12g anemone tank, build advice please

[Toddrtrex]

I know I'm the nem newbie here, but.. Aren't anemones photosynthetic, and fit into the catagory of "high light demanding" reef inhabitants we keep in our tanks.

Yes, you're correct. That is why anemones have mouths and stick tentacles to catch things with - all because they're photosynthetic. :rollface:

Not all anemones are photosynthetic, there are several non hosting ones that aren't. But, most (( if not all )) of those are cold water anemones.

Their mouths are also used to expel wastes, which can also be generated by their internal algae. Also the stickiest of the tentacles is also a defense mechanism. A lot of their energy requirements can be met from their internal algae.

 

[ctlegacy]

IMHO I wouldn't even do that. You'll lose it within a few months. I know you'll probably take what I say for a grain of sand, but don't put anemones in anything less than a 20g. Anemones need lots of light, which a 12g can't provide. I keep lots of BTA and RBTA in my 34g with PC lights. The reason they survive is from lots of food and high wattage lights. I'm guessing that this 12g you're talking about is a Nano Cube, and the Nano Cube has nowhere near enough lighting for it. I say get at least a 20g tank with at least 75 watts of PC fluorescent or forget about anemones all together. Either do this the right way, or don't do it at all. If you get anemones and they die, you're out a lot of money.

The logic of this is wrong. Gallon size has nothing to do with available light in THIS equation. If you have a 12g with 400w 20,000k MH, you have more than enough light. If you have a 12g with an LED Flashlight, they you don't have enough light. The gallons stayed the same, the lights made the difference. So to say that 12g doesn't provide enough light isn't really a relevant arguement. 12g is big enough, and I had a NANO cube that had a RBTA in it for over a year (while the first owner had it), then I bought the cube had it set up for another 3 months. I've since moved up to a 150g, but the RBTA has lived just fine the whole time. Oh, and the Nano had stock lighting. Nano tanks by the time you put the nem on a rock are only about 5 inches from the light source. It's not like they are 24" deep. I say GO FOR IT!!!! Just keep on the water changes (every week worked great for me). Just watch the intakes for the filtration.

 

[OrionN]

Small volume tank will have large swing in temperature if we use highly intense light to light it with, unless a chiller is use to remove the heat from the system.

 

[stevey87]

IMHO I wouldn't even do that. You'll lose it within a few months. I know you'll probably take what I say for a grain of sand, but don't put anemones in anything less than a 20g. Anemones need lots of light, which a 12g can't provide.

I don't understand the part where 12g equals poor light. Lighting and tank size are completely independent from each other. If anything, smaller tanks get better light with same lighting system because smaller tanks are typically shallower.

 

[WDLV]

I have the impression that's not what he/she meant. I'm thinking he meant that whatever stock lights come with that particular system were inadequate. If that's the case I have no comment because I don't know what is stock for them. That said I had a friend (experienced reefer) who had one in a 10 gallon with a HOB power filter and a NO flourescent strip light that was fine for many months with his spawning tomatos. BTAs are really not that light demanding in general.

Aside form the light issue I just wouldn't generally recommend a tank that small due to the level of difficulty in maintaining stable water parameters. I don't think it's impossible or that you can't do it but it's really not advisable in general.

 

[OrionN]

lerfcoastreefer uses a 150 W MH for the 12 g tank so light is not the issue here but temperature variation from this is the issue. 12 g Aquapod is small. BTA is a wander rock anemone and it just takes a little bad luck to get it chew up by the PH. Maybe if you can find a H. malu, it will stay in the sandbed and will not grow too large.
Regardless, I think there will be temperature issue unless a chiller is use. I don't think fan is enough to stabilize the temperature of this system.

 

[leftcoastreefer]

lerfcoastreefer uses a 150 W MH for the 12 g tank so light is not the issue here but temperature variation from this is the issue. 12 g Aquapod is small. BTA is a wander rock anemone and it just takes a little bad luck to get it chew up by the PH. Maybe if you can find a H. malu, it will stay in the sandbed and will not grow too large.
Regardless, I think there will be temperature issue unless a chiller is use. I don't think fan is enough to stabilize the temperature of this system.

Temp has never been an issue for me. We keep our home at 69F. I have problems keeping a 37g at 79.5 with a 200w heater and 250 halide. There will be a controlled fan blowing across the water of the DT if the temp rises to 79.9+. Keep in mind this system does have a 10g sump and a media reactor that holds over a gallon of water (MR1 reactor rated up to 200g systems). This tank is over filtered and over skimmed. I don't see why I would have ph swings either? Reef systems are pretty stable IMO, if you have the right equip, and don't chase parameters. The system will have an ATO, that's a given. I wouldn't even own a tank without an ATO. Thanks for all the feedback guys. I can't wait to get my nem. I'm thinking a rose BTA. I think one of those will look good at night under royal blue LED's. I'm looking forward to fallin asleep at night watching my clowns in a nem.

 

[WaffleWalffle22]

My 34g has pH swings sometimes so check your pH every day. Remember to keep the salinity at 1.024-1.026... Here's my favorite saying... "Inverts like it SALTY"

 

[Drft626]

GBTA 12g Nano

GBTA 12g Nano

I have a 12G DLX with 48W of lighting. I recently received for my BD a GBTA and the light i thought was too strong for it. I've had it since January 22nd, Now it is starting to come out more and get more used to the light. It hides in the back of the tank sometimes for shade I guess. But it thrives for a few hours under the lights before it retreats I have not fed it yet, My Ocellaris male has just started swimming in it. He started biting me because I was trying to move corals in the tank the same day he accepted it as a host. Should I just find someone to trade for the GBTA or should I leave it and see what happens. I do not want it too die it was not cheap. :worried:

 

[WDLV]

I think you're describing typical new addition behavior. I would leave it be.

 

[garygb]

Leftcoaster, sorry you came with a question and you were given some responses that seemed sarcastic. PC lighting is fine in shallower tanks for BTAs and probably most host species, if they are close enough to the bulbs and the PCs are regularly changed (6-8 months) and the color temp. of the bulbs (6,000-10,000K) maximizes PAR. I've read that more than 90% of the nutritional needs of hosting species is obtained from the zooxanthellae, so you're definitely correct in your assertion on that topic.

Back to your original question, I'm with the others that a haddoni isn't a good idea for such a small tank. However, considering your experience level with SPS, I think you would be a good candidate to keep a BTA in a 12 gallon. Nanos should be left to experienced aquarists, which you are. Eventually it might outgrow the tank, or if you don't target feed too often it might not. It's water quality that is the issue with small tanks. Protein skimming, water changes, and light feeding would be essential. Keep us posted with whatever you choose to do.