Leather Coral, Anemone and Tube Worm

[tigger7652]

I have started a reef tank about 6 months or so ago. 2 weeks ago I added a leather coral (kind of green with nubby fingers). The leather collaspsed (learned that they do this kind of stuff when moved). My water clouded, guess this stinker let me know he was unhappy. However, my anemone died within a few days, now my tube worm is still out but not eating of extending. Chromis is black (stressed). We have been making water changes (twice now). My husband has added something to try to clear up the water. Much better now but not clear. I did test the water and the Nitrate/Nitrite levels were off. Not real sure what they should be. I have one of the kits where you hold the tube up next to care to check color. Have moved leather to front center of tank - good water flow and lighting. He is still hanging upside down. Even if we rotate the rock some to try to get him heading up, he stretches to hang upside down. I know - leave him alone for a month.
Am I losing my tube worm? I should remove the leather or tough it out? Besides changing water, what else should I do. I do not have a skimmer on this small tank. Hoping to move to a 20 gal in the near future.

 

[the gift]

I think it is your nitrate/nitrite problems what are they exactly?

 

[tigger7652]

I am at work (working hard of course) but will check when I get home. I assume that is part of the problem. It hurts to see my tube worm just laying on the bottom. We tried to feed him krill but he would not hold to it as he usually does.

 

[reefkprz]

your tank is wayyyyy to young for an anemone.
leathers shrink but dont collapse when stressed. they do emit toxins into the water running fresh carbon should help.
if your reading any nitrites its bad you should read zero.
when you get a chance state all your parameters
specific gravity
ammonia
nitrite
nitrate
ph
KH
temperature
and if you can your phosphates
tank size
lighting type and watts
how much live sand live rock
this is the info people are going to need to help you discern the problem.

 

[barchtruong]

you said you will move to a 20gal tank in the future, so what are you having now?
Whatever tank size it is now, if it's less the 29gal, corals and anemones will not be happy cux water temp and conditions change so rapidly in a small tank.
What else do you have in the tank?
What kind of filtration do you have?
Coral+(Skimmer x Filtration) + Live Rock + Good Calcium + good light = healthy.
you need a skimmer if you have corals. That's a must.

 

[tigger7652]

I started small to learn, my husband feels the tank is too small for a skimmer. I keep saying it needs one. How do I check calcium level? It is only a 10 gallon tank. There is a purple tube worm, a feather duster who has now multiplied. A crown conch with a baby. 1 shrimp (we are now seeing baby shrimps moving around. About 10 lbs of live rock. Couple of turbo snails. 1 Chromis. There was a blenny but we had to move him. He was getting too big. A red algae - doing very well. A soft coral (looks like an orange tree and get white flowers). I have been very blessed with the tank so far - everything was going so good -although I kept telling my husband "nothing else" in the tank. Changes happened when addign the leather.
All invertibrate are very small
Oh, almost forgot - 2 tiny green crabs

 

[barchtruong]

gosh, your tank is crowded like NYC........
that's alot of activities going on in lil tiny 10gal tank.
To test calcium, you need to get the test kit at a lfs that has Calcium test bottes in there, instructions included.
you need 420ppm to 440ppm to keep corals happy
Another thing is, I think you tank crashed because of overloaded.
If you can ask someone you know that has a stable marine aquarium, send your leather coral there for a while. Keep changing water every day in a small portion. 1% or 2% everyday, that might save every body in that lil town.
And you need to upgrade to a bigger tank fast.
You need a lot more light then what you have now for that leather coral.

 

[tigger7652]

THANK YOU

[hr]
now maybe he will listen to me. YIPPEE! I want to purchase a compact light but he said it was too expensive. Now I can justify the entire upgrade.
P.S. We are running 2 45 gallon tanks as well. Lots of live rock in each. In one tank there is a serpent star, snails, foxface, blenny, chromis, green urchin. Do you think I could put the leather in there for now?

 

[barchtruong]

fox face in not 100% reef safe. But they are not so bad at messing around corals.
Green urchin, monitor him so he doesn't eat your corals.
every others are fine.
Prob. how's water parameter in that tank?lighting?flow?filtration?
If you don't have the right condition for corals, they will die quickly.

 

[tigger7652]

Now that you mention it, I moved the urchin because he wanted to eat everything in the tank. Put him in one tank and he kept stacking rocks on his head to hide so we moved once more. Now he is a happy camper. So, I guess moving will be out of the question. Guess I am going tank shopping !

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by tigger7652
I started small to learn, my husband feels the tank is too small for a skimmer.

smaller tanks are harder to learn on because they are so unforgiving the parameters can shift way too fast. its harder for things to swing fast in larger aquariums. that makes larger tanks more forgiving.
as for the skimmer, on a smaller tank like that with very little expirience all the filtration you can get wont hurt.

 

[reefkprz]

does the purple tube worm have long tentacles?

 

[tigger7652]

Yes, the purple tube has long tenacials. He stay in back of tank and peeks around the corner. I have a pink one also.
Tank was looking better last tank. I check on this morning before coming into work. Everyone is back out and looking great. My orange rod has flowered again. The tube worms are both extened and looking good. The feather duster is open also. I may have just lucked out on this one.
Yep, I probably did crash the tank. The leather is looking a bit better. Guess I still have to patient (not my strong suit). :cheer:
I am going for the larger tank as soon as I can. Will not, add anything else until then. Got lucky on this one. Thanks for all the advice. Have learned a bit from this experience.

 

[reefkprz]

sounds like a tube anemone, does it look like this? if it does that is a hunter killer type anemone and will sting the heck out of any fish even clowns, the perfect size hunting ground for them is a forty gallon breeder, wich means any thing in that ten gallon is in danger, including the tube anemone.

 

[tigger7652]

My tube anemone is a dark purple and the other one is a light pink. I handled them when originally placing in tank and was not stung. Seems that once I moved the leather coral away from the pink tube he opened up again and is quite happy once more. Whew! Got through this crisis. Thanks for letting me know to stay away from that one.

 

[reefkprz]

All tube anemones are hunters. be very wary when it comes to your fish, I have seen a tube anemone pull in a healthy 2"clownfish. the reach on them as they grow is very impressive. remember to keep all corals out of reach of it.
They are reef safe only if they cannot touch other anemones or corals. Current and light levels should be moderate to low. Tube Anemones are normally ready feeders, and should be offered solid foods frequently. Their stinging cells (nematocysts) are very powerful and they will damage or kill other inhabitants that come in contact with them including clown fish.
Colorations for the tentacles include brown, yellow, blue, green, pink, and purple. The tube that the anemone creates is generally grayish in color. The anemone's tentacles are long and thin and are visible emerging from the top of the tube.

 

[barchtruong]

what's the difference between tube worm and feather duster?

 

[reefkprz]

tube anemones have stinging tentacles and powerful nematocysts and are actually anemones, while a feather duster is actually a type of bristle worm and is a filter feeder and cant sting anything.