Anemone not Adapting - please advise

[andywar]

Hi all,

About 4 weeks ago I got a super rose bubble tip anemone - she was about 8 inches (open) in the LFS.

I placed her on top of a rock, and on the side were the flow is high.

That same day she moved to underneath a shelf rock, and stayed there for a couple of weeks.

I tried to feed her 1/2 a krill and then found she spitted it. I've found empty shells and dead legs of my hermits right below her, so she might have been eating them, but to sure...

One day she ended up in the sand all contracted and rolling, hence I moved her to the side of the tank with less flow.

Then again she placed herself below a shelf rock, and just slightly expanded from time to time. But as she upside down, underneath the rock I can't feed her.

Just recently the Clownfish started noticing her, and tried to rub themselves in her, but still she didn't expand. She has never completely expanded since I placed her in the tank.

I had a 20% water change 4 days ago that stressed the whole tank because the sand was all over the place.

Today I found her again in the sand all contracted facing down, hence I placed her in an acclimation net - picture attached.

Here are the tank specifics and water parameters:
- 90 gallons
- 2 XR15 Radions - running between 20-30% for 9 hours
- 1 MP40 flow pump running different modes between 10%-30%
- Ph 8.2, No3 20, No2 0.2, Alk 15 dkh, Ammonia 0, Phosphate 0.08, Calcium 425

I understand anemones take a while to adapt to a new tank, but its been over a month, and she still not expanding...

Should I leave her in the net for a couple of days and try to feed her while she gets used to the light?

I would really appreciate recommendations please.

Thanks in advance!

[TigeBell]

Alk is WAY too high and nitrate is high. Phosphate could be lower.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

How old is the tank? What is your salinity at?

The radions are running a little low on the percentage but increasing it will cause algae to grow.

[Orcus Varuna]

That nem is in REALLY bad shape. Alkalinity burn is a real possibility with a dKH that high. Also the fact that your still not completing the nitrogen cycle to nitrate fast enough to register 0 nitrite is also alarming.

I have only recovered a few nems from having nub tentacles like yours is displaying and it takes perfect water conditions and a lot of time/effort feeding the nem and providing a good environment. The other numbers are all fine though. Your nitrate and phosphate numbers are elevated but not issue causing.

Finally feeding whole or half a prawn is not the best form to give food to a nem I recommend mashing or blending in it into small chunks and squirting the food on the tentacles with a pipette or turkey baster. It is very difficult for nems to digest whole food items hence they regurgitate it. I personally recommend feeding LRS Reef Frenzy. The food size and variety of the offering is great especially when nursing a sick or neglected nem.

O and I almost forgot number one question. What is the age of the tank?


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[humphreyhh]

That nem looks really bad (tentacles are all gone, it looks almost like a goner)...I would also ask the tank age and setup.

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[andywar]

Hi humphreyhh, Orcus Varuna, TigeBell

By mistake I duplicated this post, there is another with same title with more responses and info.

I truly appreciate the advice, and here is the update:

The problem started because Ph was at 7.5, and I used a Ph buffer, and that lead to my current levels of Alk. Tank is 3 months old - started w/ live rock, nutrisalt water, live sand, and nitrifying bacteria.

- The anemone found a good spot on a rock and has been attached there for a couple of days now.
- Tried to feed her a small piece of shrimp but she spitted it.
- I've been feeding the whole tank Reef Frenzy and will try to target the anemone with a pipette.
- Problem is that Fish eat all the food I try to feed the anemone

Here are the new tank parameters, all I have done is add RO water on the top off:
- Light at 15%
- Flow between 10% & 25% - and power head on the opposite side of the anemone
- Ph: 8.2
- Salinity:1.026
- Alk 11 (it's coming down)
NO2: 0.2
NO3: 20
Calcium: 450
Magnesium: 1400
Phosphate: 0.04 and

What I'm really concerned is about the tentacles - can you please tell me if there is anything that I can do to help her heal?

Again, thanks for your comments and more advice on adjustments/treatment is really appreciated!

Thanks Andy

[TigeBell]

You still need to get the nitrites down but I am sure you knew that.

As for the anemone, it is going to take time and good water quality and good lighting. Definitely going to be a rough road ahead but if you pull through, you will be feel you confidence with reef keeping.

Good luck.