Adding anemone in recently cycled tank

[jessicaparker]

My tank has just finished cycling and I added two clown fish. Its been 4 days now and they seem to be doing well. Ive heard adding anemones before any other corals is best because the anemone will move around before it settles and not cover other corals. But people are telling me you should only add them in a more established tank. All my water parameters are up to the optimal levels, im wondering why people say you need to wait to add them, and if adding one now would be a waste. any advice appreciated

 

[garygb]

Yeah, 6 mos to a year is recommended for anemones (they are more demanding than most fish). The tank needs to be fully established. This takes a while.

 

[89Foxbody]

At this point your tank is still susceptible to swings in parameters and such. I know it sounds silly but it's only for the best. 6 months to a year seems extreme, but it's probably the safest. I added mine after the cycle and then 2 months of nothing but having about 25lbs of LR and 2 clownfish in the tank and it is thriving, it's doubled in size since I added it. I realize that it turned out alright, but if I could go back I would probably wait a bit longer.

 

[jessicaparker]

but what is the reason you need to wait if you tank has been cycled and is handling live stock and water parameteres are in check?

 

[Amphiphrionfarm]

In a new tank bacteria population is not totally stablished, so your tank is touchier to change its parameters. Anemones are very sensitive to water quality. In my experience I would wait.

 

[Virtuoso]

New to the hobby and don't know anything about anemones, but I believe it is because while you are cycled and your tank is handling livestock, anemone's are much more picky about their water conditions. A newer tank, even after cycled and having fish in it, tends to have parameters that sway back and forth between acceptable levels for fish... but not for the more complicated corals, clams, or anemones.

After you've had your tank for a while you have added most of the fish and coral that you've wanted to add and the bacteria and "micro-life" has had plenty of time to duke it out and find a balance. Right now all that is still going on and still changing.

 

[Alysiak00]

+1

wait atleast 6 months minimum. thats why i just recently got mine

 

[Conrad25]

Your tank just is not ready for a big bio load and especially for a sensitive anemone. If you want to make sure the anemone thrives and does well when you get one, wait a few months and than get it....

 

[velvetelvis]

Having done this once myself and still regretting it, I wouldn't advise adding an anemone this soon. About two and a half years ago, I had a 75 that had been set up for about two months, parameters good, blah blah blah, and saw a CB maroon clownfish/cloned BTA pair at my favorite LFS. I succumbed to temptation and brought them home two days later. The anemone lasted less than a month, in spite of my best efforts and the fact that it was in a decent-sized aquarium with good flow, adequate lighting, no predators, and an appropriately sized clownfish. The tank was just too new.

On the other hand, my current setup has been running for 18 months. I bought another anemone, a locally cloned RBTA (rose bubble-tip anemone) at a reefing event two weeks ago, and added it to my tank. So far this anemone has been flourishing, and I'm very glad I waited. It can be frustrating to have to exercise patience, but it definitely is rewarded, especially in this hobby.

Anemones are fascinating, no question about it, but they can also be a PITA. I can tell you that I do a lot more tank maintenance and water monitoring than I ever did before--about 30 minutes a day. I worry about going out of town, because there are no experienced reefkeepers in town to do tank maintenance for me, and wonderful as my pet sitter is, I don't want to charge her with the responsibility of caring for the anemone. Lighting, flow, water parameters--all have to be just right. Anemones are definitely not for the new reefkeeper. If I were in your position (and I was, three years ago ) would start out keeping your clowns with some easy-to-keep soft corals; they may even take to one as a host. That way you can enjoy your tank and build some experience without the angst of worrying over an anemone. There's always time to get one later.