anemone dying?

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Hi guys, totally new to this hobby and have a concern. I have a bio cube 32 and added my first anemone a week ago. The tank is simple. just a small clown and diamond gobby, plus CUC and a cleaner shrimp. The tank is newer but was started with 15 year old rock that was thriving and it completely cycled in 72 hours. T was two months ago. All parameters seems in line with actually 0 amn, nit, nat. green, purple and brown algae present and in control.

The first few days the anemone looked amazing but tended to move to lower areas and under overhangs. The last three days, he's completely upside down under a rock and has not shown his tentacles for three days. he's seems still attached well, I fed a little reef rods and no change at all. Interesting enough, my one very small coral frag (added a month ago) seemed to shrink up completely the same day and has come back out at all. They were never close to each other. any advise? I can't get the the bubble anemone to look into its mouth.

Wen · Jul 8, 2021

Stv said:
Hi guys, totally new to this hobby and have a concern. I have a bio cube 32 and added my first anemone a week ago. The tank is simple. just a small clown and diamond gobby, plus CUC and a cleaner shrimp. The tank is newer but was started with 15 year old rock that was thriving and it completely cycled in 72 hours. T was two months ago. All parameters seems in line with actually 0 amn, nit, nat. green, purple and brown algae present and in control.

The first few days the anemone looked amazing but tended to move to lower areas and under overhangs. The last three days, he's completely upside down under a rock and has not shown his tentacles for three days. he's seems still attached well, I fed a little reef rods and no change at all. Interesting enough, my one very small coral frag (added a month ago) seemed to shrink up completely the same day and has come back out at all. They were never close to each other. any advise? I can't get the the bubble anemone to look into its mouth.

What kind of lights? Water parameters? Etc...

Your tank is probably not mature enough, your lights may be too strong / too dim, your water chemistry may be off...

Sorry for your troubles, keep researching and you’ll find the answer.

Jekyl · Jul 8, 2021

If you used mature rock, then maturity isn't an issue. What is your nitrate, alk and phosphate? What lights? Don't try and move or feed it until it settles on its own.

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Wen said:
What kind of lights? Water parameters? Etc...

Your tank is probably not mature enough, your lights may be too strong / too dim, your water chemistry may be off...

Sorry for your troubles, keep researching and you’ll find the answer.

Thanks for replying so fast.

Sg 1.0245
Ph: 8.3
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

light is stock bio cube on 8 hour cycle
I know it’s early to try one for a general rule but I thought I’d take my chances. I just got a look at him finally and he’s still completely upside down and hiding from all light but he’s half open. The coral on the other hand is showing no signs of life at all. First pic is coral for a month until the anemone was added and started hiding. Second is the coral now. Third is the bubble at bottom of the tank upside down hiding from any light at all.

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Stv said:
Thanks for replying so fast.

Sg 1.0245
Ph: 8.3
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

light is stock bio cube on 8 hour cycle
I know it’s early to try one for a general rule but I thought I’d take my chances. I just got a look at him finally and he’s still completely upside down and hiding from all light but he’s half open. The coral on the other hand is showing no signs of life at all. First pic is coral for a month until the anemone was added and started hiding. Second is the coral now. Third is the bubble at bottom of the tank upside down hiding from any light at all.

Btw. I don’t have a way to read phos yet but I’m ordering today.

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Stv said:
Btw. I don’t have a way to read phos yet but I’m ordering today.

Running a UV, skimmer, water temp 78.3. Water quality is great. All algae’s present but not going crazy. The rock is really really mature and why I took the risk.

Jekyl · Jul 8, 2021

Nitrate being zero is an issue. My nems like it best around 10 or so. Stock lighting may or may not be enough but isn't your current issue. I would increase the nitrates and give it some time. That anemone you have looks bleached already. Which means you're starting with an uphill battle. Your duncan is likely suffering from the same issue. No nitrate means no food.

Jekyl · Jul 8, 2021

Will you take a full tank shot in white light for me?

Jekyl · Jul 8, 2021

The other important test you are missing is alkalinity.

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Jekyl said:
Nitrate being zero is an issue. My nems like it best around 10 or so. Stock lighting may or may not be enough but isn't your current issue. I would increase the nitrates and give it some time. That anemone you have looks bleached already. Which means you're starting with an uphill battle. Your duncan is likely suffering from the same issue. No nitrate means no food.

okay thank you. I was spot feeding with roids and shrimp until I could get it up a bit. Just read right now and it’s at 2.5ppm. Taking a pic for you now. Have to reset lighting schedule to do so. Standby and thank you so much for all the advise everyone.

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Jekyl said:
Will you take a full tank shot in white light for me?

Here’s the white light look. Second image is hard to see but it’s where the anemone is hiding upside down.

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Stv said:
Here’s the white light look. Second image is hard to see but it’s where the anemone is hiding upside down.

Come to think of it, my turbo snails are usually all over the place and I haven’t seen any of the four move in two days.

Jekyl · Jul 8, 2021

I definitely wouldn't recommend going in there after it. Unless you notice it deteriorating the best you can do is leave it be. Mine have hid for a week straight at times and are fine. Get your nitrates up around 10 and then keep it stable around there. Get a good set of test kits like salifert if you haven't yet. Alk, nitrate, phosphate, calcium, magnesium and Ph are the usual required ones for coral. With it being bleached and your first attempt it's going to be rough. Check forums on here or other local reefers for coral/anemone. Better prices and health.

Jekyl · Jul 8, 2021

The other good thing to have if you want to keep anemone is a hospital tank and having cipro on hand. In the event nems have issues a lot of times can save them.

Jekyl · Jul 8, 2021

Welcome to R2R BTW!

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Jekyl said:
I definitely wouldn't recommend going in there after it. Unless you notice it deteriorating the best you can do is leave it be. Mine have hid for a week straight at times and are fine. Get your nitrates up around 10 and then keep it stable around there. Get a good set of test kits like salifert if you haven't yet. Alk, nitrate, phosphate, calcium, magnesium and Ph are the usual required ones for coral. With it being bleached and your first attempt it's going to be rough. Check forums on here or other local reefers for coral/anemone. Better prices and health.

I can’t thank you enough and I’m using junk test kits so I’ll invest in your recommendation. Honestly I didn’t know he was bleached or I wouldn’t have got him, he was that color when I bought him.

any advise on the coral? Pics above of how healthy he was for over a month and then just disappeared 4 days ago never to see any life since.

Jekyl · Jul 8, 2021

Stv said:
I can’t thank you enough and I’m using junk test kits so I’ll invest in your recommendation. Honestly I didn’t know he was bleached or I wouldn’t have got him, he was that color when I bought him.

any advise on the coral? Pics above of how healthy he was for over a month and then just disappeared 4 days ago never to see any life since.

Hard to see because the after is a blue pic. However if all that is left is the hard skeleton then its probably had polyp bail out. Coral in new tanks is rough. You said the rock is 15 years old but doesn't look it. Usually rocks aren't white after a few months. I would hold off on any other coral until you get the mentioned tests. Once you do posts the results on this forum. Plenty of people on here can help you with parameters and means to correct them. The key is to get those 6 parameters into acceptable ranges and then keep them steady. Newer tanks have issues keeping coral because nothing is steady.

Stv · Jul 8, 2021

Jekyl said:
Hard to see because the after is a blue pic. However if all that is left is the hard skeleton then its probably had polyp bail out. Coral in new tanks is rough. You said the rock is 15 years old but doesn't look it. Usually rocks aren't white after a few months. I would hold off on any other coral until you get the mentioned tests. Once you do posts the results on this forum. Plenty of people on here can help you with parameters and means to correct them. The key is to get those 6 parameters into acceptable ranges and then keep them steady. Newer tanks have issues keeping coral because nothing is steady.

Will do. Thank you for your time and knowledge.