65 watts for BTA?

[invertaman]

Hello, I just purchased an occelaris clown for my 20 gallon high tank. After seeing some of the display tanks in the fish store thats around my house. (one actually has some type of anemone thats about 1.5' across and is home to two like 3" clowns that are the parents of the clown I bought) I really wanted to get an anemone for my clown, I've read that BTAs are the easiest to keep. So I was wondering if I can keep one. Here is what my tank is like.

CPR back-pak skimmer/filter, 65 watt 50/50 compact flourescent,
moderate flow, six-line wrasse, bi-color blenny, occ. clown, some gsp, zoos, mush. toadstool, tree coral, featherduster, brittle star, 3 pep. shrimp, cleanup crew (includes 10 hermits)

 

[InLimbo87]

Although some have successfully kept BTA's under PC's, I think 65w would be much too low to sustain one. I'd look into a brighter light (whether it be more PC's, Metal Halides, or even T5's).

 

[tpdpercula]

Well I think InLimbo is correct but only when it comes to your tank size. It is duable if you used a 20 Long rather then 20 Tall. The shorter tank will penitrate and you should have success.


-Ian

 

[invertaman]

What about anyother type of anemone? also, would it be possible if I kept the BTA closer to the top of the tank?

 

[garygb]

If you had two daylight bulbs (the actinic in the 50/50 is useless to an anemone) and placed the anemone on a "hill" of live rock within a foot of the bulbs (and removed any acrylic shield between the bulbs and the anemone), you should be fine.

 

[timthetoolman]

I would think you need to feed them some silver sides if they can't get enough nutrition from the lights. I use a 250w MH on just one end of my 55 gallon and a 4' actinic and my RBTA moves towards the darker side of the tank and into a 'cave' but I also feed her silver sides anyway. I haven't had her that long but I've put her closer to the light 3 times and she's moved away each time.

 

[invertaman]

Okay thanks for all of the imput. I think I;ll try upgrading lights. I have heard that clowns might host a few types of corals too, is this true?

 

[tpdpercula]

Clowns will host just about anything but the downside is that when they do host corals, etc. they tend to affect the over all corals health. Less polyp extension resulting in poor health but my Onyx pair have been hosting in my Green Toadstool for over a year now and the coral is still trucking.


-Ian