Roaming or Rolling LTA

[mkaiman]

Thanks for the post and your knowledgable insight is well taken. The anemone has been looking a little bit piqued over the past 2x days. Today I did a 2 x gal water change (distilled). Filtered H20 seems to promote green and brown (diatom) algae growth. I suppose the PO4 levels are too high. It's a steep learning curve and not only heartbreaking but also costly. It's what you can't see that can kill you and the inhabitants in your tank. I'm not only speaking of the chemicals but also the advice of the LFS mongers. Great site with many words to the unwise.
Thanks.

 

[Sherman]

A cycle takes 6 to 8 weeks, there's no way around that, regardless of size. Biology is biology, even in a small tank. I also don't believe stirring the sand did anything at all, even to the clown. Being only 3 weeks old, there's nothing in the sand yet to do any damage. Of all lighting options out there, actinic is the least likely to supplement algae growth. Algae grows in yellow light, not blue, so the lower Kelvin you run, the more light the algae can use.

You need to test your water for ammonia and nitrates, both. In addition, the anemone is going to want sufficient chemistry across the board, and I'm honestly very concerned that your tank simply cannot reliably provide this.

Give your tank another month or two without adding any livestock (short of a cleaning crew, in time), and let things settle down and level off/stabilize. At three weeks old, you have quite the chemistry and biology experiment going on in there, for sure.

Keep up posted as things progess!

Edit: Weird, I didn't even see the second page of replies! So.. read my post understanding I only saw the first page.

So, with updated info, it sounds like you're headed the right way now. I've found Web forums to be more helpful than anything else, and I'm so appreciative. Please feel invited to ask about anything you might need help with, that's what it's all about!

Oh,and distilled water? Do you have a source for RO/DI? That's really the only way to go, if you want what's best. Most LFS sell RO/DI for about $.25/gallon, or something, if you're not ready to dish out $200 for your own unit.

 

[mkaiman]

Thanks so much for the advice. I performed a 2x gal distilled H2O change yesterday. The test kit should arrive tomorrow (PH, alk, Nitrate, NH4). Regardless, I'm going to bring a sample to the LFS for testing. I'll see if I can get some RO/DI water from the store. Is there a chance that the anemone will pull thru. Some of its tenacles are contracted.

 

[Sherman]

No one wants to be the bad guy, but this is one of those advice times when you say "You'll thank me later. Trust me." Unfortunately, some see it as "heat" or "coming down on you." That's not the case at all. There are two goals: Not killing an animal, and keeping a reefer in the hobby, by helping him make as few mistakes as possible, so he doesn't want to quit.

I'd find a new home for the anemone. Even if it makes it through this tank cycle (No livestock should have seen the tank for a couple months, let alone an anemone, one of the touchiest animals out there), I would be surprised to see it last beyond a few short months. In addition, an LTA in 14g is rather insane, than anemone could grow to touch all glass surfaces in a tank that small.

Find a source for RO/DI. I've never used distilled water, but I understand it's not really suitable for an aquarium. You could be setting that tank up to be quite the algae farm in time, with all the potential impurities.

 

[Damsel13]

hi mkaiman

I think Sherman gave you some great humane advice for your anemone. I would keep it and pretend it wasn't there... it is probably already too stressed to make it back to a store.
I think at this point you should let everything be except for SMALL water changes.
IMHO that is in my humble opinion

Debbie

 

[mkaiman]

Fortunately/unfortunately hindsight is 20:20. I have been doing twice weekly 1.5 gal water changes and the anemone is perking up. It was small when I purchased it and the LFS sales person did not advise against it knowing that it was for 1a 14 gal nano.

 

[mkaiman]

The anemone is doing great. Nitrites are 0.1, pH 8.2. Up and runiing ~7 weeks so far. Using RO water.

 

[Jan]

that is good news. how is the color?

Do you have any opportunity to upgrade the lighting? Your anemone will need more light in order to survive long term.

 

[Damsel13]

I am finding anemones are amazing! Mine hid for a week. Still don't know if we are out of the woods. I followed returnofsid 's advice and left it alone. Darn that was hard! And I think we are all going to make it!

Debbie

 

[mkaiman]

that is good news. how is the color?

Do you have any opportunity to upgrade the lighting? Your anemone will need more light in order to survive long term.

I have a 14g Nano-Cube with a 10,000 and a 24K actinic. I run them ~12hrs/day. Daily dosing with Bi-Iionic buffer. The color of the anmone is back and he is photosynthsizing well, I presume. Its tenticles which retracted are coming back. I know that the water changes are important as well as the chemistry but I can't help but believe that the clown fish are helping it as well.

 

[Jan]

It sounds positive, and you're right the clownfish may be helping by feeding the anemone, either directly or indirectly. I've read that when lighting is not ideal, extra food is very helpful. And I'm by no means an expert on this I've just done some reading because I like them and want to have a healthy one some day.

 

[mkaiman]

Well... the anemone died quite suddendly.
It appeared as if it deflated quite suddenly because of physical means. I was very upset as were the clown fish as well. The anemone was replaced with a torch coral which the clowns seem to take to much less but feed it and sleep with it at night. 3x clown fish for a 5 inch anemone seems to be too much. I still want to get another anemone but I am not sure what kind may be the hardiest.

 

[Damsel13]

I am sorry for your loss.

 

[mkaiman]

I missed having an anemone in the tank with 3 aquacultured clarkiis. My local LFS had a BTA on display which appeared very healthy. I couldn't resist it so I adopted it. My numbers have been good and the tank is stable so I thought it would be a safe bet. Well...the largest of the Clarkiis got very aggressive and displaced the other 2 to a corner of the tank. He is the sole hostee of the anemone and comes out just to put the other guys in their place. The anemone is doing great. He moves and acts as described for this species. I guess this post now becomes a clown fish issue as the anemone is no longer the victim of a new tank.