Condy Anemone

[55semireef]

Hey guys.

I am experimenting with a Condy Anemone.I know they don't really host clownfish and that they get mean and big but its an experiment. Condys require strong lighting usually MH.

Although, I have PCs of 220 watts over my 55 gallon so I get 4 watts per gallon. But my condy is in a medium to high spot in the tank. I want to upgrade my 4 55 watt bulbs to 4 65 watt bulbs to get stronger lighting. Wouldn't that help a lot?

It looks like my anemone gets smaller at night time and when I put the lights back on the next day it takes some time for him/her to get back to its orignal size. I also noticed that the tentacles aren't real plump. They look skinny kind of.

My Condy is in a spot where it gets real good flow so it can breathe.

When I go to feed it, it reacts immediately which is a good sign and it curls its tentacles around it.

So overall, some good things are happening and some not so good.

I would really like to know why its tentacles aren't real plump.

Thanks

 

[55semireef]

bump

 

[55semireef]

anyone?

 

[Juck]

Upgrading those bulbs to 65w won't make any difference worth bothering with,,, or any difference at all (i.e. will the ballast drive the bulbs an extra 4x10w?).

 

[55semireef]

Adding 40 watts will make a small difference imo.

But my main concern is why aren't its tentacles real plump

 

[Juck]

No, it won't. The 55w and 65w PC bulbs are, for all intents and purposes, IDENTICAL,,, it's the ballast that makes the difference.

Any other problems you are having can likely be attributed to the fact that you're trying to keep a Condy under PC's,,, which IMO,, is a waste of an anemone.

 

[traveller7]

A few things:

1. As stated, the ballast will attempt to drive the bulb at 55w or 65w regardless of the label on the bulb.
2. The lifespan of PC's in most systems is extremely short, due to heat, inadequate ventilation, etc.
3. Atlantic Condylactis species tend to be very tolerant of lighting conditions when they are fed appropriately and have been kept long term under Normal Output flor tubes.

I would suspect shifts in pH, specific gravity, dosing additives, possibly too much flow, dietary, and/or old PC tubes to be the culprit.

Best of luck with it and stability is the best anemone's friend.

 

[55semireef]

The PCs are new so its not the bulbs.

I feed the Condy small frequent feedings to help with nutrients. So as long as I have stable water conditions I am good to go?

I don't think its a waste of an anemone. I have too seen them kept under lesser lighting than what I have.

 

[traveller7]

That lighting on standard dimension 55gal is fine for an Atlantic Condylactis or even a BTA. IME you'll need to change the first bulb around the 6 month mark and the second of a pair around 9 to keep the lighting intensity.

Try to alternate feedings of cut lancefish(or silversides) and prawn every three days.

Be cautious on the additives, IME, anemones are not fans of the fluctations they trigger.

Good luck.

 

[55semireef]

Thanks for the tip traveller7. I really appreciate it.

Although, recently it just deflated like crazy. I am assuming its excreting its waste when they deflate like this?

Which one generally needs stronger lighting, a BTA or Condy?

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7511651#post7511651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Juck

Any other problems you are having can likely be attributed to the fact that you're trying to keep a Condy under PC's,,, which IMO,, is a waste of an anemone.

Actually the anemone is doing better. I aslo moved it up higher to the lighting. So I am not really wasting anything.