New Aquarium - Anenome and Shrimp Woes

[ShadowGorilla]

Hello and Thanks in Advance!

Here is the scenario:

Purchased a new reef tank - had the shop set it up - they promised us they would help get us going!
Cycled it for two weeks and added 5 cleaner shrimp and 5 snails and 2 tiny starfish
Waited two weeks changing 10% of water and adjusting chemicals
Shop said we could add 2 clown fish and an anemone
Bought 2 clown fish and an anemone
Added them to the tank using appropriate method
Immediately shrimp start attacking anemone
After much research on the internet turned out we had peppermint shrimp and a aiptasia anemone
Peppermint shrimp eat aiptasia anemones (see YouTube)
Tried to catch peppermint shrimp - no such luck
Took the poor aiptasia anemone back to shop
Got a bubble tip anemone - added it to the tank
Now the anemone has gone behind a bunch of rocks and we can not feed it there - clown fish have no access to it

After further research, it seems we have been advised to add an anemone to soon!

So what should I do?
Be patient and let the tank work it out?
Get another anemone for the clown fish? - Probably not!
Try and relocate the anemone?

We will be looking for a more educated aquarium store as these people seem to have no clue!

We will also be taking charge of this tank and not relying on others when we add things to our tank!

 

[Saltlick]

good news and bad news. You probably were not sold an Aiptasia, but maybe they really don't have a clue
and it actually happened. It is likely that without the presence of an actual aiptasia, the Peppermint
shrimp ate the next best thing. keep them well fed and they should stay away during the next week or so.
The good news is that your anemone will eventually puff up and ride the current until it finds a spot
to it's liking with the proper light and current flow. If you leave it alone it will
probably relocate, especially if the light where it is NOW is not that great, something you might be able to
make happen yourself. Once things settle out, the fish will find their host and the deal will begin. Don't get the feeling
that the clowns willl wither away and die without an anemone. just feed them as normal and before long
everything should work out. BUT you should make sure that there are no uncovered powerhead intake screens
as the anemone could blunder into it and damage itself badly. They should have foam filters on them until
it finds a spot and stays there, and it couldn't hurt to leave the screens on, but rinse them out in salt water
when they get a little dirty, cause the rotting material that sticks to them leads to nitrate increases.
The only further warning would be to keep a close eye on the shrimp, especially as the anemone is now in a
place where the clowns can't protect it from the shrimp. Once they claim it no shrimp would dare approach it.

Oops, one more thing. If the anemone is only attached to one rock, you COULD move that rock to where you
think you want it. Just make sure there is no direct current blasting it and the anemone might stay put.
Look for a place of gentle, turbulent flow. The light should be pretty good there, too.

 

[ShadowGorilla]

Thanks for the advice!

We no longer have the aiptasia anemone. We now have a bubble tip.

I will just let it figure out where it wants to live, I am hopeful that when the lights come on it will want to get closer to them.