I need help with my rock flower nems

Aquatic0627 · May 10, 2020

How will I know if my two rock flower anemones are dead or dying. Since getting them a month ago they won't plant their feet anywhere. They were constantly moving around. One of them is deflated and both of their mouths is open. One of their mouths looks inverted and he keeps ending up face down in the sand. The other one will stay right side up but he won't plant his foot anywhere either. I'm not sure what's going on with them but my other nems are doing well. Do you have any suggestions? Today my parameters are ammonia 0, nitrate 5, nitrite 0.25 (detectable nitrites started yesterday after adding 4 new fish a few days ago), ph 8, salinity 1.025, temp 78, strontium 9, magnesium 1350, kh 12 and calcium is 520. I'm using Current USA Ramp Pro LED's. I do weekly 10% water changes with RO water. Thank you for reading this long post.

DothanReefer · May 10, 2020

i wish i could help - i have no idea though. i am very interested in any experienced comments you recieve as i'll be receiving my first RFA this coming Thursday. best of luck to figuring it out OP!!

New&no clue · May 10, 2020

How long has your tank been set up? I have Current lights as well, depending on how high they are mounted and how deep your tank is they might not have enough PAR for an anemone

Cambrian Reef · May 10, 2020

Don't know if you really need help. We have 5 in our tank and they have all done what yours have. They are interesting creatures to say the least. They have sat in one place for months only to move and stay in the new spot before moving agin. We had one we swore was dead only to wake up the next morning to se it fully open and colorful. Just enjoy as i'm sure they will be fine. Can't get enough of their color and their strange habits.

Aquatic0627 · May 10, 2020

New&no clue said:
How long has your tank been set up? I have Current lights as well, depending on how high they are mounted and how deep your tank is they might not have enough PAR for an anemone

The lights are mounted flush to the top of the tank. I run blue at 100% and white is atleast 50% the tank has been running for 5 months

SamMule · May 10, 2020

Is your flow too high? Might be blowing them around too much.

Leslie Tabor · May 10, 2020

I had this experience when I first tried RFA in my 120 gal. I just don't think the tank was mature enough. They shouldn't move if they are happy. That is the nice thing about them. They are either not getting enough light/flow or too much. They like their feet buried at the base of the rock work in the sand.

DothanReefer · May 10, 2020

Leslie Tabor said:
I had this experience when I first tried RFA in my 120 gal. I just don't think the tank was mature enough. They shouldn't move if they are happy. That is the nice thing about them. They are either not getting enough light/flow or too much. They like their feet buried at the base of the rock work in the sand.

What kind of PAR do yours get there? Does it matter?

Leslie Tabor · May 10, 2020

DothanReefer said:
What kind of PAR do yours get there? Does it matter?

I have no idea. I have the T5 hybrid with the Radions so I don't worry about light I guess. I may rent/borrow one some day.

ShepherdReefer · May 10, 2020

I don't know either...With the alkalinity at 12, which I read we should keep the levels between 8-12 dkh, and your levels at 12...on the higher side, could that be causing the problem?...trying to help. I think I read somewhere about Alk impacts the PH and the PH should be around 8.1-8.4 in a reef tank and with yours at 8...maybe that is little low. Again, just trying to help. Im learning also.

ShepherdReefer · May 10, 2020

Leslie Tabor said:
I had this experience when I first tried RFA in my 120 gal. I just don't think the tank was mature enough. They shouldn't move if they are happy. That is the nice thing about them. They are either not getting enough light/flow or too much. They like their feet buried at the base of the rock work in the sand.

Do we need a sand bed for these guys?

Aquatic0627 · May 10, 2020

SamMule said:
Is your flow too high? Might be blowing them around too much.

I turned the powerhead off so now it's just the flow from the two filters and the protein skimmer.

NB Reefer · May 10, 2020

ShepherdReefer said:
Do we need a sand bed for these guys?

Usually, RFAs need a sandbed. Some can survive just on a rock but most like to live on the edge where rock meets the sand.

Big G · May 10, 2020

Aquatic0627 said:
How will I know if my two rock flower anemones are dead or dying. Since getting them a month ago they won't plant their feet anywhere. They were constantly moving around. One of them is deflated and both of their mouths is open. One of their mouths looks inverted and he keeps ending up face down in the sand. The other one will stay right side up but he won't plant his foot anywhere either. I'm not sure what's going on with them but my other nems are doing well. Do you have any suggestions? Today my parameters are ammonia 0, nitrate 5, nitrite 0.25 (detectable nitrites started yesterday after adding 4 new fish a few days ago), ph 8, salinity 1.025, temp 78, strontium 9, magnesium 1350, kh 12 and calcium is 520. I'm using Current USA Ramp Pro LED's. I do weekly 10% water changes with RO water. Thank you for reading this long post.

@Ron Reefman

Ron Reefman · May 10, 2020

OK, first I'll suggest you go and read this entire thread, there is a ton of good advice there.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ron-reefmans-rock-flower-experience.409436/

RFAs like to be at the edge of a rock and the sand. They like to set their foot below the surface of the sand and attached to a rock. So if your rocks are sitting on the sand they may not find the spot easily. If your rocks are pushed down in the sand, it may be better.

For the OP, I seriously recommend trying the PVC pipe end cap idea in the linked thread listed above. I have 35 RFA in a 16g tank. All but a couple are in PVC end caps and none of them ever move! I'd also recommend you set up a spare container for these 2 RFAs. It doesn't have to be big, a Tupperware container works well. Fill it with water from your tank. Clean the PVC end caps well and place them in the container. Then set a RFA in each one. Leave it for an hour or two. The RFAs should at least be in the end caps. It may take an hour or it could take a couple of days, but they usually set their foot near the bottom. After they have set their foot, put the end cap in your aquarium and push it part way down into the sand. Eventually, after a couple of weeks, you can start adding a small amount of sand into the end cap. I have end caps that are pushed all the way into the sand after a couple of months.

While you are waiting for the RFAs to set their foot in the end cap, I'd do a water change every 8 to 12 hours. The RFAs haven't made the water dirty if they are healthy. So you can dump the water from the container back into your tank if you want. Or just dump it in the sink and refill it with more tank water. This is to make sure the RFAs are in water that is well oxygenated.

Many anemones will push their insides out of their mouth. I think the general consensus is they are getting something out of their gut. It's not that uncommon and sometimes they will do that for more than a day or two.

If any of this is unclear, please ask questions.