Anemone for a mixed reef?

[All__talk]

I'm currently shopping for a pair of clowns for my tank and would like to provide an anemone that might host them. Because I want to preserve the peace in a community tank I am limiting my clown choice to a version of ocellaris. I have looked at the sticky of what nem host which clown, and none of the natural hosts for ocellaris seem like a good fit for a smaller mixed reef.

So I'm seeking advice on how, or even if I can, make this work. A BTA or LTA seem like they might be options but certainly are not guaranteed to host. What's my best plan?

The tank is a 46 gal bow front with about 25 gal sump/refugium, been running and stable for about 8 years now. Flow is good with about 800 gal through the return and two RW-8s. Lighting is just OK with two 150 HQI MH and two 96w PC actinic. Current inhabitants include; Coral Beauty, Royal Gramma, Starry Blenny, Pin Cushion Urchin and various snails and hermits. Recent picture below.


Gary

 

[brad]

There is a reason bta's are so popular. That is the only anemone I'd put in a tank that small.

 

[Swayze27]

I'd go with a martens ...........kidding, rose BTA.

 

[Ebone]

lots of people do it, BTA sting but imo are a better option for small tank (sting not as potent) they are however nutty... mine moves a few inches throughout the day, has been doing it since being in my tank. I keep things off its rock and things all go well... make sure you protect powerheads though... don't want one getting in there

 

[All__talk]

So the BTA is the clear choice, excellent.

Will my lighting be an issue? My plan will be to relocate the toadstool and place the nem on the solo rock to the right.

 

[Swayze27]

Lighting should be fine, the anemone will relocate to wherever it wants to be. Make sure to cover powerheads, some use foam, I made plastic screen covers for mine to help eliminate build up and the need to rinse foam covers all the time. Good luck. Also, shut powerheads off for a little while when you introduce the anemone into the tank, this will assist in allowing it to attach. Once it is attached, slowly build the flow back up. If the anemone is being shipped to you, you may want to acclimate it to your lights using screen or something similar to dim the light. Shipped ones can be in a low light situation for a while causing sensitivity to the high lighting initially. If it's coming from your lfs it should already be under lighting and good to go.

 

[All__talk]

I get that nems are rebels and wont be told where to live, but is it going to destroy my other coral on its quest for its happy place?

 

[Swayze27]

Doubt it

 

[OrionN]

I would get a H. malu for that tank. Malu will host Ocellaris or Percula, stay on the sand and get max size of about 6-8 inches. Perfect anemone for small reef tank.

 

[taylor t]

I would get a H. malu for that tank. Malu will host Ocellaris or Percula, stay on the sand and get max size of about 6-8 inches. Perfect anemone for small reef tank.

I agree. Malu is one of my favorites. They come in some really nice colors too.

 

[ComforablyNumb]

I get that nems are rebels and wont be told where to live, but is it going to destroy my other coral on its quest for its happy place?

Who knows? There are no guarantees.

Some corals will just sluff off a nem running across them, others may be affected.
RTBA's are quite innocuous, that is, they are not very dangerous to corals for the most part.

 

[Ebone]

mine rbta set up shop on a neon green motni cap for a few days... all said and done.. no ill effect on the monti... frogspawn seemed careless too

 

[All__talk]

Update...

I found two of the cutest da Vinci clowns and a small BTA, all seem to be doing well. Short video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz9u4JctLPw

Gary

 

[pfan151]

Update...

I found two of the cutest da Vinci clowns and a small BTA, all seem to be doing well. Short video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz9u4JctLPw

Gary

I'd try to feed that anemone small foods often to get it to put on some size. Those clowns could really stress out an anemone that is so small. I agree that a Malu or even a couple malu's would have been a better choice. They don't really move around like BTAs do.

 

[All__talk]

I have been feeding nem weekly (mysis), and it seems to take the food well.

So far the nem seems to be tolerating the clowns well, but it does close up after lights out and remains fairly small until the lights come on the next day, is this normal for a BTA? It has not moved much, it has settled in below a ledge in the rock right at the sand line. My lighting is not that strong and I kind of expected it t move up the rock toward the light.

I would consider a Malu but I don't think I have enough light, at least not at the sand bed.

Gary

 

[davocean]

Malu do not need a ton of light, not compared to most others, and their size and sand dwelling do make them a pretty good option.

As to the comment on corals and nems, very few corals can handle their sting, usually not the ones most want, xenia, gsp are the only 2 off the top of my head that seem to tolerate or deal w/ nem stings

 

[OurCoralReef]

Bta is a good choice its more common and wont break the bank you should get a bta clone (aqua cultured) they they have a much better chance of surviving
Btas like rock holes to Settle in so give it a hole when u set it and if nothing bothers it, it will stay there
lighting and flow is a given

 

[davocean]

I think BTA's are actually one of the worst choices for a mixed, they just wander too much and crawl all over rock work as they do, and that often means crawling over, stinging and killing all corals in their path.

I'll never do a BTA in a mixed reef again personally.

 

[Irishdolphin]

Also beware of BTAs splitting. You could start with one and end up with many which may not be easy to remove.

 

[gabloo]

If u want to keep mix reef. I would not get BTA at all. One day u will end up moving all ur rock to take one out.