anemone movement

ice cream jones · 02/12/2009, 01:26 AM

Will nems move on their own? Or do they need enough water movement to pick them up and blow them around? I've always wanted a sebae, and today at the LFS they got a pretty good size(3-4") in, it had a nice cream color(not bleach white), and they tentacles are nice and puffed up. I acclimated it for about 2 hours(drip), then let it loose around the botton of the tank. So far its just kinda sat in the middle of the tank, against a rock, with its knobby thing(im new..) pointed upwards. Its tentacle things are moving a lot, but its not anchored. Will it take a few days to find a good spot? Or do I just not have enough water movement for it?

I have 2 koralia 1's on each side of the tank, pointed down, and towards the middle. Its a 5 foot tank. Looking to buy a couple of 3s or 4s by the way. Then I also have my canister filter outlet pumping straight towards the front of the tank, and the PS outlet pointing towards the center as well.

As far as lights go.. I have 2x250MH, and 2x55 flourescent t-12s. Thats almost 7w per gallon, is that sufficent enough to house anemones? I hope I didnt jump the gun here... I know I'm in need of more water movement though,

Dante_JoseCuerv · 02/12/2009, 02:13 AM

Simply put, nems will generally choose a spot that they feel comfortable in. However, they will roam around of their own accord. So, it's chance, as a nem may be in the same spot for years, and then one day decide "man, I'm done with this, time to move."

ice cream jones · 02/12/2009, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dante_JoseCuerv
Simply put, nems will generally choose a spot that they feel comfortable in. However, they will roam around of their own accord. So, it's chance, as a nem may be in the same spot for years, and then one day decide "man, I'm done with this, time to move."

Okay... But do they have the means to move on their own power? Or do they need strong water flow to push them to a new place?

Peter Eichler · 02/12/2009, 03:23 AM

They can and will move on their own. Do a lot of reasearch as anemones aren't something for beginners.

reefshadow · 02/12/2009, 03:26 AM

No, they can definitely move under their own power. If you plan on having other corals I would attempt to isolate this anemone on its own "island". IIRC sebaes attach to rock so if you can kind of corral it in with a ring of tall rubble and set it on a nice deep crevice it may stay there. There is no guarantee though, it can go here, there, and everywhere, including into your intakes, fun!

reefshadow · 02/12/2009, 03:27 AM

Always answering 3 minutes after Peter.

reefscape15 · 02/12/2009, 06:25 AM

+1 for peter and reefshadow. As for your lights, that seems to be plenty enough to keep anything in there. MH have very good penetration, but i would switch the t-12's to vho's or 4 t-5's. you certainly need lots more water flow, and i would get rid of the canister filter. if you have a big enough skimmer and enough flow you can do this. Unless you keep your canister exceptionally clean, it will end up building up nitrates. As far as anemones go, i personally can't stand them! It is interesting to watch a few clowns use one, but they WILL move all over the tank, and if you have any frags, they will be knocked down. They move on thier own, looking for a spot that they think has the best water flow and lighting combination for them. Hope you end up enjoying them, only because i never have! HAHA!!!! Happy reefing!

schristi69 · 02/12/2009, 04:56 PM

And they will almost always pic a spot where they can not be viewed easily!!! Mine spent months in the spot I put him and then one day he decided to move to the back of the tank. All it takes is a small change in flow or lighting to upset them. They can detach themselves and be blown around the tank. Mine took a bit of coaxing to attach when I first got him. Make sure you have intakes to pumps and powerheads covered with grates. Nems and impellers do not mix!!!

Gdevine · 02/12/2009, 05:09 PM

Also, this animal needs to be directly fed. I feed silver sides on a tickler stick 2 times a week. Feed it once it settles in, get it healthy and big, these are great tank animals.

davocean · 02/12/2009, 05:14 PM

In a 90g the MH are enough even w/out the T12, and I agree, T5 would be better if you really want more light.
Sebaes actually prefer sand bed, not rock, but usually tuck inbetween at rock base.
Sebaes are know to stay put better than say a BTA, but after 5 1/2 years mine decided to move, and on it's own, kinda like a slow crawling snail w/ foot.
I also agree ditch canister, usually bumps nitrates, which nems don't like.

Dragonlady · 02/12/2009, 05:24 PM

If it is a H. malu sebae, they need sand and not too much flow at first. You could try reducing the flow until it attaches. It may take several hours to dig its foot into the sand and attach.

cash cow · 02/12/2009, 05:26 PM

yes, they will move like crazy if they want to............watch it for stinging other corals, and feed it regularly to keep it happy and to keep it from moving on you......

ice cream jones · 02/12/2009, 05:40 PM

well last night it found my cave, and this morning it's completely behind the rocks. Still looks healthy, and moving. Is it okay back there? I really don't know much about them.. Is it smart enough to find it's way back out? Lol

davocean · 02/12/2009, 06:21 PM

Cover intakes, it will reach/come out for light.

cash cow · 02/12/2009, 08:13 PM

yes........it will find it's way back to the light......but when it does feed it.......they always seem to go behind the rocks when you first get them.

02/12/2009, 01:26 AM	#1
ice cream jones Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 96	anemone movement Will nems move on their own? Or do they need enough water movement to pick them up and blow them around? I've always wanted a sebae, and today at the LFS they got a pretty good size(3-4") in, it had a nice cream color(not bleach white), and they tentacles are nice and puffed up. I acclimated it for about 2 hours(drip), then let it loose around the botton of the tank. So far its just kinda sat in the middle of the tank, against a rock, with its knobby thing(im new..) pointed upwards. Its tentacle things are moving a lot, but its not anchored. Will it take a few days to find a good spot? Or do I just not have enough water movement for it? I have 2 koralia 1's on each side of the tank, pointed down, and towards the middle. Its a 5 foot tank. Looking to buy a couple of 3s or 4s by the way. Then I also have my canister filter outlet pumping straight towards the front of the tank, and the PS outlet pointing towards the center as well. As far as lights go.. I have 2x250MH, and 2x55 flourescent t-12s. Thats almost 7w per gallon, is that sufficent enough to house anemones? I hope I didnt jump the gun here... I know I'm in need of more water movement though, __________________ Michael Moore: "If the kids from columbine were here now, what would you say to them? Marylinn Manson: "I wouldn't say a single word. I would listen to what they had to say, which is what nobody did." Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon FOWLR

02/12/2009, 03:23 AM	#4
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	They can and will move on their own. Do a lot of reasearch as anemones aren't something for beginners. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

02/12/2009, 03:26 AM	#5
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	No, they can definitely move under their own power. If you plan on having other corals I would attempt to isolate this anemone on its own "island". IIRC sebaes attach to rock so if you can kind of corral it in with a ring of tall rubble and set it on a nice deep crevice it may stay there. There is no guarantee though, it can go here, there, and everywhere, including into your intakes, fun! __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

02/12/2009, 03:27 AM	#6
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Always answering 3 minutes after Peter. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

02/12/2009, 06:25 AM	#7
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	+1 for peter and reefshadow. As for your lights, that seems to be plenty enough to keep anything in there. MH have very good penetration, but i would switch the t-12's to vho's or 4 t-5's. you certainly need lots more water flow, and i would get rid of the canister filter. if you have a big enough skimmer and enough flow you can do this. Unless you keep your canister exceptionally clean, it will end up building up nitrates. As far as anemones go, i personally can't stand them! It is interesting to watch a few clowns use one, but they WILL move all over the tank, and if you have any frags, they will be knocked down. They move on thier own, looking for a spot that they think has the best water flow and lighting combination for them. Hope you end up enjoying them, only because i never have! HAHA!!!! Happy reefing! __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H

02/12/2009, 02:13 AM	#2
Dante_JoseCuerv Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sugar Grove, IL Posts: 1,214	Simply put, nems will generally choose a spot that they feel comfortable in. However, they will roam around of their own accord. So, it's chance, as a nem may be in the same spot for years, and then one day decide "man, I'm done with this, time to move."

02/12/2009, 04:56 PM	#8
schristi69 Master of Space and Time Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 1,340	And they will almost always pic a spot where they can not be viewed easily!!! Mine spent months in the spot I put him and then one day he decided to move to the back of the tank. All it takes is a small change in flow or lighting to upset them. They can detach themselves and be blown around the tank. Mine took a bit of coaxing to attach when I first got him. Make sure you have intakes to pumps and powerheads covered with grates. Nems and impellers do not mix!!! __________________ "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" - Lord Acton Current Tank Info: None, nada, gone

02/12/2009, 05:09 PM	#9
Gdevine Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 1,232	Also, this animal needs to be directly fed. I feed silver sides on a tickler stick 2 times a week. Feed it once it settles in, get it healthy and big, these are great tank animals. __________________ What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method

02/12/2009, 05:14 PM	#10
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	In a 90g the MH are enough even w/out the T12, and I agree, T5 would be better if you really want more light. Sebaes actually prefer sand bed, not rock, but usually tuck inbetween at rock base. Sebaes are know to stay put better than say a BTA, but after 5 1/2 years mine decided to move, and on it's own, kinda like a slow crawling snail w/ foot. I also agree ditch canister, usually bumps nitrates, which nems don't like. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/12/2009, 05:24 PM	#11
Dragonlady Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: This solar system Posts: 1,051	If it is a H. malu sebae, they need sand and not too much flow at first. You could try reducing the flow until it attaches. It may take several hours to dig its foot into the sand and attach.

02/12/2009, 05:26 PM	#12
cash cow Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: oxford, michigan Posts: 184	yes, they will move like crazy if they want to............watch it for stinging other corals, and feed it regularly to keep it happy and to keep it from moving on you......

02/12/2009, 05:40 PM	#13
ice cream jones Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 96	well last night it found my cave, and this morning it's completely behind the rocks. Still looks healthy, and moving. Is it okay back there? I really don't know much about them.. Is it smart enough to find it's way back out? Lol __________________ Michael Moore: "If the kids from columbine were here now, what would you say to them? Marylinn Manson: "I wouldn't say a single word. I would listen to what they had to say, which is what nobody did." Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon FOWLR

02/12/2009, 06:21 PM	#14
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Cover intakes, it will reach/come out for light. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/12/2009, 08:13 PM	#15
cash cow Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: oxford, michigan Posts: 184	yes........it will find it's way back to the light......but when it does feed it.......they always seem to go behind the rocks when you first get them.