hlem August 19, 2011 August 19, 2011 got it a few months ago, it was 3-4in when fully expand. now its like 2-3x bigger, and it's killing some stuff close to it... how do i stop it from growing so fast?
LanglandJoshua August 19, 2011 August 19, 2011 Your best bet is to get another one. Or split it. If you would like, I can show you how. There were at least a couple people in wamas who could help.
hlem August 20, 2011 Author August 20, 2011 its really stuck in a rock in the back of the tank, almost impossible to get it out =(
hlem August 20, 2011 Author August 20, 2011 cant really see it, its behind a rock in the back of a tank, only its upper half is visible, so i'm guessing most of it is inside the rock
LanglandJoshua August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 My anemone's dont even need to be fed directly to grow. They can catch food and the light itself is enough sometimes to let them grow. Over several months they can double easily. So the only way to help is either get another that is smaller. Or cut it to a more reasonable size, then send the rest off to other places.
hlem August 20, 2011 Author August 20, 2011 i fed it maybe 2-3 times total. but i over fed my tank all the time
LanglandJoshua August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 The point is that you need it to fit, they can easily grow in a few months. Unless it naturally splits you either need to remove it and possibly the rock it's on. Or split it. Do you have any pictures?
LanglandJoshua August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 I was about to make that offer as well you made it first!
hlem August 20, 2011 Author August 20, 2011 I'll trade if you think it can be taken out, the tank is 24in front to back and 30in tall, its about 10in up from the bottom. here is the pic. its shrunk up a little here (that's actually 4-5in still), but you can see where the monti is dead, that's where it expands to, I have no idea how far down it actually is.
LanglandJoshua August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 It becomes more a matter of how badly you want it gone. It will only continue to grow. Is the rock secured? That will have to be moved. If you guys need an extra hand I would like to see how it goes.
hlem August 20, 2011 Author August 20, 2011 here is my tank, watch the first 10 sec, you'll see where the rock he's attached to is at =) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FztC6tPTZY
RJT August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 That rbta has to go. On a side note, your livestock selection is excellent. How many gallons is you tank? Is that a goniopora? If it is, how long have you had it?
hlem August 20, 2011 Author August 20, 2011 here is my tank, watch the first 10 sec, you'll see where the rock he's attached to is at =) my goniopora is not visible in the vid. which one are you talking about?
DaveS August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 There are lots of ways put out there to detach an RBTA. Some people say use ice on/near the foot. Others say pound the rock with a hammer and the vibrations will make it detach. For me, I just try to get a fingernail under an edge of the foot and from there, I start prying it off. It takes about 5-10 minutes once you get a decent hold of the foot (foothold?). I've briefly tried the two options above and they didn't work for me. I may have done them wrong or not enough. Instead I take a tile or something reef-safe and cover/shade the RBTA. After a day or so, it will move as it searches for better lighting. While it's moving, you can get a foothold.
Jan August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 (edited) I't takes a little work and a lot of patience. I've placed them under high flow. They get annoyed, retract and start to move so they can get away from the high flow. Once they start to move and I can grab the foot, I slowly start to peel it off the rock with small tongs. High flow will also keep them smaller. I've also had some success by taking the rock out of water and holding it upside down so the nem is still in the tank. I tap on the rock, add high flow and sometimes they just fall off. This takes time. Edited August 20, 2011 by Jan
LanglandJoshua August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 I have not heard of the hammer/ice methods. But they don't sound very productive. I am a fan of a gentle fingernail to pry it. However I think the idea of creating shade, at least to get the foot out of a crack is a great one. So you can avoid tearing the foot.
hlem August 20, 2011 Author August 20, 2011 yesterday i tried to put a piece of rock between it and the green SPS, and i think i jammed it or something, it hasnt open yet, but we will see if it will move or not
LanglandJoshua August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 Ok, well you may not want to mess with it for a couple days. Just to let it heal, sometimes they are just "spooked". Once I pulled off one anemone, but in the process moved another around a bit. The anemone I left would not come out fully for about two-the days. I think the best suggestion to keep it smaller right now would be to aim a powerhead over that rock and against the back wall. That will keep it small and push out away from your other coral. But don't get it so strong that you cause it to tear. I did that once by putting an el cheapy powerhead too close (dont remember model name right now).
Jan August 20, 2011 August 20, 2011 (edited) Anemones can get in and out of all sorts of places. Make sure it has enough room to move it's foot and escape from the annoyance of the flow, and it will be fine. Whatever you do do not pull at the foot. When you can see the base of the foot, where it actually attaches to the rock, you can attempt to gently lift the foot from the edge at the base and continue to lift and pry very gently under the foot to loosen it from the rock. It really takes time a patience to remove an anemeone from a rock it's been attached to for a while. Once they find the perfect place, they don't like to move. Your main concern should be not to tear the foot. It may not recover from a significant tear. Placing a rock between the anemone and the coral you're trying to protect is a very good idea. Placing high flow on it will not cause it to tear unless you're placing super high flow directly on it. I mean like 1-2 inches away with a powerfull powerhead. I've used nano powerheads aimed at the foot and one side of the anemone to force it to move in the direction I want it to go. Don't aim flow into the center. The idea is to push it, guide it, by annoying it so it will move in the direction you want it to go. Placing a powerhead close enough to push it away from the coral it's touching also helps the coral to heal and prevents further damage from contact and helps to reduce secondary infections like brown jelly. Placing he powerhed so that the flow causes space between the coral and anemone also helps but if the anmeone is comfortable and not annoyed by the flow it will stay there. Dependng on your set up and where you have to place the powerhead may not look so great. The coral does not look completely dead. It's not all white. It will most likely recover especially if the rest of it is still alive. Keep it safe, give it room to move in the direction you want it to move, protect the coral by preventing contact and wait. Once you get it out move it into a holding basket that can hang onto your tank. BRK sells nice ones for this. It keeps the nem up close to the light, in the same water, and allows good flow. It can also be adjusted so that you can leave room at the top so the anemone wont climb out. If you'd like I can stop by and frag it for you or show you how to frag it. It can be placed back in the same basket to heal. healing takes about a week. I wouldn't want anything for it. Then you can sell or trade them:). yesterday i tried to put a piece of rock between it and the green SPS, and i think i jammed it or something, it hasnt open yet, but we will see if it will move or not Edited August 20, 2011 by Jan
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