New LTA shrinking! HELP!

N

nataliet2105

Fish for fun!
HELP!! I just got a LTA hoping my 2 clowns would host with it etc. It looked GREAT in the store and had other clowns hosting in it etc. Literally looked perfect. I brought it home and when I added it to my tank it didn't seem to want to attach anywhere. I tried 'helping' it out a little by holding it in one place. After I few minutes I just let it do its thing. It floated around the tank for a while kinda spinning around in the sand and was very open almost like a flower. It's sitting but does NOT have it's foot in the sand .. I turned the light off at 11pm and it shriveled up. From what I've read you shouldn't have the lights on all day all night, which I why I turn the light off at night. Everything else in my tank is perfect and thriving. It's now 11:37pm and I'm freaking so I turned the light back on! The mouth is looking a little weird now too.. What is going on with this thing??? Is it just acclimating?? Is it going to die? I attached some pictures!
 

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We need some information on your tank. How long has it been set up? And what are your water parameters?
 
did you acclimate, if so how , drip acclimation or just temperature acclimation, what kind of lights do u have , basic stock lights are not enough to support a anemone

also anemones take a while to find a spot and even then they may move it later they dont like it, dont force it or "help" it just let it be once it finds a spot it likes then it will open up if everything in your tank checks out
 
Anemones are some of the hardest animals to keep alive. They need pristine water conditions and mature (over a year old) tanks. If it's still alive in the morning, I'd take it back to the store.

And again... What are your actual parameters?
 
We are gonna want exact number readings on your water. What your tank is set up like, i.e. pumps, power heads, LIGHTING, filtration, etc.

Anemones will move, they walk. They will go to a place that gives them the correct flow and light that they will want. The mouth looking strange, could be bad, maybe not. Not only do they eat from that mouth, they also crap from it. They will inflate, and expel water, again, through the mouth.

There is no guarantee your clowns will host the nem either, they may find something else they like better.
 
Ok so - I did a water change last night (with premade water before I got the LTA) and today the salinity is at 1.028 (which I know is high) so by rec'd of the local aquarium store, I'm taking out some water adding non salt water to hopefully bring that down. I will just leave it be and hope it doesn't go upside down and start to actually die. The aquarium store said the lighting set up is fine for this, filters, pumps etc all fine.

I did acclimate the LTA temp. wise but I also read a few places on here that nems don't really need acclimation bc they dont have gills..

Also, I know that the clowns might not host. I just want them to.
 
The nem is a living creature and absolutely needs to be water acclimated. It needs to adjust to your water perams so that it is not shocked.

Also, what kind of filter do you have.
 
nataliet2105 said:
Ok so - I did a water change last night (with premade water before I got the LTA) and today the salinity is at 1.028 (which I know is high) so by rec'd of the local aquarium store, I'm taking out some water adding non salt water to hopefully bring that down. I will just leave it be and hope it doesn't go upside down and start to actually die. The aquarium store said the lighting set up is fine for this, filters, pumps etc all fine.

I did acclimate the LTA temp. wise but I also read a few places on here that nems don't really need acclimation bc they dont have gills..

Also, I know that the clowns might not host. I just want them to.
Click to expand...

Either you arent paying attention to the questions or you dont know. In order to help you we need to know more then what you salinity is at. whats your alk. magnesium, calcium, ph, nitrates, nitrites etc etc at? What else do you have in the tank? What is your stocking list like???

If you kill this IN your tank you have the absolute possibility of killing EVERYTHING in your tank. Nems are difficult, but not impossible to keep alive however we can only help you if you give us the information we are asking for
 
Marines_Wife said:
Either you arent paying attention to the questions or you dont know. In order to help you we need to know more then what you salinity is at. whats your alk. magnesium, calcium, ph, nitrates, nitrites etc etc at? What else do you have in the tank? What is your stocking list like???

If you kill this IN your tank you have the absolute possibility of killing EVERYTHING in your tank. Nems are difficult, but not impossible to keep alive however we can only help you if you give us the information we are asking for
Click to expand...

FYI - I have another nem in there which is thriving along with 2 clowns, a few snails, hermit crabs and a peppermint shrimp. I am also FULLY aware that if I let this die in my tank it will destroy many things within the reef which is why I am keeping a lose eye on it for any signs of true death. From what I have been told by the local aquarium professionals I should take it out if the nem turns upside down or looks as if it is starting to disintegrate.

Filter is Aquaclear 100/110, 29 gal tank with 35lbs of live rock and 3in. live sand. also 2 300gph power heads
ph-8.2
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-3ppm
Also use Nano Reef solutions part 1 and 2 according to directions which is a mag/cal buffer.
 
Your qustions were basic nem questiones and received basic answers. Not trying to ruin your day, however at only 2 months experience in the hobby almost every single person here is going to say that your tank was no where near established enough for that nem, let alone two of them. Nems need room to grow and many of them can actually sting and kill another when it encroaches upon its space, any one who thinks I am wrong here please correct me on that. I also have a 29 gal tank and I at one time had two anemones in there. A BTA and a sebae. The second one was one of the most difficult to care for and so it was returned.

What is your other anemone that you have in there? How often are you doing your water changes? What are you running in your HOB filter?
 
Why are you using a mag/cal buffer?!?!?! You dont have any lps or sps corals, water changes should be more than enough to keep this in check.

Also your anemone is probably in shock , everything should be acclimated specially anemones they are extremely sensitive to fast changes and nitrates or any other parameters . your professional should have told you that, by the time you actually start seeing out discintegrate it's gonna be too late.
 
My basic nem question is do I wait it out and see if it gets better or do I throw in the towel and take it out? Thats it. The pro did tell me to acclimate and I did .. I simply mentioned that I read on another forum here that they don't need it. I have already spoke to a few stores for advice but figured why not try this forum to see what I get.
 
You can try digging out a small hole for it's foot, placing it in there. Then shutting off all the flow in your tank for a couple hours to give it time to settle in.
 
I have heard in a few places that people dont acclimate their nems either. It seems like you are a little aggravated by some of the advice being given here. This site and the people on it are looking to help your tank, and the livestock in your tank be the most successful thing that they can be. Some of the advice may be directly against that of the "pro's" at your LFS but no one here is making a profit off of you. Im not saying all LFS are out for your cash but if something dies, you go back in buy another one and replace it...the cycle goes on. No one here benefits from anything dying or getting sick and in fact, everyone here wants to see you succeed at this hobby. Animals and corals die needlessly due to lack of experience and stupid advice/suggestions from the LFS....just food for thought
 
Also, as far as your salinity goes... It was a little high, but be very careful about lowering it. Stability and gradual changes are more important than having exactly the right numbers.
What are you using to test? A refractometer or hydrometer?
 
At this point,its just a waiting game to see if the anemone settles in survives.
When ever your introducing anemones,always be sure to drip acclimate them.They are extremely sensitive to even small changes in salinity and PH.
Follow Brian's suggestion with cutting the flow,but don't try to place the anemone yourself.Just give it time to settle down and attach its foot.
So cut the flow and keep your hands outta the tank and wait and see.

As for the salinity in your tank.Spread out the adjustments of several days.Every day when you go to top the tank off,siphon out an extra gallon of water and replace with straight fresh.
 
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