Anemone looking funky (any help appreciated)

[redseanewbie]

So I got a nem in my tank. Yes it is an early tank but its been 50/50 from all these experts on if i could get one or not.

So he was doing great at first and then last night I came out and just noticed the fella curled up in a ball on the sandbed. Put him back into is general area and he now looks like this. Any thoughts on what is going on? The nem just looks so weird right now and I have no idea why he was just laying in the sand.

Before/after

 

[Lavey29]

How old is the tank? What are your complete parameters including par level and flow? Nems need established tanks to do well.

 

[redseanewbie]

How old is the tank? What are your complete parameters including par level and flow?

3 months
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 7.5
Salinity: 35
alk: 7
PH: 8.2
calcuim: 400
Phosphate: .5 ppm

Where nem was placed was 200 par. The same par he was sitting at when i pulled him out of a buddies tank

 

[Lavey29]

3 months
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 7.5
Salinity: 35
alk: 7
PH: 8.2
calcuim: 400
Phosphate: .5 ppm

Where nem was placed was 200 par. The same par he was sitting at when i pulled him out of a buddies tank

Numbers aren't bad. Phosphate slightly elevated and alk just a tad low. Par seems good. What's your flow there?

As mentioned, nems prefer established tanks not new ones. They will move on their own also to find a preferred spot.

 

[redseanewbie]

Numbers aren't bad. Phosphate slightly elevated and alk just a tad low. Par seems good. What's your flow there?

As mentioned, nems prefer established tanks not new ones. They will move on their own also to find a preferred spot.

I'm not sure how to describe my flow without just showing a video lol. I would say it was the correct flow. the anemone tentacles were moving around a bit but nothing crazy where it looks like it could peel off any moment.

 

[redseanewbie]

Is this fella dying or should he pop back up in your opinion?

 

[ajmckay]

Not an anemone expert at all but in the pic on the right and in the video it looks normal. Looks just like mine anyways.

Not sure what's the pic on the left in your first post - that doesn't look great lol. It's pretty normal for them to close up at night, you might have just caught it while it was trying to find a better spot. It should settle in somewhere soon.

 

[Lavey29]

I'm not sure how to describe my flow without just showing a video lol. I would say it was the correct flow. the anemone tentacles were moving around a bit but nothing crazy where it looks like it could peel off any moment.

Flow seems ok. In my opinion it's just not happy in a new set up tank going through ugly phases. Some suggest a year before adding nems because of the unstable parameters during the first year. I would just let him do his thing and if he decides to move on his own that's fine. Bring phosphate down a little. He may be irritated by your new tank algae.

 

[Jason boles]

looks as though it may be melting.

Have you added bacteria, copepods, and snails and such?

If it’s mouth is open and not closed that’s a really bad sign.

If mouth is closed that is a general good sign.

If it’s not sticking well to the rock rn i would put it in a basket at the bottom of the tank so it doesn’t float off and get in a power head.

Other than that it’s a wait and see.

Also, some your new to nems, they can deflate and inflate and look crazy at times. I don’t worry unless it happens for a couple days.

Mouth closed = good.

Mouth open = very bad

 

[Jason boles]

Also, just thought, if you have club / member near you they can offer you a piece of live rock and it could improve things.

I have shoved anemones in a tank that was 3 days old, but I also put in rock that had been wet for years.

 

[redseanewbie]

looks as though it may be melting.

Have you added bacteria, copepods, and snails and such?

If it’s mouth is open and not closed that’s a really bad sign.

If mouth is closed that is a general good sign.

If it’s not sticking well to the rock rn i would put it in a basket at the bottom of the tank so it doesn’t float off and get in a power head.

Other than that it’s a wait and see.

Also, some your new to nems, they can deflate and inflate and look crazy at times. I don’t worry unless it happens for a couple days.

Mouth closed = good.

Mouth open = very bad

hey, so yes I have added all those things a while back. I do not see it's mouth so i am taking that as a good thing. I just think he had a hard time moving yesterday and got caught up in some currents that pushed him on the sand bed. Will give it a day or 2 and revaluate. He was looking great until he had his little move

 

[Uncle99]

3 months
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 7.5
Salinity: 35
alk: 7
PH: 8.2
calcuim: 400
Phosphate: .5 ppm

Where nem was placed was 200 par. The same par he was sitting at when i pulled him out of a buddies tank

.5ppm phosphate? That’s high. In a new tank, very high.

He’s not going to like that much. They hate change. Not the cause but potentially a contributor.

In a 2 month tank can’t see the stability in water chemistry being there, but if it is, mop up that high phosphate with GFO down to say .1ppm ish…..

If he fell off the rock and is rolling around with the current and not resticking, that’s a sign of foot damage which can be fatal to this animal.

If he’s starts to come apart, discard.

 

[redseanewbie]

.5ppm phosphate? That’s high. In a new tank, very high.

He’s not going to like that much. They hate change. Not the cause but potentially a contributor.

In a 2 month tank can’t see the stability in water chemistry being there, but if it is, mop up that high phosphate with GFO down to say .1ppm ish…..

If he fell off the rock and is rolling around with the current and not resticking, that’s a sign of foot damage which can be fatal to this animal.

If he’s starts to come apart, discard.

Will do, just ordered some GFO. it just doesn't make sense. was looking very healthy as soon as he entered the tank and today he looks not so hot. Luckily does not look like he is melting. Just balled up and very very small