anemone made nitrate jump

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
With plant life the cycle is changed from the aerobic bacterial ammonia->nitrIte->Nitrate to the planted cycle of at most a nitrate spike. Because the plant life prefers to get its nitrogen from ammonia.
So you added the anemone, increased ammonia production and plant life (macro algaes and even corraline on the live rock) consumed the ammonia directly. But slowed down nitrAte consumption and therefore there was a nitrAte jump.
Hopefully in a couple of weeks the nitrates will go back down.
my .02
 

taylor1556

New Member
It seems to be healthly and happy. I hope the water is under control I have been watching it and the nitrates are below 10 and staying there. Just made me nervous at first. I though I was doing every thing as best I could. Live sand and live rock and a month water cycle. Just got a little ahead and listen to the lfs with asking anyone else. All seems well though thanks again. I do have one question I cant find on the internet. A few of the tenicals turn an off color and shrink really small. No more than maybe ten or so at at time and they dont stay that way. Just at time i notice they do that and later back to normal just wondering what thats about and if its normal. Thanks again
 

fibinotchi

Member
Anemones will go through cycles of expansion and contraction, where they will puff up very large, and then shrink down to almost nothing. This is their way of balancing internal water chemistry and flushing
wastes out of their system. Some anemones will expand and contract as often as once a day, but anything more than this is a sign that something is annoying the anemone. For the most part, the anemone should remain fully inflated almost all of the time, and definitely during the daylight hours when the light is brightest. If an anemone spends too much time contracted, there is something bothering it. Hope this helps.
 
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