What killed my anemone?

We recently purchased an anemone. Wierdest creature ive ever seen, but it recently shriveled up and died. I have no idea why, it NEVER attached its self to a rock, wouldnt eat regularly, and was all over the tank. Then about a week or so later it shrivled up and died. I really want another one but am fearful of another unexplained death, they arent cheap as I'm sure you all know. I recently set up a T5 and metal halide light system that we didnt have when the anemone was around, would lighting have had anything to do with is untimely demise? Please help me solve this mini mystery.

 

ive seen your tank, what are you using for flow? just a filter??

 

need to know your parameters first, cal, alk, mg., ph...temp and salinity!
nano reefer got a very good point there!! thats how they get their food, unless you are spot feeding

 

we were hand feeding it krill, and all the levels were normal besides nitrates they were a little high but not at dangerous levels or anything is my fish guy told me when I brought him a water sample to have him test.

 

what about your water flow?

 

We only have the backpack filter on there.

 

ya you will deffinately need to get a powerhead or two, talk to your LFS and ask them for some advice, or people on hear can chime in.... honestly i am kind of shocked your fish are still living, how long have you had this tank running?

 

dont feel bad though, we all start from somewhere in this hobby, ask as many questions as you have, you will find everyone on here to be incredibly nice and informative

 

since June of this year, everything else in the tank is happy and healthy. We have only had the problem with the anemone. Would a protein skimmer do the same job we were looking at getting one of those anyways.

 

you will here mixed feelings on protien skimmers. many believe a waste of money in nano tanks, others wont set up a tank without one, i had my 55 without one for over a year with no real dammage, but i had to do constant water changes.

but you will deffinately want to get a powerhead of some sort ASAP....BTW very nice light set-up, incredibly smart decision, Halides andT5's are some of the best lighting combos out there.

the 10 gallon i have now doesnt have one and its been running for ooo 5 months or so, no problems here either.