Anemone question... Need some advice

ghstrider

ghstrider

New member
Guys, I would really like to put in an Anemone of some type in my tank in the future as i plan on adding a mated pair of black/white clownfish. My questions are :

1) with the type of lighting, livestock, corals, etc... Can i successfully have an anemone in my setup? If so then which one would you guys recommend (hardy, and the best bet for my setup)

2) When would be the right time to put him in (my tank is just under a month old and doing well)? I was thinking maybe after about 3 months if all continues to go well.

3) Should the clowns go in before or after the Anemone?


Here is a link to my build thread so you can see my setup:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1131397


Thanks in advance guys...
Eddy
 
Hi,first off you need to see what type of anemone will be a suitable host for the clownfish that you wish to keep.Then,once you know what type of anemone you are wishing to keep,you should do a search to make sure you can meet all the needs of the anemone.I haven't read your tank build thread,but you list 4x65 wt pc's as your lighting-depending on what anemone will host your clowns,this lighting set up may need to be upgraded.As a rule most clown hosting nems need very intense lighting & high flow.Then depending on the species,it may need a sand bed or cave type structure in which to reside.As a rule you should add the anemone before the clowns,as it needs to acclimate to the tank.HTH
 
Guys, which anemones are hardy as compared to others? Which are a bit more resistant to medium light? I know that nems thrive with MHs but i dont see myself upgrading my setup for a long while especially for an anemone only. I dont plan on getting one for at least 2-3 more months but want some insight. Anyone on here keep a nem w/ PCs? Some input please....

Thanks
 
I have two
1-purple long tip
1-rare green/orange/yellow bubble tip.
feel free to come by anytime.
BTW I have 4 clown and none host the anemones they like my monti and chalices
 
I don't think that you'll have great luck keeping an anem with PCs. I think they need more light. They won't just die, but they'll slowly dwindle away :(
 
IMO - you don't have enough light for an anenome. Your tank is still considered a new tank as well. No rules are hard and fast but I believe the general rule on anemones is a mature tank (about a year old) and about 5 watts per gallon of light.

Is this from personal experience? - no. It's from late night reading sessions.
 
Ive been doing some research since i posted this and the only anemone that I am reading is forgiving with medium light is the BTA. It also seems its the hardiest of the bunch and may be the one I have to look into. Anyone have personal experience with one (with and with PCs)...Do you like'em? do they move all the time and damage corals? I do like the RBTAs
 
I wouldn't use the watts per gallon rule to start off with. 10x96w PCs does not equal anywhere in the same realm of 2x400w MH or 8x54w T5s with the proper reflectors.

PCs are great for a easy softy tank, however to get into the more advanced stuff (SPS, anemones, clams, etc) you'll need an upgrade.
 
Eddy, you can have any kind of atlantic anemones in your tank with that lighting, they don't require intense lighting, they come in nice colors, they are relatively inexpensive but will not host any clown fish.
As far as the anemones that do host clown fish I will tell you that they are among the most susceptible to chemical imbalance and will die rapidly with traces of nitrates, their light requirements are also high but may survive if you can find specimens that have been raise in captivity under this type of lighting, you will need to find butting from this specimens, usually other hobbyists.
IMO I will not have any anemones in my current tank, in the past I have had accidents in which the anemone has gone for a walk and killed entire sections of the tank, I do agree that they are beautiful to look at, specially when combined with clown fishes, if you decide to keep this kind of anemone it will be best to do after your tank is over 7 month to 1 year old and when you have upgraded your lights to more powerful MH or T5's.
Perhaps if you really like them you can have a anemone dedicated tank, I remember seeing one of those a few years back as TOM in RC and it was truly beautiful.
 
Yes I also disagree with the famous 5 watt/gallon rule.
As far as nems the lighting requisites are very important.
But u can def have a couple of haitian-THEY WILL NOT HOST.

I would wait. BTW I have RBTA and she's just plain beautiful never ever she's moved in over a year(she;s stuck in a cave)

Hope that helps.
 
I have both of mine at the end so they can't move. the flow of my tank pushes into them so they cant go anywhere. here is the new BTA that I go PM's for to see.

CIMG8177_edited.jpg



Green base orange tentacles and yellow tips



and the purple



CIMG7756_edited.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=#post target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
I have both of mine at the end so they can't move. the flow of my tank pushes into them so they cant go anywhere. here is the new BTA that I go PM's for to see.

CIMG8177_edited.jpg



Green base orange tentacles and yellow tips



and the purple



CIMG7756_edited.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice JOE
Here's mine purdy critters they are.
IMG_4689copy.jpg
[/IMG]
IMG_1809.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Where did you hear that?? I've had a few die from stress/not acclimating well or being sucked into a powerhead and they didn't poison my tank. They'll give you a nutrient spike if you don't remove them quickly, but they won't poison your tank.

PC's are not suffcient lighting for BTA's, Heteractis, or Macrodactyl doorinsis anemones which is what those clowns host to. Those anems need high lighting and excellent water quality. Even haitian anems will probably bleach under pc's long term.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=#post target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flamehawk
Where did you hear that?? I've had a few die from stress/not acclimating well or being sucked into a powerhead and they didn't poison my tank. They'll give you a nutrient spike if you don't remove them quickly, but they won't poison your tank.

PC's are not suffcient lighting for BTA's, Heteractis, or Macrodactyl doorinsis anemones which is what those clowns host to. Those anems need high lighting and excellent water quality. Even haitian anems will probably bleach under pc's long term.
Click to expand...

Agree- the nem stories are only that-plus them critters really give u a heads up when they are not doing well.
I've kept Haitian's (nems that is) on a pc tank for about 4 months-but certainly not long term

Mr. Flamehawk as usual is johnny on the spot.
 
Save your BTA/clown money and go buy mel's 2x250w lights that he has on sale for freakin $200. It's an insane deal, and you'll have enough lighting to keep anything you want... then it's just up to tank maturity.
 
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