BIG issue----Not sure what to do

[blackcloudmedia]

So I bought a finger leather coral a month ago and well......its doing superb. In fact it is double the size I bought it at. And still growing. Im getting kind of frustrated because my SPS are not growing, they have the white tips where new growth occurs, but they havent exactly "doubled their size." My blue maxima clam on the other hand has doubled in size in one month so its not a calcium issue. But ALL of my soft corals are getting HUGE. CHeck it out.

Ricordia--started with 8 -1 inch polyps NOW they are each 4 inches and still growing.

Leather doubled size and is now 11 inches tall and 8 inches wide...this is all in a 55 gallon tank mind you.

Sebae anemone started at 2 inches tall a month ago and now has a 12 inch diameter and is 6 inches tall.

What on earth should I do? I have 24 inches of room taken up lol.

 

[blackcloudmedia]

By the By to all of these people that say keeping anemones is hard and dont bother cause they all die in a matter of months.....you must suck lol. Because if you leave it alone it finds a comfy spot and just grows....and grows....and grows.....and grows.....whats truly remarkeable is this anemone is not compatable with clowns because its carribean...but my aquacultured (mind you these farm raised clowns NEVER saw an anemone in their lives) took right to it. So we have Pacific clowns that have never seen an anemone, and they took to an Atlantic anemone. I love this because this means the clownfish must be genetically inclined to seek out anemones.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, to quote my favorite caveman "I'm not 100% in love with your tone right now". Just because you have had success....for one month....doesn't mean that an animal which has historically proven to be difficult to keep in captivity successfully, LONG term, is no longer a demanding animal. It is. Some anemones can live a hundred years or more.

You've kept a sebae for one month and you're throwing stones? Which anemone are you talking about when you mention your caribbean anemone? Sebaes are not from the caribbean. They are from the pacific.

Your pacific clowns took to your atlantic anemone? Good. Clowns will take to a ball of rubberbands. What difference does it make if it's never seen an anemone before? Clarkiis clowns for one are considered the anemone sluts since they'll often associate with any anemone they can. My cat was kept indoors for 7 years. Never saw a mouse in it's life. Suddenly it gets out and keeps leaving dead mice on my door step. It's part of them. Instinct. Nothing magical. I don't think you're breaking any real scientific ground here.

Why aren't your sps growing? Who knows. Phosphates? Nutrients? Or simply the fact that some sps just don't grow very fast?

 

[Anonymous]

SPS do not grow fast at all. Leathers and SPS usually do not do well together.

My SPS did not grow for months and now are finally showing signs of growth starting. SPS need very clean and stable water conditions where as leathers/softies may like it dirtier.

 

[Anonymous]

LOL, yeah I thought nutrients would be a nice way of saying "leathers and softies would grow in a urinal".

But Rob reminds me that leathers can directly impact SPS corals just by sharing the same water.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah I was going to say leather + sps = no-no.

As to why they're dying, could be water flow issues, water quality issues, temperature issues (especially if these are those tongan varieties), lighting issues. Many things which could be wrong.

Personally I wouldn't keep a "mixed" reef, with softies and stonies, usually too much of a variety on what each likes.

 

[blackcloudmedia]

Well now justfish Im guessing I hit a nerve? Maybe youve killed anemones? EDIT. And as for your month not being long statement. Ive read the articles saying anemones dont last pass 6 months. What I also read in those articles is that the anemones eat very little, release their photosynthetic zooxanthelae and tur white, do not grow, move around a lot, and withdrawl to hiding spot and wither away. Im exited at the fact that Ive not witnessed any of these effects and in fact am witnessing the opposite. I think its safe to say that a 200 percent increase in growth means Im doing something right.
Anways my SPS arent dying they just arent growing. Ive heard that leathers sting other corals but I havent heard that they are bad in the same tank.EDIT


Post edited for violating the User Agreement. Futher violations may result in the revocation of posting privileges - Thales

 

[SnowManSnow]

I've seen ppl that keep anemonies for a period of years. I've had mine for 2 now.. but he IS dying I'll be placing him in another tank tonight. Talk to us in a few years and let us know what happens


But hey.. it IS POSSIBLE to keep one Good luck to you!

b

 

[Anonymous]

LOL wow dude. Why all the hate? Sounds like I'm the one who hit a nerve. I won't call you names though. :lol: You have to admit though, you starting your post telling me I suck isn't really the best method to get a civil conversation.

Leathers don't have to touch a coral to affect it. Just being in the same water is enough. Also, an anemone doesn't have to release all it's zoox and bleach to die.

I'm curious though. Is that sebae anemone you have your Caribbean one you were talking about? Congrats on your one month milestone though. Truly.

 

[blackcloudmedia]

I call it a sebae cause thats what the LFS said it was when I bought it but Ive identified it as the Hatian pink tip.

 

[EEric]

By the By to all of these people that say keeping anemones is hard and dont bother cause they all die in a matter of months.....you must suck lol. Because if you leave it alone it finds a comfy spot and just grows....and grows....and grows.....and grows.....whats truly remarkeable is this anemone is not compatable with clowns because its carribean...but my aquacultured (mind you these farm raised clowns NEVER saw an anemone in their lives) took right to it. So we have Pacific clowns that have never seen an anemone, and they took to an Atlantic anemone. I love this because this means the clownfish must be genetically inclined to seek out anemones.

Lol.Oh well "from the mouth of babes...." keep that sucker alive more than a few years then you can toot your horn.Till then try the road that is humble.And at least know what your buying,lol. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Anways my SPS arent dying they just arent growing. Ive heard that leathers sting other corals but I havent heard that they are bad in the same tank.

Leathers aren't going to sting, but you just hit the nail on the head. They release chemicals which inhibit the growth of SPS type corals. Now this doesn't mean that you absolutely can't keep the two together, however high enough concentrations of the "chemicals" (and I say this for lack of a better term) build up due to lack of water changes, running carbon, etc, then your SPS will not grow.

 

[Anonymous]

Anways my SPS arent dying they just arent growing. Ive heard that leathers sting other corals but I havent heard that they are bad in the same tank.

Leathers aren't going to sting, but you just hit the nail on the head. They release chemicals which inhibit the growth of SPS type corals. Now this doesn't mean that you absolutely can't keep the two together, however high enough concentrations of the "chemicals" (and I say this for lack of a better term) build up due to lack of water changes, running carbon, etc, then your SPS will not grow.

The particular chemicals released by leathers, terpenes, are removed by many things - including protein skimming. As someone who has mixed leathers and SPS for a lot of years now I sincerely believe the addage of not mixing the two significantly overstates the problem.