Anemone stuck in filter. Ideas?

TheGrog · 06/24/2007, 07:53 AM

OK, my rose BTA that has been happy and content at one end of the tank has overnight transversed the length of the tank (almost 6' 125 gal tank) and this morning I found it half sucked into my HOT filter intake!!

The filter is a Whisper 6 series and the intake strainer is rather coarse (about 1/8" between slots).

All tank parameters are fine......so far.

I of course shut the filter down right away.

Now, I am unsure if it can get itself unstuck. It's foot is attached to both the strainer segment of the filter, the upper segment AND the back glass. The mouth is not sucked in, just about 1/4 of it's body. So anything I do will have to be where it is located. Tried taking a pic but my camera batteries are dead.

I am thinking of waiting and watching if it can get itself unstuck without any help from me. I wish I had some stainless cutters that I could cut the plastic strainer away so it could easily get itself out, but I don't. The plastic is pretty tough so just breaking it is not an option without risking hurting the anemone any more.

I am mixing water up right now for a change if necessary and trying to find another filter to run carbon.

Does anyone have any other ideas/input?

Thanks

nauti1us · 06/24/2007, 08:15 AM

Shut off the filter obviously...

Take the entire filter with anemone attached and place it into a bucket filled with tank water. The anemone will come out on its own. If the damage itsn't too severe...

nauti1us · 06/24/2007, 08:17 AM

you may need to take a razor blade and carefully slide it behind the anemones foot to get it off the glass.

mfp4073 · 06/24/2007, 10:07 AM

Yeah, I had this happen to one with a powerhead. I took the powerhead apart, but it was stuck in the intake. I put the intake part on the sand bottom in the tank and it untangled itself and moved off after a few hours. Mine lived btw.

Me No Nemo · 06/24/2007, 10:16 AM

You can try putting some RO water in a baggie and freezing it. Then place the frozen baggie NEAR the anemone, not on it. If it is not badly damaged, it won't like the cold water and should disengage to find a better spot.

TheGrog · 06/24/2007, 01:30 PM

Well, I managed to get a small pair of hemostats (helps to be a surgeon sometimes) inbetween the layers of the screen and snap it off. Worked my way around the tube and got it totally off. The anemone is now free from the screen and I got it off the glass with a credit card and back to the rocks. . Does not seem to be badly damaged and the mouth is still intact.

Now I am just crossing my fingers and watching while I mix up more water. Don't have enough salt on hand (on order & being shipped to me) to get the QT tank up and running though so I will have to keep my fingers crossed that the rest of the inhabitants are not badly affected.

Stay tuned!

lifesworksataol · 06/24/2007, 01:51 PM

i just unplugged it and it got itself off

cowboyswife · 06/24/2007, 05:37 PM

Good luck, I hope the nem recovers

akwtampa · 06/24/2007, 09:13 PM

This happened to my rose 'nem about half a dozen times until I broke down and bought a reef ready tank.. All I would do was remove the end of the HOB and sit it on a rock and wait.. it would get out of there within an hour or two..

It's still alive and intact to this day..

In fact, I've got two now as of yesterday..

Aaron

06/24/2007, 07:53 AM	#1
TheGrog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 753	Anemone stuck in filter. Ideas? OK, my rose BTA that has been happy and content at one end of the tank has overnight transversed the length of the tank (almost 6' 125 gal tank) and this morning I found it half sucked into my HOT filter intake!! The filter is a Whisper 6 series and the intake strainer is rather coarse (about 1/8" between slots). All tank parameters are fine......so far. I of course shut the filter down right away. Now, I am unsure if it can get itself unstuck. It's foot is attached to both the strainer segment of the filter, the upper segment AND the back glass. The mouth is not sucked in, just about 1/4 of it's body. So anything I do will have to be where it is located. Tried taking a pic but my camera batteries are dead. I am thinking of waiting and watching if it can get itself unstuck without any help from me. I wish I had some stainless cutters that I could cut the plastic strainer away so it could easily get itself out, but I don't. The plastic is pretty tough so just breaking it is not an option without risking hurting the anemone any more. I am mixing water up right now for a change if necessary and trying to find another filter to run carbon. Does anyone have any other ideas/input? Thanks __________________ When in doubt.....add more beer...then try duct tape Current Tank Info: 120G Reef with Ecotech Radion LEDs, 2xMP40

06/24/2007, 08:15 AM	#2
nauti1us ORCA President 2007~2008 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 989	Shut off the filter obviously... Take the entire filter with anemone attached and place it into a bucket filled with tank water. The anemone will come out on its own. If the damage itsn't too severe... __________________ What a long strange trip it's been... Current Tank Info: 90 Gal Mixed Reef

06/24/2007, 08:17 AM	#3
nauti1us ORCA President 2007~2008 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 989	you may need to take a razor blade and carefully slide it behind the anemones foot to get it off the glass. __________________ What a long strange trip it's been... Current Tank Info: 90 Gal Mixed Reef

06/24/2007, 10:07 AM	#4
mfp4073 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 1,506	Yeah, I had this happen to one with a powerhead. I took the powerhead apart, but it was stuck in the intake. I put the intake part on the sand bottom in the tank and it untangled itself and moved off after a few hours. Mine lived btw. __________________ Bristle worms are evil and need to be eradicated, at night they creep out of the tank and charge internet porn to your credit cards....ask me how I know. Anyone else notice that anthelia smells like fresh cut water chestnuts? ....they call me chad Current Tank Info: 1 crashed 75 gal..it was really beautiful while it lasted.

06/24/2007, 10:16 AM	#5
Me No Nemo Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 2,337	You can try putting some RO water in a baggie and freezing it. Then place the frozen baggie NEAR the anemone, not on it. If it is not badly damaged, it won't like the cold water and should disengage to find a better spot. __________________ “Life is life's greatest gift. Guard the life of another creature as you would your own because it is your own. On life's scale of values, the smallest is no less precious to the creature who owns it than the largest...” ( Dr. Lloyd Biggle Jr.) "In among the branches of the corals, like birds among trees, floated many beautiful fish, radiant with metallic greens or crimsons...." J. Beete Jukes 1842-46 Current Tank Info: 215 Oceanic, Dart Pump, Vortech MP 40's, ATI Powermodule 10x80 watts, 46 gallon freshwater planted tank, 3,500+ gallon backyard pond, 12 gallon mantis tank

06/24/2007, 01:30 PM	#6
TheGrog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 753	Well, I managed to get a small pair of hemostats (helps to be a surgeon sometimes) inbetween the layers of the screen and snap it off. Worked my way around the tube and got it totally off. The anemone is now free from the screen and I got it off the glass with a credit card and back to the rocks. . Does not seem to be badly damaged and the mouth is still intact. Now I am just crossing my fingers and watching while I mix up more water. Don't have enough salt on hand (on order & being shipped to me) to get the QT tank up and running though so I will have to keep my fingers crossed that the rest of the inhabitants are not badly affected. Stay tuned! __________________ When in doubt.....add more beer...then try duct tape Current Tank Info: 120G Reef with Ecotech Radion LEDs, 2xMP40

06/24/2007, 01:51 PM	#7
lifesworksataol Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sanford Posts: 2,778	i just unplugged it and it got itself off __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 210 w/180 sump

06/24/2007, 05:37 PM	#8
cowboyswife Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 2,187	Good luck, I hope the nem recovers __________________ "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." - Kate Chopin ~Becca Current Tank Info: Out of the hobby for the time being. But Im sticking around anyway!

06/24/2007, 09:13 PM	#9
akwtampa Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 532	This happened to my rose 'nem about half a dozen times until I broke down and bought a reef ready tank.. All I would do was remove the end of the HOB and sit it on a rock and wait.. it would get out of there within an hour or two.. It's still alive and intact to this day.. In fact, I've got two now as of yesterday.. Aaron