Over-cozy inverts

[luxiq2]

I teach a marine biology course for high school students. I recently set up a 29-gallon marine tank with a nice cast of inverts, a clown fish, 2 blue damsels and a neon gobi. I was in my room this evening and since last night, one of the anemones has moved from the large rock I put him on and settled ON TOP of a sea peach. The peach still has a vent uncovered, but otherwise, he's surrounded. A period of gentle "persuasion" didn't do a thing.

Also, I've got a sea cucumber that one of my 4 marine snails has decided to take up residence on top of. I also have a freshwater tank and the snails I have in that tank let go pretty easily if you lift gently for a while. Not so much with this guy. He was persistent!

Should I be concerned for the peach and the cucumber if the anemone and snail don't decide to seek more reasonable accommodations? If so, do you have any ideas about how to separate these pairs without hurting any one?

Thanks for any advice.

[Dragonist]

You might be able to get the d anemone to detach with a ro/di ice cube. In regards to the snail on the cucmber what type is it? You can check out liveaquaria.com to search different snails.

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT!What lighting are you using?Mite not be enough lite of flow(why the anemone is moving.)

[luxiq2]

Originally Posted by Dragonist

You might be able to get the d anemone to detach with a ro/di ice cube. In regards to the snail on the cucmber what type is it? You can check out liveaquaria.com to search different snails.

It's a turban snail. I'll be trying the ice trick tomorrow when I get back to the school.

As far as lighting, it's a standard fluorescent hood light. Like I said in the original post, I'm a teacher and I bought the tank as a set (tank, hood, filters, substrate, salt, hydrometer, net, etc) AND my animals as a set (3 fish, 18 inverts) with my supply budget from a catalog, so I didn't have much say in what came in. In fact, the hood isn't even rated for salt water (the warning label on the back says so explicitly) I'm on my second light because the first crapped out thanks to salt build-up. I called up my supply company and they replaced...with the same thing!

Thanks again.

[Reeftanker3295]

Your going to need a better light, anemones are mostly photosynthetic and will lose zooxanthellae with a standard T5/T8 fixture. What species of anemone is it?

[luxiq2]

According the supply company, they are Giant Anemone, Condylactis gigantea (I received 2). They are about 2 inches in diameter around the base and maybe twice that when the tentacles are fully fanned out. The tank is only about 19 inches deep and the light is certainly brighter than the one I have in my freshwater tank. I have it set on a timer for 12 hours of light. That's insufficient?

[Reeftanker3295]

Doesnt really matter about what you see its how much food the corals/anemones are getting. Standard fluorescent bulbs are not made to support those kind of things and wou will deffinetely need a stronger light

[Dragonist]

Isay look into a 150 or 250 mh on craigslist

[Reeftanker3295]

+1, a regular fluorescent bulb in this hobby isnt worth much sadly.

[bcrum51]

you don't need a MH on a class room tank I think a decent 4 bulb T5 fixture will do

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by bcrum51

you don't need a MH on a class room tank I think a decent 4 bulb T5 fixture will do

Your probably right for a condylactis.

[bcrum51]

most nems can fair just fine under PC lighting but might as well get T5 f your gonna spend the money on the lights

[Dragonist]

I agree that t5s will be better imo they last longer which is why I use t5s. I just recommend mh because its easly to find a used set. The chances of find a fixture that is'nt to small for that tank is slim imo via craigslist.

[Dragonist]

Any update?

[luxiq2]

I never have any time to try the ice cube trick. Working in a high school means SOMETHING always comes up. Both the peach and the anemone seem content with the situation for the most part. I'm in talks with my department chair about getting better lighting, but budgets are tight..and after spending $100 of my own money on salt, food, another damsel and other sundry items, I'm not in the position to drop any more on the light myself. I was a little disturbed by the periodic shriveling of the two anemones, but a little research showed that it's not entirely unusual as long as they puff back up fairly quickly.