its because its losing its host algaes due to insufficient lighting.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Because these anemones stay on the sand bed, you can't put him higher in your tank. Just leave him where he can get the best light (center of tank and don't disturb him). Feed him as much as he will tank and hope for the best.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Because these anemones stay on the sand bed, you can't put him higher in your tank. Just leave him where he can get the best light (center of tank and don't disturb him). Feed him as much as he will tank and hope for the best.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JeffH:
<STRONG>I have a 150g tank that has been setup for 10 months now. All params are good 0-amm, nitrate, nitrite, 8.2daytime PH, temp from 79-82, alk <.7, Calcium @ 400.....</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jeff,
Why is your Alk. so low? Is this a typo? Alkalinity should be in the 3.0 range.

 

[sub trate]

Do NOT mover her......if she is unhappy she has perfect capability to move on her own.....and she will do it too.....only if she wants to.....let her decide. Not you.

 

[JeffH]

Ming, Thank you for the observation. I retested this AM and it is a typo( or one heck of a swing) It is 2.7. A little low, I'll work on gettin that up. Thanks again. He ate the shrimp and looks much better this AM. I'll keep after it and push the schedule for the MH lights. Thanks again for all the good help everyone.