Best Beginner Anemones

Reefing Newbie

Reefing Newbie

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So I have a 125 gallon tank that is going to be torn apart and cleaned due to major algae issues. Then I am going to set it back up with new rock, sand, and water. I am new to the hobby and to save money I bought the tank as a complete set up, which thus allowed me to inherite the issues the previous owner had... He had 2 bleached BTAs which I still have, a LTA which died, and a fairly healthy 10" Handdoni carpet. After the tank is a year old from restarting I would like to add an anemone of some sort, but not sure which one is going to give me the least amount of head ache. This tank will have a DIY LED set up from Reef LED Lights(98 LEDs). This will allow me to keep a future mixed reef tank, starting with some softies, then going to lps, then later sps. Now I am wanting a nem that I don't have to worry about moving around a ton that will be stinging my corals. The BTAs I have moved around for weeks and now have settled in for the most part. I kinda like the handdoni(lime green), but not sure if it is a better choice. I would love some pros and cons of various nems that are easy to keep. I do plan on getting a pair of Ocellaris Clowns for the nem, if that matters any.
 
I am looking for an anemone that is less prone to moving around the rock work per say. I know some BTA's will wander a tank for weeks and stay put. Then a week or two later they will do the same thing to end up where they started. Is there a way to prevent this?
 
IMO Bubble Tip. They will roam a bit til they find a spot they like. My experience is once they find it, they'll stay there. They are a great all-around Nem.
Also, Sebae. I believe they have similar behavior, but the key is to find a really good specimen.

I've had on & off luck with LTA's.
Carpets seem to move around a bit more.
Ritteri / Magnifica's love the very top of the aquarium.

I think you'd be better off with a BTA of some sort or possibly a Sebae.
 
Starter is a bubble tip. And it will wander until it's happy. Make it happy and it will hang around. Don't expect anything less, they are sessile (moving) animals. You wouldn't expect your fish to hang at a certain point all day. :)

Jeff
 
Starter anemone is a BTA - no question.

Next hardiest is a S. haddoni - no question.

If you have a LOT of SPS colonies, you might be happier with the haddoni, because it will stay low in the tank at the sand/rock juncture. If you have a lot of fish, you might be happier with the BTA because it won't eat many (if any) fish. If you have a LOT of SPS colonies and a LOT of fish... you might be happier with an anemone species tank :)

Anemones are difficult to keep with SPS simply because they tend to get LARGE. Anemones tend to be all or nothing. Either they die, or they grow like crazy :) Even BTA's can get 8" - 12" diameter and can reproduce asexually. Restricting feeding can help keep them small, but when you do this you increase the odds they will wander - they are looking for more food. Not always... but it is very difficult to predict. You have to assume they will wander all over the tank and plan accordingly. If they stay put, then you are lucky :)
 
RandyReefer said:
I bought an rbta about 1 month ago. Put in a PVC next to the rock, nextday moved to the rock and never moved again
Click to expand...

i've had my rbta for a few months and it just went on a walkabout one day. it's almost back to where it originally was but it stung a lot of coral in the process.
 
If you were to compare a BTA to a fish would it be more like a clown(staying in a general area) or a tang(wandering all over when it doesn't get fed enough? If the nem will stay put for the most part and only move if I forget to feed it regualarily then I would go for the BTA. I liked the Handdoni I had, but had to get rid of it because I didn't want it to be affected by me making my additions. I don't want the BTA to do so either but due to my predicament, I am starting over. If I do plan for a BTA I will probably avioid gettting too many corals that will cover my rock work. I will not be having lots of SPS colonies, only a few species such as birdsnest and acoropa(not sure on spelling that). My tank will probably end up being mostly lps with some softies and SPS mixed in for variety. I want a nem that way my clowns are drawn to it as opposed to a torch or frogspawn. Would giving a BTA its own pillar or rock section(seperated by sand from the rest of the rock) keep it more or less isolated to that area?

BonsaiNut said:
Starter anemone is a BTA - no question.

Next hardiest is a S. haddoni - no question.

If you have a LOT of SPS colonies, you might be happier with the haddoni, because it will stay low in the tank at the sand/rock juncture. If you have a lot of fish, you might be happier with the BTA because it won't eat many (if any) fish. If you have a LOT of SPS colonies and a LOT of fish... you might be happier with an anemone species tank :)

Anemones are difficult to keep with SPS simply because they tend to get LARGE. Anemones tend to be all or nothing. Either they die, or they grow like crazy :) Even BTA's can get 8" - 12" diameter and can reproduce asexually. Restricting feeding can help keep them small, but when you do this you increase the odds they will wander - they are looking for more food. Not always... but it is very difficult to predict. You have to assume they will wander all over the tank and plan accordingly. If they stay put, then you are lucky :)
Click to expand...
 
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