Dead Anenome

[purduemaximus]

I just had an anenome die and it clouded up the water. Now a lot of my coral is closing up I don't think they like the water quality at all. Do I need to do anything or just let it run its course? I don't want anything else to die. I am not sure why this guy didn't make it anyway.

[zhenya]

I would do a water change and run some carbon asap.BTW,how old is your tank and how long you've had this anemone?

[Chuck S]

I would do a 25% water change and run some carbon as suggested. I would also stay away from anemone's for a while. Your tank is not that aged and if I am right this anemone was only in your tank for less than two weeks. Let your tank mature a bit.

[purduemaximus]

So what you are saying is that anenomes need mature tanks? Is that right? I am curious as to why and why my LFS didn't tell me this. Also I just added another powerhead. Do you think it could have died from lack of current? I was only moving about 100-170 gallons per hour (now close to 300 in a 29 gal tank) would that have made a difference?

[Chuck S]

Local Fish Stores are only concerned about money. I said mature because you just setup the tank and have had a problem. You bought an anemone which is a hard to keep animal and it died within two weeks. I would check every water parameter and make sure things are where they need to be which I have stated before. My point being to discourage you from wasting your money on other organisms while obviously something is wrong. Anemone's in general die for alot of people because they can not provide for their needs.
They need ultra clean water and a whole lot of light. They are basically a big coral without a skeleton. Multiply a coral polyps by a hundred or thousand and you would have an anemone. Soft corals are alot more forgiving than SPS corals. Anemone's are the same level of care as SPS corals. This kind of care and attention usually takes time.

[zhenya]

Can I offer one more suggestion as well?Before you buy an anemone,please think of the size of this animal as it will grow.If you intend to keep an anemone in a 29g tank,there not going to be much room left for other things.Anemones tend to grow rather large if fed and provided with proper water quality as Chuck stated and will sting your corals badly.I lerned the hard way and lost quite a few prized frags /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ugh.gif

[zhenya]

Here's what a healthy anemone will look like and it's in a 110g tank.Note that it's taken up a whole left side of the tank.

[Chuck S]

Or rather make a 29 gallon tank an anemone tank /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[David Grigor]

Our local reef club president has a sebae in his 75g. He has had it 8 years and now takes up 2/3's of the entire tank from top to bottom.

After seeing what can happen in just 8 years was enough testiment to having an anemone unless your prepared for it to take over the whole thing. That is of course if you can keep it alive for 8 years........

[zhenya]

Great idea Chuck /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gifI'm going to be a proud owner ofa rose bta tank wich is 110g soon /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nerd.gifNot such bad trade off in my case as I love the creature and have another tank for other stuff.