Anemones and powerheads, what's the answer?

[jonnybravo22]

Hi everyone. We've all heard how anemones need plenty of flow. We've also heard that they frequently meet their demise at the end of a vortech. So I pose the question to all those who have been successful long term keeping anemones, how do you do manage flow and risk of injury?

Has anyone had long term anemone success with a vortech i'd are they too dangerous? Do people use those foam covers? Are tunzes or other powerrheads any less risky? Thanks!

 

[tufacody]

Ya know, despite the obvious risks, I see very few of the nem "pros" actually using some sort of protective devices over their powerheads. It seems to me that attempting to cover Vortechs would takes away a large portion of the reason people use them - they are so clean. I admit that I assume this risk too. Its just so hard to cover a powerhead w/o significantly cutting back on its flow. I think there is a GREAT market for someone willing to market a nem-safe PH. Until then, a little eggcrate box tied together with zip ties is the only thing I can think of, and perhaps gutter guard. Should would be ugly though.

 

[dc]

I used black sponge that I cut to fit. I got them at Drs. Foster's. They're for the JBJ tanks. Very porous and don't look too bad. You just keep them rinsed.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Thing is, not all anemones need plenty of flow. IME, both Haddonis and LTAs ((Macrodactyla doreensis )), are not found of lots of flow.

 

[OrionN]

Hi everyone. We've all heard how anemones need plenty of flow.....

This is not true. various anemone species are certainly are not the same. You need to decide which anemone you want to keep and research on this species accordingly.

 

[Mike31154]

I have a BTA in my 77 with two VorTech MP40Ws. The nem has moved very little in the over two years I've had it. The VorTechs were added 1.5 years and 6 months ago respectively. Not using foam covers and have no plans to in the future. I'll take my chances and I think they're pretty good since the BTA seems to have found a fairly permanent home around the center of the tank. The VorTechs are at the ends.

Only thing I've ever lost to a power head was a lawnmower blenny that got too close to the intake of an Aquaclear 801. That was a newb mistake and I fitted the cylindrical plastic cage to the Aquaclear after that. With the VorTechs, the Aquaclear(s) became redundant and are no longer in there. My current lawnmower blenny often tempts fate by munching away at the cage of the VorTechs. So far he's not been injured. Not much I can do there either, he's all over the tank, hi and lo, and whales away at anything that has any kind of film algae on it.

 

[Ynotme4886]

Only thing I've ever lost to a power head was a lawnmower blenny that got too close to the intake of an Aquaclear 801. That was a newb mistake and I fitted the cylindrical plastic cage to the Aquaclear after that. With the VorTechs, the Aquaclear(s) became redundant and are no longer in there. My current lawnmower blenny often tempts fate by munching away at the cage of the VorTechs. So far he's not been injured. Not much I can do there either, he's all over the tank, hi and lo, and whales away at anything that has any kind of film algae on it.

I've always use korlia powerheads and non controllable tunze's (cant justify to the wife spending a few hundred $$ on a powerhead)

I've never had a anemone go near a powerhead (knock on wood) and I think if you are creative with your rock work and PH placement you can minimize your risk. As for the lawnmower blenny you just need to teach them to eat off an algae clip .
Mine loves clip algae and gets right in there with my tangs.
Its a funny sight to see. Lawnmower blennys are a great character fish and my tank wouldnt be the same without it.

 

[puter]

Choosing not to cover any pump intakes in a tank with an anemone, particularly BTAs, is foolish. They will move... it's just a matter of time. It may be years, but eventually something happens --a water change, power outage, lighting change, flow change, splitting, etc.-- that causes them to want to move. When they move they tend to move in the direction of water flow which, when you think about, means they're headed towards the intakes of your pumps.

Sometimes they'll move slowly and you'll have time to react. But, they can and do move quickly. BTAs can fold up their pedal disc and float in the current. Even "walking" they can easily move 6-8 feet overnight. And, that's when they move the most, at night.

The search function is working very well now. Do a search on this forum for BTA and powerhead. There have been hundreds of cases of BTAs and other anemones being caught/killed in powerheads. Are you really doing anything so different from all the people that were "surprised" their anemone got caught?

It's one thing for your anemone (and the other inhabitants of your tank) to be injured or killed because you were ignorant (as in didn't know) of their propensity to wander. It's another thing entirely if you know of the risk and just choose to ignore it. You have the right to be irresponsible with your livestock. We have the right not to condone your doing so.

Respectfully,

 

[jonnybravo22]

This is not true. various anemone species are certainly are not the same. You need to decide which anemone you want to keep and research on this species accordingly.

I am referring to giganteas. I'm so focused on those anemones I sometimes assume everyone else thinks the two words are synonymous as well. Giganteas, as I understand it, do require significant flow, so that's what I intended by that comment. Glad I have the opportunity to clarify.

...It seems to me that attempting to cover Vortechs would takes away a large portion of the reason people use them - they are so clean.

agree here. that's what made me wonder what successful people have done. I have seen vortechs with the foam --it's just not pretty. if the veterans have had success without covering, it seems that the risk might not be as great as it seems / they are able to make adjustments to keep nem healthy / set it up right the first time so it didnt move?

Choosing not to cover any pump intakes in a tank with an anemone, particularly BTAs, is foolish...
It's one thing for your anemone (and the other inhabitants of your tank) to be injured or killed because you were ignorant (as in didn't know) of their propensity to wander. It's another thing entirely if you know of the risk and just choose to ignore it. You have the right to be irresponsible with your livestock. We have the right not to condone your doing so.

Respectfully,

feel like i got sent to the principal's office and I dont even have a nem yet! my question is to figure out what people do that keeps their nems alive!

 

[OrionN]

You certainly pick a difficult anemone to keep. I have not able to keep one yet. I think it have more to do with not getting a healthy anemone, rather than not able to provide adequate environment for him.
When I get my Gigantea, I would put him initially in a species tank, large enough so that I have an island of rock with sand all around it. The rock would 1/2 bury in the sand and leave him be. He would most likely not walk across the sand and get into anywhere near my water movement producing devices.
Take this with a grain of sand since I have not able to keep a Gigantea alive yet. I got one that the LFS owner hold for me. It is in his tank for the last 1 month without deflating. I hope that I will finally get one in the near future that will do well.
I keep H. magnifica, E. quadricolor, H. malu, H. crispa, S. haddoni, M doreensis, and the larger and smaller S. tapetum. I never have to cover any of my PH. I just know enough about these anemone and arrange the PH in a place where the anemone unlikely to get to. I have been successful every time so far. None of my anemone ever got chew up by PH or water intake.

 

[JLopez]

I just put the nem's (gigantea and bubble tip) as far from the power heads as possible with a lot of flow in their direction. Neither moved from where I orginally placed them.

 

[lloydkeller]

ive had my bta 2 years no cover on power heads but my bta dose not move at all happy where its at I did lose one once though