anemone questions

[phenom5]

hey all.

i've got some questions regarding anemones...so i figured this would be the place.

a little background.

my tank is a 20L with a 2.5g DIY fuge.
70W HQI with a 14000K bulb
i've got about 40x turnover from 4 pumps
NH4-0
NO2-0
NO3-very low
pH-8.1 (stable...reverse photo period on fuge)
SG-1.025
Ca-410
Alk-4.57 meq/L

the 20L has been up & running for around a year, but 50% of the LR was in my old tank for 2 1/2 years before that.

so the big question is...can i keep an anemone? i'm doing some research, reading up on anemones, but my concern is my light. i wish i would have sprung for the 150W, but i didn't so...is a 70W MH enough over a 20L?

any other suggestions, or is there anything that i may not be taking into account? i know movement is an issue. i figured i could pull the few frags i have and put them on a rack that's out of the way. then let the anemone settle in, and put the corals back in accordingly. would it be stupid to stock this tank heavily with corals & an anemone?

i keep going back & forth between trying an anemone, and just loading the tank up with a bunch of corals.

thanks :thumbsup:

 

[Lance M.]

Sounds like you have a good setup. Your right the 150 Mh would probably of been better but the 70 watt will do nicely since a 20L is not very tall. A bta or lta would do nicely, expecially since its your first anemone (I'm assuming).

About the corals it would be a good idea to move them and let the anemone settle then replace them about 4-5 inchs away from the anemone to give a little room if it decides to move.

It's up to you whether you not to stock it heavily with corals since if the anemone moves it is likely to kill some. I have a 20H and I have found my bta a good thing in killing off some of my xenia since it grows so fast. HTH.

 

[traveller7]

This issue with a 70wt MH on a wide tank, you can't raise the fixture high enough to allow coverage while maintaining enough PAR. Remember, the amount of photosynthetic energy reaching the water decreases with distance.

If you centralize your light lovers under the fixture and stock the out side areas with low light tolerating specimens, it should work.

fwiw: I run quite a few 70wt metal halides and BTAs, Haddoni, and Crispa have done fine under them when kept at proper distance.

 

[phenom5]

A bta or lta would do nicely, expecially since its your first anemone (I'm assuming).

yes, it would be my first anemone. i know BTA's are generally recommended for first timers, but i haven't given too much thought on what type of anemone i would get just yet. i've seen some carpets in 20's...pretty sweet, but i know they get pretty big.

This issue with a 70wt MH on a wide tank, you can't raise the fixture high enough to allow coverage while maintaining enough PAR. Remember, the amount of photosynthetic energy reaching the water decreases with distance.

it's about 7-8" off the surface of the water. gives the center of my tank a good amount of light, but it definitely tappers off to the outside edges.

If you centralize your light lovers under the fixture and stock the out side areas with low light tolerating specimens, it should work.

my aquascape may be a problem. i have 2 stacks of LR with open space in the center.

here's a not so great picture of it, the effect is a little exaggerated because i'm in serious need of a new bulb.

another question that i've thought of...what do you do if your anemone decides that the perfect spot in your tank is a spot that can't really be seen? that would suck.

thanks for the info guys.

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10958476#post10958476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phenom5
another question that i've thought of...what do you do if your anemone decides that the perfect spot in your tank is a spot that can't really be seen? that would suck.

unfortunately he probably won't want to stay where you want and they will move if not happy. luckily they like to be out in the flow ( to grab food ) and light so you can usually find a happy place that suits you both.

 

[Lance M.]

Usually if you plan the spot right they are likely to stay there or move maybe only a couple inchs away from it.

My oldest bta hasn't moved from it's rock for a year except maybe one inch right or left. My new bta has not moved it's base one bit from where I put him in a couple weeks ago but it has stretched a couple inches to the left.