BTA only tank

[jon1985]

So I am planning a 50 gallon buld and had planned on a mixed reef but the more reading I do the more I think an all nem tank might be cool. I will keep a pair of gold strip marron clowns aswell as atleast 1 goby/pistol shrimp combo.

Does any one have pictures of a nem only tank?

 

[Mordoff]

Heres a video on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFO4DwEkkr0

 

[jon1985]

nobody else?

 

[WDLV]

I'm working on three 45 gallon anemone dominated reefs, but they're far from the level of maturity you'd really want to show off. I plan to do some relocations in the middle of this month. I'll be sure to post pics afterward. I have about 12-15 anemones that I plan to distribute between the three tanks.
Here are some pics of the tanks and anemones I will be working with.

 

[Pinkskunk]

hi Walt,

is that a self contained system? no sump, no connect to main tank...etc?

 

[WDLV]

All but the third photograph came from an anemone quarrantine tank. It is being run with a HOB skimmer, a couple powerheads, and a 250 W 14KK MH with a Lumenarc A3mini reflector. This is not a permanent configuration but this tank will evenually be tied in with two others that are connected to a sump; one of which is in picture three. I had considered leaving them as separate stand alone systems and they would probably be fine being run as such in any other house. In my case, my wife tends to turn off the AC and open every window in the house except the ones in the basement where the aquariums are. So, I need more of a heat sink for those times. The tank that was not connected to a sump maintained about 84 degrees since April 14th when it was set up. The others stay at about 81.3. The heater is set for 82.

 

[Pinkskunk]

thanks Walt, i am curious why such high temp? mine is around 74-78 but when it gets to around 80 i got nervous the tank is getting too hot..... you think 82 is ok for nems?

Summer is coming and i get nervous b/c the summer heat once killed my one and only mags that i had for years.

 

[WDLV]

I think that temp is fine. This is the highest I've kept them. I've gone as low as 75 for an extended period of time (about a year) while I had my latz.

The reason for the higher temp is to help induce spawning in my clowns. I'm usually a proponent at sticking with 78 because it gives you that little bit of buffer zone in either direction.

I'm not gonna advise you of anything with regard to mags but will point out that they're often found in shallow water (warmer) and are occasionally exposed to bake in the sun during extreme low tides. I don't really freak out over extreme water temp changes over brief periods. I don't even bother warming my makeup water any more. Anyone who has dived on a reef has found themselves swimming along warm and comfortable only to be hit with a thermocline that makes them want to jump out of the water 'cause it's so cold... this usually coinsides with the urge to pee in your wet suit.

 

[WDLV]

Note the top of this picture is clear and the bottom is blurry. This is a thermocline. It's blurry because the two extreme water temps are mixing. It happens all the time.

 

[Pinkskunk]

ok i learn something new everyday. Thanks Walt.

 

[MBasile]

Good stuff Walt! To add to that, I was at a talk by Ron Shimek, an invertebrate zoologist well known in our hobby, who said that actually the healthiest reefs with the most life are actually pretty warm- usually at about 82 degrees. When our tanks are cooler the corals' metabolism slows down significantly so that they are actually almost starving. The only problem with having the water warmer at 82 is that their metabolism are much higher and without proper care and feeding the corals' health can go south pretty quickly. Shimek also said that temperatures frequently vary just like Walt says, and that its actually un-natural for us to keep our tanks at a set temperature all the time.

 

[jon1985]

Thanks for the info, I like the way the rocks are in the 8th pic from the top.

I am leaning towards the island look so that I can keep one spot safe for corals.

 

[WDLV]

Good stuff Walt! To add to that, I was at a talk by Ron Shimek, an invertebrate zoologist well known in our hobby, who said that actually the healthiest reefs with the most life are actually pretty warm- usually at about 82 degrees. When our tanks are cooler the corals' metabolism slows down significantly so that they are actually almost starving. The only problem with having the water warmer at 82 is that their metabolism are much higher and without proper care and feeding the corals' health can go south pretty quickly. Shimek also said that temperatures frequently vary just like Walt says, and that its actually un-natural for us to keep our tanks at a set temperature all the time.

I agree with that last statement. It has always seemed to me that pampering our organisms leads to weakness. A little stress is good.

Thanks for the info, I like the way the rocks are in the 8th pic from the top.

I am leaning towards the island look so that I can keep one spot safe for corals.

I have a rock that is about the size of a bread bowl that is so porous that you can see right through it in spots. This rock will be perfect for BTAs. I plan for it to be an island in the sand. I will add pics to my 45 cubes build thread when it's done.