RBTA removal from rock...foot DEEP inside rock...

[cjsparky]

Got a RBTA that split into 3, and all 3 are hosting the same rock. All 3 have found 3 deep crevaces in the porous rock, and they are big now, so they are taking up too much tank space, and are big and flexible enough to stretch into the light no matter which way I turn the rock. Anyone have any ideas of how to get 1 or 2 off the rock to sell?

CJ

 

[bulldogg@me_com]

Put a power head in their direction. They really dislike it. Just keep an eye on them they like to move in the dark.

 

[smallblock]

If you have to and only if you have to you can use a toothpick to pry them up, I've done it a couple of times. I've even broke a rock with a hammer to remove some. You have to be extremely carefull though. They are very delicate.

Edit: people have also used ice cubes on their feet to get them to let go.

 

[90galguy]

Try water boarding!

 

[smallblock]

Also be ready to spend at least about an hour to do it right, Its like a boxing match with pillows

 

[mapleredta]

Very thrilled to hear my RBTA split. She was HUGE when I had her.

 

[cjsparky]

I am utterly disgusted. I read a strategy where you hold the rock over a bucket of salt water, and let the nem think it is low tide. He lets go, you scoop him up, and good to go. Holding the rock over the water, the very porous rock must have had a fissure,,,rock cracked in half, and ripped ont of the nems wide open at the foot. I had to remove it and euthanize that one...rock is going back in and I am never screwing with them again. I feel sick to my stomach that I just hurt a critter like that.

CJ

 

[smallblock]

the funny thing is well not funny but I'de bet the house if you put the damaged nem back in he would have made it. Sorry for your loss.

 

[cjsparky]

Now I feel worse...I diddnt want to put all the other living things in jeopardy to save the nem, and forums say that they can very easily crash a tank

Wish I tried now. Was an ugly tear though. Rock piece was very chalky.

 

[frantz]

don't beat yourself up too much my friend. You learned now, and as much as we hate it, we have all likely learned from some poor choices in this hobby. You still have 2 healthy nems that you grew from one, you must be doing something quite right.

 

[shafiq_hossain]

Okay, I have an idea but if it works you'll have to give me one of the three.

In any case, try touching the base of the anenome with an ice cube. You'll have to work fast since ice has a tendency to melt fast under 70+ temperature. Let us know if this works if you choose to do this. This is the least stressful way I can suggest.

 

[dakota9]

Modified Hanging Method! With a triple sow-cow Turkey Baster Technique

(I felt the need to punch up the name a lil bit)



It's all done at the water surface level of the tank. the nem stays in the water, more or less, the rock stays above the surface, more or less. Dipping the nem up and down in the water, but not pulling it completely out, while squirting well aimed jets of water at the edge of the foot to loosen the grip...

20 minutes later, you have a free floating and very healthy nem......



Please feel free to use this anytime, but it truly must be called the triple sow cow method, being that's it's patented and all.........

 

[90galguy]

What are some of the precautions that one can take to try and keep an anemone out of a powerhead? I can foresee a few sleepless nights when I get mine.

 

[cjsparky]

What kind of PH do you have?

You can wrap the intake vents in a spongy mesh type material, just rince them out once a week.

CJ

 

[dakota9]

Closed loop system, where all powerheads are behind a baffle, with water pouring over the top of the baffle returning to the powerheads....

works great for surface skimming too, also gives you a place to run additional media

Edit: I used 6" PVC pipe cut in half lenght wise, and the painted black, and drilled holes in it for the discharge of the powerheads

makes the tank completely anemone proof, and actually looks sharpe when done right

 

[90galguy]

Cjsparky;715331 wrote: What kind of PH do you have?

You can wrap the intake vents in a spongy mesh type material, just rince them out once a week.

CJ

I have two Koralia Evolution 1400s.

Edit:

Dakota9;715333 wrote: Closed loop system, where all powerheads are behind a baffle, with water pouring over the top of the baffle returning to the powerheads....

works great for surface skimming too, also gives you a place to run additional media

Edit: I used 6" PVC pipe cut in half lenght wise, and the painted black, and drilled holes in it for the discharge of the powerheads

makes the tank completely anemone proof, and actually looks sharpe when done right

Would you happen to have any pics? Sounds like it could be my next DIY project!

 

[cjsparky]

Have you seen the sponges that come with the Vortechs? A similar solution rigged to your PH's would work great

C

 

[90galguy]

I'll be researching that shortly!

 

[jennm]

I would have suggested leaving the torn bit too. I had one get impaled on overflow teeth, which prompted it to split after the fact. Both parts made it just fine.

The ice cube method scares me - I worry about freezer burning the delicate tissue.

I use the hanging method. Takes patience but it works - eventually. Or if I can get my fingernail under a bit of the foot, very carefully get it started - but I don't use tools to do it because with my finger I can feel and not try too hard and risk damaging it.

Sometimes changing up the flow can prompt it to go walkabout and that's when you can retrieve it when its foot isn't wedged into a crevice, but that doesn't always work.

Powerheads and intakes are a concern, especially when an anemone is placed in a new environment and will wander around until it finds its happy place. Even then, they can stay in the same place for months, then one day they decide to up and move.

It's a calculated risk we take - making sure that intakes are protected, etc., as much as possible, minimizes the risk.

They can do a number on corals too, if they sting them as they wander.

Jenn

Jenn

 

[dakota9]

90galguy;715334 wrote: I have two Koralia Evolution 1400s.

Edit:
Would you happen to have any pics? Sounds like it could be my next DIY project!

I have my 30 oceanic that I emptied a few weeks ago, I'll try snapping pictures of it tomorrow after I clean it up a bit.......

I spray painted the PVC but in retrospect, I would have gotten some black RIT Dye and dyed it instead. I had an urchin that would suck/scrape the paint off of it everytime he got on it........ It left white streaks that looked terrible until covered with coraline

Edit: oh. and I circulated my whole tank on a tunze 6045. it was great flpw in a 30 cube