anemone in Sps tank

[MyTank]

I have a tank with sps and an ati powermodule 4 bulb t5 fixture and wondering if an h. magnifica could thrive in there? I know general practice is metal halides but my water is under 12 inches deep and the light is only a couple inches from the surface.

If not, would a carpet work? Water quality would be fine it is just the lights I am wondering about.

 

[hansonfam]

I currently have a Mertinsii Carpet in my 90 under the same light you have. Is coloring up very nicely and growing so i would say yes to that carpet.
Haddoni's i believe can be under t5's as we'll.
I also have 2 Giganteas in my cube with a 250 halide over top and the green guy is still not happy with the light as he stretches but the purple is fine.
So posibly just the nem you get may dictate.

The Ritteri i am not sure. It may be okay...Hopefully someone will chime in on that one..

 

[Creetin]

What size tank??

 

[MyTank]

The tank itself is a 40 breeder (36x18x12) which is aimed around the anemone. I have a mp40w in there along with a koralia 2 or 3. Water would be stable as it is connected to another couple hundred gallons.

 

[OrionN]

It would be hard for a H. magnifica because it is likely not bright enough light to keep it stationary. With that type of light, the Magnifica will move around and will get chew up by the PH. MH light keep the anemone stay righ under it because as it move away, the light dorp off rather quickly. You won't have this with T5 or WHO, thus not able to keep the Magnific from wander

 

[isseym328]

I have a purple gigantea under 400w radiums. The carpet is about 30 inches on the sand. It didn't move for a good 10 months, then all of a sudden started moving. I think it's because it's getting too big for that corner of the tank. I have a 60g cube. Have had the carpet for about a year now.

I think you'll be fine with 12 inches.

 

[MyTank]

I think you'll be fine with 12 inches.

Thats what I thought. I have kept a mag before, and knew anything other than halide was supposed to be a no no. But this is a very shallow tank. If needed I could squeeze a halide above him, next to the ati fixture.

And with the comment about the powerhead and the anemone going into it, I put screens over them so it would be difficult for him to get sucked in.

Thanks and keep the opinions/advice coming

 

[robertcedgar]

If you get a healthy specimen and keep your water parameters up, you can keep it under many types of light. I've have a magnifica (paired with a Tomato Clown) for eight years now. I've kept it under PC, 150 HQI and it's now loving 250 HQI. I feed about once per week myself. Of course, the clown brings scraps of food to the anemone as well.

 

[OrionN]

I think bright enough or not is only part of the issue. MH is a point source and light drop off quickly away from it. This keep light loving animals from moving away. Non MH light is diffuse and light does not drop appreciably as the animal move so they move around and search for more light. In compare to noon sun, MH is not bright enough either, but it is all they light the animal can have and if it not too bad, it stay because it sense the light drop as it move away.