Adding an anemone

[Zante]

I'm thinking of adding a bubbletip anemone to my 150 gallon tank for my clowns. I know they will be fine without, I just like the idea of them paired up with an anemone and I want one in my tank.

I am in no hurry, but I'm not sure how to discern the signs that the tank is old enough for a 'nem.

So, how do I know my tank is ready to hold an anemone?

 

[shifty51008]

whats the lighting on the tank? how long has it been setup and running? do you keep the parameters stable, and nitrates and phosphates low?

 

[Zante]

It was set up on the 7th of June with uncured rock. The rock was so fresh off the reef that the cycle lasted 4 days.

Phosphate is undetectable on my salifert kit and nitrate is under 20ppm on my JBL kit (sorry, it isn't more sensitive than that)

Lighting is two radions on a surface of 5 feet by 2 feet with a depth of 2 feet.

Calcium oscillates between 400 and 450 and magnesium is stable at around 1400.

 

[Zante]

If it's any help the macro algae in the refugium are growing like crazy. Yesterday I took two handfuls to the LFS in exchange for a frag.

 

[shifty51008]

I would give it a couple more months before adding an anemone, your setup looks fine otherwise. Just give it time to stablize.

 

[Zante]

Yeah, I thought as much. No worries, thank you.

 

[shifty51008]

No problem, good luck.

And on a side note, usually if your macro algae is growing fast it is a sign of to many nutrients. Should slow down over time.