anemone recommendation

[celamb89]

I need some help deciding what anemone to introduce to my tank...
the tank is a 150gal DT with a 2" sand bed... params are in check and I have a 6x54watt t5 light fixture... the tank is 23 inches deep...

I dont have many corals so the anemone can really place itself wherever it would like...
I kept a LTA for 8months but my father passed away so I had to leave the tank in charge of someone else for some time and the nem detached and got caught in the powerhead...

Since I had trouble getting the LTA to attach, due to small sand bed. I would like to try with a nem that deals with rocks more than sand, such as the gigantea, RBTA... I really like the gigantea but dont want to buy something that will just die on me. I am a dedicated hobbyist and will put a lot of effort and time to keep whatever nem alive and happy for several years...

So any thoughts? recommendations?

I would love to get a Gigantea or a larger anemone than the RBTA, so if not a Gigantea what other nem could I get that is rock dwelling.

Thanks!

 

[garygb]

BTAs do get large, and as far as rock dwelling anemones go, the other ones that come to mind, gigantea and magnifica, are each rather difficult to keep. If you are able to get a healthy specimen of either gigantea or magnifica you will likely be successful keeping them. You will need t-5s with individual reflectors and quality bulbs and plan to place the anemones in the top third of your DT to have success with these species. Both species very light demanding. H. crispa are known to attach to rocks or to bury into sand beds, so they are another possibility, and they can get quite large.

 

[celamb89]

ok!
I will talk to my LFS and see if he can get me a good specimen of a Gigantea since I believe the magnifica will get quite large with time (not saying the gigantea is a small nem)..

Im good friends with the LFS owner and he is really honest so if he doesnt think he cant get a good specimen I will get a RBTA!
What I had heard/think is that most RBTA will split before growing. I have seen pics of large BTA but most of the specimens kept in captivity seem to split beforehand. is this true or is it just me thinking wrong?

thanks for the quick response Gary!

 

[2Addicted]

How much flow do you have in your tank? Thats also something to think about since gigs like tons of flow, and bta not quite as much

 

[celamb89]

The right side of the tank has a ton of flow and the left has low flow so that shouldnt be a problem... If i really needed more flow I could get a koralia or something just for the gig...

Hopefully next year I can afford an MP40!

 

[velvetelvis]

I'm always a fan of the BTAs, since they're readily available aquacultured. I've also seen some quite large ones. One store in my area has one that looks like a large LTA--it must be about 18"-20" across when fully expanded.

 

[garygb]

To answer your question about BTAs size at which they clone, mine tend to get rather large, probably around 10-12 inches across before they divide. I have read of some lineages that seem to divide when smaller. How much this is related to tank conditions vs. size of the anemone is an unknown.