Basic Anemone care

[phenom5]

I am considering setting up an anemone/ clown cube. I don't have much experience with anemones. I am thinking about BTA, but I really don't have an idea on what I should be looking at, care-wise. I have been keeping SPS tanks for the last 10 years plus, so I have an idea on what it takes to care for a tank, I am trying to determine what I should be focused on to plan out this tank.

Tank will be a 24" Cube (60gal) with a LR column. LED lighting (researching), considering a pair of Rossmont MX300 w/ the Waver controller. Skimmer (researching), reactor to run GAC & GFO, and dosing kalwasser from an ATO. Curious if there is anything that I am missing out in with that setup that I should consider for anemones. Any thing else I should consider, supplement wise?

Also, I know I can't mix species, but different color morphs of BTAs in a tank of this size would be fine, no? Seems like a silly question, but I figured I would ask.

What considerations should I take to protect the powerheads? As far as flow, I would have 3000GPH + the return, would that be good for BTAs?

I am in the VERY early planning stages, and just trying to get my head around anemone keeping.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Yes, Different BTA color morphs will be fine. You can mix all of the different color BTA's you want and they can even touch without issue.

BTA's will find a spot in your tank that they prefer in relation to flow and light. I've found some like a lot of flow and others not so much.

If you want a pretty much guarantee of hosting with a BTA of any color get a Maroon clown. I prefer the looks of the Maroon/yellow stripes personally but if you are going to go with a Maroon make it a species only tank since it's so small and a Maroon will claim at least a 50 gal area as it's own with other fish. Maroons will also move frags if they don't like them in their area. But again if you want the pretty much guarantee of a hosting the Maroon/BTA is the best choice.

 

[phenom5]

Hmm...not sure about Maroons. I think they look awesome, but IDK. I had a big Tomato/ Cinnamon pair in a previous tank, and they were mean as hell. And Maroon's have a rep as being worse.

 

[Daniel62]

Powerheads with these guys is always tricky. It's not a question of if they will walk, but when. But yes you will need some type of shield. Or you could just use your return pump as flow, this is much safer. If it is just BTAs they are not big alk users so I am not sure you will need very much Kalk in your top off. as far as keeping corals they will sting them or even settle on them when they move. I agree with your Maroon statement, Beautiful but super mean! Check out BRS's clown fish harem tank videos for Ideas. good luck

 

[m0nkie]

Yes, Different BTA color morphs will be fine. You can mix all of the different color BTA's you want and they can even touch without issue.

I was a firm believer that all same type anemone can touch. Not anymore...

My gig and haddoni have touched each other no problem..

SAME clone BTA touch each other no problem..

when my Lemon Drop and Gonzo BTA touched a large red BTA, the red BTA stun both the lemon drop and gonzo.. $1000 gone... so my conclusion is, do not let different BTA touch. The weaker one will eventually die. This doesn't happen over night and BTA tend to move away from each other after they touch (not in my case this time). Both of my 2 stunned anemone are still alive, but melting.. I've kept both over 6 months and very healthy, till now

 

[m0nkie]

I am considering setting up an anemone/ clown cube. I don't have much experience with anemones. I am thinking about BTA, but I really don't have an idea on what I should be looking at, care-wise. I have been keeping SPS tanks for the last 10 years plus, so I have an idea on what it takes to care for a tank, I am trying to determine what I should be focused on to plan out this tank.

Tank will be a 24" Cube (60gal) with a LR column. LED lighting (researching), considering a pair of Rossmont MX300 w/ the Waver controller. Skimmer (researching), reactor to run GAC & GFO, and dosing kalwasser from an ATO. Curious if there is anything that I am missing out in with that setup that I should consider for anemones. Any thing else I should consider, supplement wise?

BTA requires clean water. So no dosing needed. Keep nitrate low and do weekly/bi weekly water changes. They become happier after every water change.

Also, I know I can't mix species, but different color morphs of BTAs in a tank of this size would be fine, no? Seems like a silly question, but I figured I would ask.

I answered this earlier. But yes you can mix species in tank. I have a 100gal Gig/Haddoni/BTA/MaxiMini anemone tank. Just don't let them touch.

What considerations should I take to protect the powerheads? As far as flow, I would have 3000GPH + the return, would that be good for BTAs?

BTA prefer low/medium flow (compared to SPS tank). It's tentacles should be gently swinging in random directions.

I am in the VERY early planning stages, and just trying to get my head around anemone keeping.