slycoolman
Member
Hi guys, here's my story.
My tank is a standard 20 gallon with what I understand is too much lighting (175 watt halide) and a big skimmer. I do ~20% water changes biweekly and the tank is nearly loaded to the top with live rock except for a clearing that extends under a piece of rock to the back of the tank, creating a shady zone that the animals seem to love. There still seems to be a bit of a cyano problem, but hair algae has long since vanished and coralline is on the rise. Water seems perpetually sparkling clear.
For the past six months I have been slowly adding softies (Kenya Tree, Zoas, Palys, Xenia, Star Polyps, Sarcophyton) and one hard coral (Lobophyllia) to my tank. They have appeared to do well and some have grow significantly. I have several crustaceans (4 Pep Shrimp, Dwarf Hermit Crabs), though my HUGE cleaner shrimp recently died from what I believe to be old age, and my beloved arrow crab MAY have died "for no reason" (though he could also have simply shed and has not reappeared yet). I also have a few whelks (Nassarius) and two turbo snails, plus a Leopard puffer, Domino damsel, and Steinitz's goby.
Last week, I ordered a "Red Bottom Anemone" from the lfs, thinking that it could be either a bubble tip or a condy (LTAs were listed elsewhere), both of which I thought I could handle. What came in actually looked more like a Het. aurora, my favourite anemone. I looked on the internet for an hour but could find no info on this creature. I placed it on a high flow area near the top of the tank, and it expanded marvellously, though it arrived at the store nearly inside out and still had an open mouth.
It fell off it's spot at one point in the darkness, and when I woke up he was still partially inflated. I moved him very carefully to an area near the bottom which had flat rocks nearby and sand below. He re-expanded through to the end of the day. When lights went out (bulb is on a timer), I shined a flashlight into the tank, and the pep shrimp and damselfish scattered in all directions away from the anemone. I didn't think much of it and went to bed.
In the morning, I found the anemone totally deflated and starting to "leak". I ended up throwing the anemone out that evening as it stunk horribly.
So I called the lfs and they said they would get me another anemone. I told them to get a sebae nem instead, as these tend to be hardier (according to Bob Fenner).
Questions:
1. Should I cancel the order altogether? Could my tank simply be unable to house a nem?
2. What could I have done wrong with the first nem?
3. Any recommendations regarding the sebae? I have researched them extensively, but would like more opinions.
4. Any other advice regarding my tank in general?
Sorry for the long post. Thank you in advance!
My tank is a standard 20 gallon with what I understand is too much lighting (175 watt halide) and a big skimmer. I do ~20% water changes biweekly and the tank is nearly loaded to the top with live rock except for a clearing that extends under a piece of rock to the back of the tank, creating a shady zone that the animals seem to love. There still seems to be a bit of a cyano problem, but hair algae has long since vanished and coralline is on the rise. Water seems perpetually sparkling clear.
For the past six months I have been slowly adding softies (Kenya Tree, Zoas, Palys, Xenia, Star Polyps, Sarcophyton) and one hard coral (Lobophyllia) to my tank. They have appeared to do well and some have grow significantly. I have several crustaceans (4 Pep Shrimp, Dwarf Hermit Crabs), though my HUGE cleaner shrimp recently died from what I believe to be old age, and my beloved arrow crab MAY have died "for no reason" (though he could also have simply shed and has not reappeared yet). I also have a few whelks (Nassarius) and two turbo snails, plus a Leopard puffer, Domino damsel, and Steinitz's goby.
Last week, I ordered a "Red Bottom Anemone" from the lfs, thinking that it could be either a bubble tip or a condy (LTAs were listed elsewhere), both of which I thought I could handle. What came in actually looked more like a Het. aurora, my favourite anemone. I looked on the internet for an hour but could find no info on this creature. I placed it on a high flow area near the top of the tank, and it expanded marvellously, though it arrived at the store nearly inside out and still had an open mouth.
It fell off it's spot at one point in the darkness, and when I woke up he was still partially inflated. I moved him very carefully to an area near the bottom which had flat rocks nearby and sand below. He re-expanded through to the end of the day. When lights went out (bulb is on a timer), I shined a flashlight into the tank, and the pep shrimp and damselfish scattered in all directions away from the anemone. I didn't think much of it and went to bed.
In the morning, I found the anemone totally deflated and starting to "leak". I ended up throwing the anemone out that evening as it stunk horribly.
So I called the lfs and they said they would get me another anemone. I told them to get a sebae nem instead, as these tend to be hardier (according to Bob Fenner).
Questions:
1. Should I cancel the order altogether? Could my tank simply be unable to house a nem?
2. What could I have done wrong with the first nem?
3. Any recommendations regarding the sebae? I have researched them extensively, but would like more opinions.
4. Any other advice regarding my tank in general?
Sorry for the long post. Thank you in advance!
