Carpet deaths

calvertbill · 12/04/2008, 08:09 AM

Do anemones have some nutritional requirement that I don't know about? I've lost 5 good sized carpets in my larger tank since it's been up. I always start them out deep and under more moderate light and move them higher as they become aclimated. The water parameters are excellent (except the CA which is low because I've been lazy about repairing cracked plumbing on my Ca reactor (butterfingers!)). The only suspect parameter is that for some reason my tank produces a lot of phosphates. Even when the green hair got out of control the reading was almost always zero but I figured that was because the hair was consuming it. After the phosphate reactor got cranked up the mountains of hair went away but I'm always on the edge.

Only thing is everyone else seems to love the tank. Scolomia, Aussie acans, leathers, GSPs, lobophytum, one colt, turbinaria, zoos, wellsophylia, caulastrea, etc.. Until I get the reactor fixed I've exported the Acropora to another tank.

Fish wise I've got
1 Used-to-be male Clarkii 3"
1 Copperband 3.5"
4 Zebrasoma flavescens (Yellow) 3-4"
2 Paracanthurus hepatus (Blue Hippos) 4"
1 Zebrasoma desjardinii (Desjardinii) 6-7"
1 Zebrasoma veliferum (Sailfin) 1.5"
1 Zebrasoma xanthurum (Purple) 3-4"
1 Acanthurus sohal (Sohal) 3.5-4"
(I'm sort of a Tang junkie)

Any suggestions?

mille239 · 12/04/2008, 08:12 AM

I don't know a ton about carpet anemones, but I know they need pristine water (i.e. eliminate your phosphates) additionally they need strong flow and very strong lighting. I also believe they are best to remain on the sand, and not up on the rock work, which makes the need for very intense lighting more of a challenge.

Please let us know your other tank parameters: Nitrate, Ca, Alk, What type of flow you have , how long this tank has been set up, what type of lighting, etc...

maybe others can chime in with more info. good luck.

brandon2432 · 12/04/2008, 08:23 AM

when you say you moved it did you pull it off of the bottom? anemones can move by their selfs. If they need more light carpets will normally open up bigger. You moving them will stress them out and be more dangerous than anything. You still need to fix your water though. Your not putting the carpet in with all of those tangs are you? fyi carpets will kill tangs.

brandon2432 · 12/04/2008, 08:28 AM

nevermind about the carpet killing the tangs. A 450 gal really? Im green with envy.

brandon2432 · 12/04/2008, 08:30 AM

oh yeah the clarkii should host it and will feed it also.

Madfronter · 12/04/2008, 08:36 AM

I would think that moving them was stressing them out too much. Carpets like the bottom of the tank so they can sink their foot into the sand and rocks. They will also move on their own to a spot they prefer. Read over this article regarding phosphates...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

calvertbill · 12/04/2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brandon2432
Your not putting the carpet in with all of those tangs are you? fyi carpets will kill tangs.

What? I never heard that before!!! If given a choice between keeping carpets and keeping Tangs...no contest!

My goal is to get all my Tangs to such a size that they force me into getting a larger tank!

srb5046th · 12/04/2008, 08:55 AM

I've kept 2 carpets for over 5 years. I've had everything from prestine water to beyond horrible. They have always made any needed adjustments themselves. Everytime I change the rock work, lighting or flow, the carpets move to a new place. They don't need extreme lighting or extreme flow or anything like that. I have had them under a 400watt bulb 30" deep but I usually only run the lights for about 6 hours a day. I have also had them bare bottom and in a sand bed. They didn't seem to care.

calvertbill · 12/04/2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Madfronter
I would think that moving them was stressing them out too much. Carpets like the bottom of the tank so they can sink their foot into the sand and rocks. They will also move on their own to a spot they prefer. Read over this article regarding phosphates...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

Thanks for the phosphate article. It's just what I was looking for!

Aerowen · 12/04/2008, 09:42 AM

perhaps it can also depend on the initial health of the carpet. you should look for a closed mouth, color. condition of foot and the condition of tentacles. They can be bad shippers and usually are seen in a bad condition at the lfs.

Toddrtrex · 12/04/2008, 10:17 AM

What type of carpet? Haddoni or gigantea ? There are different care requirements for each of them, in addition giganteas are harder to find healthy ones to start with.

I have been keeping Haddonis for 9+ years now, with my oldest being with me that whole time.

calvertbill · 12/04/2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
What type of carpet? Haddoni or gigantea ? There are different care requirements for each of them, in addition giganteas are harder to find healthy ones to start with.

I have been keeping Haddonis for 9+ years now, with my oldest being with me that whole time.

Now it's my turn to become further embarrassed. I don't know. Two purple, 1 blue, 1 lime green, and the off-white one I sort of don't count because the LFS guy suspected the shipper of shipping soon after harvesting. In that way they could be digesting and evacuating in their shipping bags.

Toddrtrex · 12/04/2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by calvertbill
Now it's my turn to become further embarrassed. I don't know. Two purple, 1 blue, 1 lime green, and the off-white one I sort of don't count because the LFS guy suspected the shipper of shipping soon after harvesting. In that way they could be digesting and evacuating in their shipping bags.

Did you notice any "bumps" on the underside of the oral disc?

Or did they look like any of these? ( which are Haddonis )

or

12/04/2008, 08:09 AM	#1
calvertbill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Calvert County, Md. Posts: 122	Carpet deaths Do anemones have some nutritional requirement that I don't know about? I've lost 5 good sized carpets in my larger tank since it's been up. I always start them out deep and under more moderate light and move them higher as they become aclimated. The water parameters are excellent (except the CA which is low because I've been lazy about repairing cracked plumbing on my Ca reactor (butterfingers!)). The only suspect parameter is that for some reason my tank produces a lot of phosphates. Even when the green hair got out of control the reading was almost always zero but I figured that was because the hair was consuming it. After the phosphate reactor got cranked up the mountains of hair went away but I'm always on the edge. Only thing is everyone else seems to love the tank. Scolomia, Aussie acans, leathers, GSPs, lobophytum, one colt, turbinaria, zoos, wellsophylia, caulastrea, etc.. Until I get the reactor fixed I've exported the Acropora to another tank. Fish wise I've got 1 Used-to-be male Clarkii 3" 1 Copperband 3.5" 4 Zebrasoma flavescens (Yellow) 3-4" 2 Paracanthurus hepatus (Blue Hippos) 4" 1 Zebrasoma desjardinii (Desjardinii) 6-7" 1 Zebrasoma veliferum (Sailfin) 1.5" 1 Zebrasoma xanthurum (Purple) 3-4" 1 Acanthurus sohal (Sohal) 3.5-4" (I'm sort of a Tang junkie) Any suggestions? __________________ 90 FOWLR & a few 'shrooms 450/625 Reef with 3 Blue Hippos 4-6", 1 Yellow Tang 4", 1 Scopas 4", 1 Mata Tang 12", 2 1" Black Ocellaris, 1 Sailfin 5", 1 Purple Tang 3" Current Tank Info: 55, 90, 450/625, 14 Nano

12/04/2008, 08:12 AM	#2
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	I don't know a ton about carpet anemones, but I know they need pristine water (i.e. eliminate your phosphates) additionally they need strong flow and very strong lighting. I also believe they are best to remain on the sand, and not up on the rock work, which makes the need for very intense lighting more of a challenge. Please let us know your other tank parameters: Nitrate, Ca, Alk, What type of flow you have , how long this tank has been set up, what type of lighting, etc... maybe others can chime in with more info. good luck. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

12/04/2008, 08:55 AM	#8
srb5046th Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: minnesota Posts: 249	I've kept 2 carpets for over 5 years. I've had everything from prestine water to beyond horrible. They have always made any needed adjustments themselves. Everytime I change the rock work, lighting or flow, the carpets move to a new place. They don't need extreme lighting or extreme flow or anything like that. I have had them under a 400watt bulb 30" deep but I usually only run the lights for about 6 hours a day. I have also had them bare bottom and in a sand bed. They didn't seem to care. __________________ "people are sheep" Current Tank Info: 38 Nuvo

12/04/2008, 10:17 AM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	What type of carpet? Haddoni or gigantea ? There are different care requirements for each of them, in addition giganteas are harder to find healthy ones to start with. I have been keeping Haddonis for 9+ years now, with my oldest being with me that whole time. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/04/2008, 08:23 AM	#3
brandon2432 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kimberly AL Posts: 278	when you say you moved it did you pull it off of the bottom? anemones can move by their selfs. If they need more light carpets will normally open up bigger. You moving them will stress them out and be more dangerous than anything. You still need to fix your water though. Your not putting the carpet in with all of those tangs are you? fyi carpets will kill tangs.

12/04/2008, 08:28 AM	#4
brandon2432 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kimberly AL Posts: 278	nevermind about the carpet killing the tangs. A 450 gal really? Im green with envy.

12/04/2008, 08:30 AM	#5
brandon2432 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kimberly AL Posts: 278	oh yeah the clarkii should host it and will feed it also.

12/04/2008, 08:36 AM	#6
Madfronter Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: PA Posts: 284	I would think that moving them was stressing them out too much. Carpets like the bottom of the tank so they can sink their foot into the sand and rocks. They will also move on their own to a spot they prefer. Read over this article regarding phosphates... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

12/04/2008, 09:42 AM	#10
Aerowen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long island, NY Posts: 497	perhaps it can also depend on the initial health of the carpet. you should look for a closed mouth, color. condition of foot and the condition of tentacles. They can be bad shippers and usually are seen in a bad condition at the lfs.