I've Killed My LT Anemone

[misty7850]

My Long Tentacle anemone which I've had for a couple months has died. It looked fine last night when I got home from work (about 12:30am). This morning I couldn't find it anywhere, then finally noticed it up under some of the rocks. It is all bleached out and disinigrating.

It moved around in the tank a couple times when we first moved it to 45 gallon, then found a spot to the left back side of the tank and settle in there nicely. No strange behaviors seen. Spot feed twice a week, it ate very good. I'm baffled.
The only thing I can think of is we recently upgraded from the 30 gallon to a 46 gallon bowfront, that has regular flourescent lighting that came with the aquarium. We haven't got the hood we are building finished yet which has the upgraded VHO lighting. Probably should have just left everything in the 30 gallon, till we had the hood built.. I've killed my anemone, I feel so bad.
Water Parametors: (using Salifert test kits)
Temp 84
PH 8.2
Am 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40
KH 9.0
ALK 3.20
Cal 400
Phos 0.03
SG 1.026
Salinity 35 I use hydrometer
I use RO Water
Skimmer: Amiracle PS-2
Sump: 10 Gallon
PH maxi jet 900 and Rio 600 in tank
Rio 600 on skimmer
Rio 2100 return pump from sump
first picture was taken when we transfering it to 46 bowfront
second two pictures, taken this morning, are what you don't want your anemone to look like.

 

[knhs0811]

I feel for you!!! I just lost my LT anemone yesterday. It had been doing so well for 3 months, then quickly turned on me. I had just done a water change about a week ago. Tested the water after 48 hours, everything perfect. I have not changed the lighting, the timers, or the flow since I first bought my anemone. My temp is between 80-81 constantly. I also spot fed 2x week. I spoke to the LFS, and he stated he had recently learned something about anemones...apparently leather corals and anemones have like "chemical warfare" in the tank. Strange, but it is the only thing we could think of. I have a leather about in the middle of my 55gal and the anemone was at the far left end of my tank. Just a thought for you....don't know if you have a leather or not, but may have something to do with it. Can anyone confirm the statement about the "chemical warfare"??? :notsure:

I am sorry for your loss.

 

[misty7850]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss also.
No I don't have a leather coral. I acclimated the anemone when I first got it per the quidelines on this site. I figure it was because of the lighting. Should have waited till we got the vho's up and running before transferring everything to new tank.. As for the chemical warfare, haven't heard that one. Would be interesting to hear more about it. I thought I've seen many pictures posted with both in tanks together.

 

[chrisnym]

I too am getting worried about my LTA. Got him about a month ago. He has been moving all over the tank. Lately I have been spot feeding him and he is not accepting the krill. He still looks fine. But I am nervous since he is not eating.

 

[viper_930]

I think it could've either been the lights and/or any temp swings that dealt him in. How high is the temp during the night? In the first pic the anemone already looks severely bleached.
I've never heard any potential problems about the leathers and anemones. But two anemones (of different species) could engage in chemical warefare.
ChrisNYM, begin another thread so we can help you better. Please post a pic of your anemone if you can and your system specs.

 

[chrisnym]

gotcha...sorry for hijacking this thread. i will take a pic tomorrow and i will start a new thread. thanks

 

[jmick]

What exactly are you baffled about? A LTA + NO lighting = dead anemone.
Yes, anemones and some corals will wage chemical warfare against each other. If you have a garden reef make sure you run activated charcoal and make sure you have a quality skimmer.

 

[misty7850]

Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
I think it could've either been the lights and/or any temp swings that dealt him in. How high is the temp during the night? In the first pic the anemone already looks severely bleached.
.

Viper_930, the temp usually maintains about 81.5-82 at night. It started spiking higher this week, (after the anemone died) to 85-86. and I put a fan in the cabinet, blowing accross the water in the sump, during the day and off at night. Now the temp stays between 81.5-82.4
Thats why I figure it was the lights. We were supposed to have the hood finished within that couple days after we got the aquarium, but some problems arose which put a damper in the plans, ujnfortunately. Thanks for the input

 

[diane4]

I think 84 is too high of a temp.
My tank is around 78 F and maybe the heat was too much for him. Try bringing downt he temp to 76-80 range.

 

[misty7850]

Originally Posted by Jmick
What exactly are you baffled about? A LTA + NO lighting = dead anemone.

Jmick, Exactly what I was baffled about is how the anemone seemed to be fine the day before it died. I had spot fed it, ate well as usual... Looked fine when I got home from work at 12:30pm... yet just 6 hours later its dead... That is what baffled me..
I know that A LTA & NO lighting - dead anemone... But we were supposed to have the hood with VHO lighting finished, up and running within the first couple days of getting the aquarium.. we had problems arise that unfortunately (for the anemone) put a damper on the plans..
I guess I've learned a lesson, from my stupidity... I already felt bad about the situation, now I feel worse... Its not like I intentionally meant to murder it.

 

[popnfrresh]

i think a combo of the amonia and the lights... and the temp... not so much the lights after a coyupld of days but the temp and the amonia... they cannot take amonia at all.... that would be my geuss

 

[snipe]

I feel bad for ya. It dose look pail as mine is always a yellowish color.