Anemone-safe corals

[velvetelvis]

I know everyone worries about anemones stinging corals and damaging them, but I'm worried about the opposite: corals damaging my anemone. I have a BTA in a 34G system with some zoas, palys, xenia, and a frag of Pocillopora. I know that zoas and palys are especially toxic, so I've been worrying that they could harm my anemone through allelopathy, especially as they all grow and spread (and so does the BTA).

Am I being unnecessarily cautious, or is this a real risk? And are there any corals, especially soft corals, that are "compatible" with anemones (with the understanding that they may end up getting stung by the nem if it wanders or splits), at least in terms of not being harmful to them or adding too much to the bioload?

 

[bradleym]

Most corals get stung more than they sting back. Mushrooms and ricordia are good softies but will definitely get burned if they are touched by anemones. Don't use yellow polyps. I've got them and they're doing bad things to a sebae right now.

 

[velvetelvis]

Yeah, I've heard nothing but bad things about yellow polyps, so I've always stayed away from those. Do you think the chemicals that the zoas and palys give off are going to affect the BTA, even if they're not touching it? My skimmer has been working overtime lately...

 

[Cheebs]

You may be safe. 80% of the tanks I see with anemones have some kind of Zoa/paly in there, including mine with a gigantea. IF they aren't touching, your BTA should be fine.

 

[38bill]

I wouldnt worry too much about the BTA. The nem can and will move if its stung, the corals cant.

 

[JasonD]

I have some green mushrooms and green star polyps wit my rose bulbs in a forty gallon tank and the bulbs kick butt on the shrooms and star polyps :hammer: when they touch. Also the Anemones shade out their competitors. Generally vie found that healthy Anemones can take care of themselves. :bum::bum::bum:

Jason