why did my anenome just die?

[scully]

Seriously, I'm feeling like I should be so done with this hobby.
K. here's the facts.
Had this guy for about 2 months, maybe a bit longer. In a pretty new tank. Finished first cycle only about 6 months ago.
It's a 55 gal (I know I know)
Have about 50 lbs of LR. No LS
have 2 percula clowns only for fish
2 sand stars
and a clean up crew of about 6 hermits and 6 snails
Fish, stars, and cleaners all seem really happy. And actually anenome just this am was doing very well best I could tell. Then tonight it just up and fell apart and died.
Temp is 80 and stable
SG = 1.026
Nitrite = 0
Ph = 8.4
Ammonia = almost .25
Nitrate = 10
Alk is normal
Had ich in tank and lost a blue hippo a little over a week ago. Changed nothing in tank. Tested 3 days ago and only difference is Nitrate is down from 20. Did a water change week and half ago after ich incident.
I have 2 65 watt compact lights (is that not enough)
We feed it 1/2 a frozen silverside about once a week.
and I've found I have a CRAP skimmer...which could be the problem???? We are researching which is REALLY the best.
And I currently have stringy cob webb looking things throughout (well there are probably 3 of them) my tank. What are those???
What (besides this newbie having an anenome in general) have I done wrong???

 

[exile415]

your ammonia is WAYY too high .. lower it by doing water changes and feel it less. was it hiding ? was it getting enough lighting

 

[squizz]

130 wats on a 55 gal tank is that enough?

 

[exile415]

i meant where was it placed. it should have been getting enough lighting.
also anemones like well established tanks. did you take it out and do a water change?
amonnia probably killed it. should have 0 ammonia alwyas

 

[maurice]

Exile is right,i think the ammonia got him,they do not like it one bit,nor does anything else in our tanks for that matter.I would do a few water changes over the next week and it will come back down.Did you check to see if you had a dead fish or anything like that in the tank you forgot?This will cause ammonia also.

 

[exile415]

yep.also if you have a lot of crap on the sand bed siphon it out

 

[feixjai]

your ammonia and nitrate may be cause by over feeding. how often do you feed and when do you feed? 130 watts is not enough for a 55. the rule for lighting is 2-5watts for soft corals and 6-8 for sps and anemones.

 

[scully]

Sorry for posting then going MIA. Been super busy.
Nothing is dead in the tank. I'm probably over feeding. My clowns are little piggies and get all sad looking when I skip a day.
I've been feeding them in the evening. I put in enough to finish within 3 minutes or so. Not more. I guess I'll have to go to every other day. It's just weird though because when I do that they get all pouty and hang out in one section of the tank.
thanks

 

[speg]

What kinda filtration besides the skimmer are you using?
You may wanna consider upgrading and possibly think about stickin some carbon in there.. at least until this problem is solved. Also do weekly water changes until the problem is fixed, and then maybe only bi-weekly .. keep testing and if the problem comes back switch right back to weekly 10% water changes.
You shouldnt have to skip a day of feeding.. but doing it until the ammonia is back at zero may be for the best.
Also you could probably use some stronger lighting for sure if you plan on keeping a anemone again.
Last but not least.. have your water tested by a local fish store just to make sure that your testings are the same as theirs.

 

[dea_mt]

Originally Posted by Scully
And I currently have stringy cob webb looking things throughout (well there are probably 3 of them) my tank. What are those???
look closely where the strings are coming from...they are probably tube worms. they have like a calcified straw looking thing which they let those "stringy cob webb looking things" out of to catch food. they are nothing to worry about. they are perfectly harmless if not beneficial!
BTW if you watch them closely sometimes you will see them pulling the string in to feed on whatever they have caught