Guilt trip... please help!!!!!

[reef dummy]

Over the last three or four days our long tentacled anemone released himself from a rock he was attached to and began to slowly deflate and basically look pretty lifeless lying on the substrate. He then began to emit a smoke like substance from the foot end which started to worry me. I tested my ammonia levels and they were elevated from where they had previously been. Wanting to take no chance I took him out of my tank last night and ended it. He had not yet turned to mush but was pretty close. I fell guilty now. He was expensive and we were trying to get our skunk clownfish to pair up with him which never happened. Did I do the right thing or could he have recuperated given enough time. I have a healthy rose bubble tip in ther now and all other corals are happy. Any suggestions, advice or thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Todd

[BigAl07]

I have to say.. If I were you I would have probably done the same thing. Sounds like he could have been "On the way out" and you may have saved the rest of your tank.

I'd watch the tank closely and ANYTIME I suspect any problems with the tank I drop a carbon bag in the sump. It's like taking an aspirin a day!

What size is your tank?

How old is it?

What lights do you have?

[djbacon]

dont beat yourself up - you probably did the right thing - the only other option I would have tried (and only cuz I live across the street from a really KICK A** LFS)- is bring it to somebody who might be better equiped to care for it.

I havent had to do it yet, but its comforting to know that I can try a more difficult to care for coral because the moment it starts to turn south I can bring it back to a QT across the street and let them try to save it.

(knocking on wood)

[kathywithbirds]

Nah, it sucks but you probably did the right thing. Or at least the best thing for your tank. I hate when stuff like that happens.

[G!N+T0N!K]

mine did that in my 20g with PC lights after a year, he used to be the size of a softball and then it lost color and shrunk down to the size of 50c piece and detached and sat on the sand bed looking like it was dieing. I picked him off the sand bed and put him in my new 75g with T5s and he attached himself, gaining color and growing. But as I understand its hard to tell if they're healthy or dieing. What lights were you using?

[Gina]

Sometimes it's better safe than sorry!
Many years ago we had one detach it'self and not knowing any better left it alone. Several days later decided that it had passed and as we took it out all kinds of stuff came flowing off it. Needless to say, we crashed out tank!
What a long mess that was! Killed everthing in the tank except for two fish.
Of course we were new and never should of had it in the first place since our tank was only about 3 months old. OUR BAD!

[reef dummy]

Great responses!! Thanks everyone. I guess it sounds like I did the right thing. I just hate giving up, you know how it goes. Somebody asked earlier what kind of setup I have, this is it: 46 g w/ wet/dry filter and skimmer under pc lighting (lots of pc lighting). It has been going on well over a year with very positive results, this is actually the first disaster. Thanks again fellow reefers.

[BigAl07]

Hate to be a "downer" but for the most part PC lights are way under-kill for just about any anemone long term. due to their slow metabolism they take a VERY long time to "expire" sometimes many months and then out of the blue BAM they are gone.

Also have you tested your Nitrates? Wet/Dry can lead to a build up of Trates. Would love to try and get to the bottom of it but you are lacking in the light area at least in my opinion.

[reef dummy]

My water params are perfect, no trates or trites. I am a bit cocerned with the pc's though. Do rose bubble tip anemones do better than others under pc's? My rose tip is doing great and growing. He's been in there for about three months or so.

[BigAl07]

I don't know which "does better" under PC's but it's pretty standard that we don't put them under anything but High or VERY High intensity lights.... That means a LOT of T5's or MH's.

hang in there.. others with more anemone exp will come though and provide some input

[TangMang232]

i would just get a nice t5 HO or VHO system. They will grow anemones well and you should have little problems. a 6 bulb setup would be perfect for your tank.

what are the dimensions??

[SJS]

I would have done the same thing. You have to look oout for the whole tank, not just one inhabitant. I would suggest having a QT set up or available for these types of emergencies - but then again, it probably wouldn't have helped an anemone. I dont have any nem advice for you - I''m still too new and they intimidate me!! Good luck with the Rose Bubble.

[lcstorc]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I too would have removed the nem. If available I would have put it in a separate container but you were definitely right not to leave it in the tank. Anytime you are dealing with a nem that you don't know if it is alive or not, you can always do the smell test. The smell of a dead anemone is not something you forget quickly.
You mention that the amonia was elevated from what it had been. There should be 0 amonia, 0 trites, and 0-10 trates for at least 6 months before even attempting an anemone. Also, as Al mentioned you really don't have the lighting for it. Anemones have a very very slow metabolism and can take months to show the effects of a long term problem.
The partially good news is that RBTAs are know to be tolerant of relatively low lighting. I have 2 in my 20g tank with T5 lights. They have moved to the very top to be close to the lights but seem to be doing fine. The only reason I have 2 is because mine split which is not necessarily a good sign. They will split either because they are happy or because they are trying to double the chances of survival by producing a clone. I mention this because many people thing their nem is doing great because it split.