Anemone question

[ZapataInc]

Hey everyone I am new to the hobby of reefing. I just got a BT nem and it found it's way into a crevice of my rock work. The way that the flow of my tank is setup seems like it would just cause it to go deeper into the crevice. Ive read they move to spots where they want to move but can they move against the flow. Or should I move some of the rock work to give it space to move? I've attached two pictures. Sorry I don't have a filter yet for my phone.

 

[FutureInterest]

Leave it be. That seems like a decent spot for it. Bubble tip nems actually like to have their foot deep in a crevice for safety and also tend to prefer hanging upside down at night when they retract. I always recommend putting the nem on its own island in the sand though... as it will tend to roam and they generally don't like to move over sand unless its quite course.

 

[ZapataInc]

Leave it be. That seems like a decent spot for it. Bubble tip nems actually like to have their foot deep in a crevice for safety and also tend to prefer hanging upside down at night when they retract. I always recommend putting the nem on its own island in the sand though... as it will tend to roam and they generally don't like to move over sand unless its quite course.

I put "Neo" (named by wifey sauce) on the "rock island" in front of my main structure. But one morning he was off the rock and floating around and ended up where he is right now. Im just afraid of him not getting enough light, because he is shaded by the rocks above him. Also ive tried to give him a piece of shrimp and he just retracts. Is this normal?

 

[FutureInterest]

Neo letting go of the rock is in itself not normal. This typically indicates it is very unhappy with something in the tank/water. When unhappy they will often reject food so that part is somewhat normal. Try smaller foods like mysis. Over the counter table shrimp can often be loaded with additives that are fine for human consumption but not good for nems. How old is the tank?

 

[ZapataInc]

Neo letting go of the rock is in itself not normal. This typically indicates it is very unhappy with something in the tank/water. When unhappy they will often reject food so that part is somewhat normal. Try smaller foods like mysis. Over the counter table shrimp can often be loaded with additives that are fine for human consumption but not good for nems. How old is the tank?

Im not sure what to do about him not being happy. Ive checked the water parameters everyday and they are all good. Im lost.

 

[bhodges82]

That appears to me to be a sebae nem not a bubble tip, what color is it? Looks white with purple tips....

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[ZapataInc]

That appears to me to be a sebae nem not a bubble tip, what color is it? Looks white with purple tips....

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Its neon green under the blue lights. And the bubbles come and go.

 

[ZapataInc]

Neo letting go of the rock is in itself not normal. This typically indicates it is very unhappy with something in the tank/water. When unhappy they will often reject food so that part is somewhat normal. Try smaller foods like mysis. Over the counter table shrimp can often be loaded with additives that are fine for human consumption but not good for nems. How old is the tank?

And i didnt realize you asked how old is the tank. Ive had it set up for about a month and a half...But the guy i got it from was leaving the hobby. I took all of his rock and sand. They were in buckets full of water from his tank, while I setup the tank in my house. He had the tank running for about 6 months.

 

[bhodges82]

Its neon green under the blue lights. And the bubbles come and go.

Ok, may have just been the blue washout in the photo.

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[ZapataInc]

Ok, may have just been the blue washout in the photo.

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Yeah i have to get lens for my phone and dslr.

 

[popsbjd]

And i didnt realize you asked how old is the tank. Ive had it set up for about a month and a half...But the guy i got it from was leaving the hobby. I took all of his rock and sand. They were in buckets full of water from his tank, while I setup the tank in my house. He had the tank running for about 6 months.

Even counting in the age of the rock and sand from the previous owner, that's still a pretty new tank to try an anemone. Moreover, you are still a new water keeper to try an anemone. I've been in the hobby for a decade and I've never had an anemone (partially on preference, partially on principle). Stable, proper water parameters are going to be crucial to ensure you anemone makes it.

 

[ZapataInc]

Even counting in the age of the rock and sand from the previous owner, that's still a pretty new tank to try an anemone. Moreover, you are still a new water keeper to try an anemone. I've been in the hobby for a decade and I've never had an anemone (partially on preference, partially on principle). Stable, proper water parameters are going to be crucial to ensure you anemone makes it.

Well I am new to the hobby but I have strictly paid attention to my water parameters. What makes water parameters stable? All of my ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alk, calc, and PH levels have been with in the normal parameters for as long as I've setup the tank.

 

[bhodges82]

Well I am new to the hobby but I have strictly paid attention to my water parameters. What makes water parameters stable? All of my ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alk, calc, and PH levels have been with in the normal parameters for as long as I've setup the tank.

Stability comes from regular maintenance and good husbandry, and time. Bacteria diversity also plays an important role in stability. A successful reef tank has more than just good water tests.

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[popsbjd]

Stability comes from regular maintenance and good husbandry, and time. Bacteria diversity also plays an important role in stability. A successful reef tank has more than just good water tests.

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Exactly.

I should clarify that when I said I have never had an anemone I wasn't saying it requires more than 10 years of experience. Rather, I wanted to convey that my husbandry knowledge on anemones would be less than others here. I am, in fact, considering an anemone for my current tank.

I think @bhodges82 gets it just right above. The regular maintenance and husbandry parts especially. As you say, your test results are within normal parameters and there are no doubt general swings in all our tanks throughout the day/week/month/interval between water changes. There isn't a magic recipe or additive for stability but it comes through a more thorough understanding of your tank's swings in parameters. You can achieve that stability through additives, water changes, nutrient export via algae, all of the above, etc. The time aspect, especially for new reefers, is to get a handle on this ebb and flow. Someone with years of anemone experience could likely have success early on in a tank (well before the 6 months-year that is generally recommended) based on their knowledge. I don't think you or your anemone are necessarily doomed though.

If I were to suggest a course of action it would be very regular water tests and changes in the coming weeks. Be especially mindful of ammonia and nitrite which hopefully remain at 0.

Some other questions answers to which might help:
What is the other stock in the tank?
How long has everything been in there?
What size is the tank?
What kind of filtration? Skimmer?

 

[ZapataInc]

Exactly.

I should clarify that when I said I have never had an anemone I wasn't saying it requires more than 10 years of experience. Rather, I wanted to convey that my husbandry knowledge on anemones would be less than others here. I am, in fact, considering an anemone for my current tank.

I think @bhodges82 gets it just right above. The regular maintenance and husbandry parts especially. As you say, your test results are within normal parameters and there are no doubt general swings in all our tanks throughout the day/week/month/interval between water changes. There isn't a magic recipe or additive for stability but it comes through a more thorough understanding of your tank's swings in parameters. You can achieve that stability through additives, water changes, nutrient export via algae, all of the above, etc. The time aspect, especially for new reefers, is to get a handle on this ebb and flow. Someone with years of anemone experience could likely have success early on in a tank (well before the 6 months-year that is generally recommended) based on their knowledge. I don't think you or your anemone are necessarily doomed though.

If I were to suggest a course of action it would be very regular water tests and changes in the coming weeks. Be especially mindful of ammonia and nitrite which hopefully remain at 0.

Some other questions answers to which might help:
What is the other stock in the tank?
How long has everything been in there?
What size is the tank?
What kind of filtration? Skimmer?

Thanks for your input.

I have two picasso clowns, one blue damsel (that i think im going to get rid of), a pistol shrimp, a diamond goby, 10 hermit crabs, and three snails from the previous owner. The pistol, goby, and snails have been in there for about a month, the other livestock i just got this weekend.

I have a IM 40gal AIO. Im using the stock filter sock and a tunze 9001 skimmer.

I do water changes about every week and half not because my levels are high just because I want to get into the habit and routine of how I will do my water changes. I havent had any major swings so far. And my ammonia has only spiked once and that was in the beginning when I first setup the tank. And its been 0 ever since with nitrites staying 0 and ive done water changes before my nitrates have reached 5ppm.