Anemones in a reef?

[MikeP471612]

I want to add a nem to my reef tank. What types are easiest to keep? What types don't move around much? I don't want to have to worry about a nem moving around any stinging other corals. If a nem dies will it poison the tank? I have heard that bubble tips are good and they don't release toxins if they die.

Help an anemone newbie out

Thanks

 

[PmPrepGuy]

I would also like to know this since i have 2 black saddle back clowns and plan on adding to more once my main tank is up and running agian

 

[broke1]

I'm sure that you will get some advice from very knowledgable experts on here.

I can only tell you that my RBTA and Carpet refuse to stay put in my tank. I guess it would come down to the type of tank/coral/ environment you have. Mine is an SPS tank with around 60x turnover, so the flow might be what kept them on the move. They have been stinging everything in there path. The sting seems to annoy the coral more than cause any kind of damage.

I have since moved my RBTA into our Nano and he seems to be much happier.

 

[rssjsb]

BTAs are considered more tolerant than other anemones and easier to keep. However, they WILL move, no two ways about it. If you introduce one of these animals into your tank, it should be with the recognition that someday it will move and sting something you don't want it to. They may stay put for six months, a year, whatever, but eventually they wander (usually just after your prize acro has encrusted onto your live rock and can't be moved out of the way).

LTAs, carpets, and sebaes are more demanding, but will usually stick to the sand so pose less of a threat to corals on your rocks.

You would need to provide more details about your setup (tank dimensions, lighting, flow, etc.) for anyone to advise you about what (if any) anemone would be appropriate for your tank.

BTW, anemones don't release any special "toxin" if they die, just the ammonia spike you'd expect from a large mass decomposing. BTAs are no different in this regad.

 

[MikeP471612]

Thanks for the reply, tank info is as follows, 415watts of light from two 175w MH pendants and one 65w PC fixture (planning on replacing the 175w MH's with 250w asap). Flow is provided by the return pump, one Seio 1500, one Koralia 4 (adding another one soon) and a couple of strategically placed maxi jets. Tank dimensions are 60Lx30hx24w (190g). There's also 200lbs of sand and 200lbs of LR. Tank has been running for almost 4 1/2 months.

Thanks

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10831231#post10831231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rssjsb
BTW, anemones don't release any special "toxin" if they die, just the ammonia spike you'd expect from a large mass decomposing.

anecdotal evidence among experienced anemone keepers strongly suggests otherwise. It's very possible that a dying anemone releases some kind of toxin. Whether or not it's nemotocysts being shed en masse is still up for debate, but there are many reports of dying anemones causing fish kills in aquariums. Oddly enough, certain fishes that associate with anemones appear immune to this phenomena (Anemonefish and Banggai Cardinalfish, for example) as well as invertebrates.

A BTA is a good anemone choice, Mike.
It might move around. If it does you'll need to move neighboring corals away from it. Make sure to read the Anemone FAQ located at the top of this forum.

 

[rssjsb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10836250#post10836250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
anecdotal evidence among experienced anemone keepers strongly suggests otherwise. It's very possible that a dying anemone releases some kind of toxin. Whether or not it's nemotocysts being shed en masse is still up for debate, but there are many reports of dying anemones causing fish kills in aquariums. Oddly enough, certain fishes that associate with anemones appear immune to this phenomena (Anemonefish and Banggai Cardinalfish, for example) as well as invertebrates.

Interesting. I usually try to avoid giving the impression of actual knowledge (i.e., like from extensive original research) when what I'm actually just passing on conventional wisdom. Thanks for the correction.