Considering getting an anemone would like some advice

[thefishyboy]

Hi all

Title says it all really. I have my first tank running an 100g tank with a few coral and fish in it. Tanks been running a year I am considering adding a anemone but know that they prefer a mature tank was wondering if I am ready for one in my tank. Parameters are pretty stable currently

Sal1.025
Nitrate 2ppm
Cal 350
Mag 1260
Dkh 7
Phosphate 0

These levels are quite stable now and don't change much on my weekly tests. I would like some advice on wether my system is ready for an anemone and if so some advice on a nice beginner species that my clownfish would like.

Thanks

Pic of tank 1 year in to my reef keeping [emoji3]

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[pfan151]

As long as your lights are strong enough I'm sure you'll be fine. Hardest part with anemones IMO is finding a healthy one to start with.

Bubble tips are the easiest but are kind of a pain in the *** with mixed reef tanks. I like long tenticles if your sand is deep enough. I've had pretty good luck with malu's too.

 

[thefishyboy]

I only have a Ssb approx 1" that I vacuum with every water change so something on the rock would be better. I have an led light rig starting to see growth on the corals so light should be ok I think. Thanks il have a google of the one listed


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[davocean]

I would say you could possibly bump your CA and Mag a hair, but aside from that you are probably good to go for a nem.
It looks like you have occelaris, it would be nice to have a natural match which would be mag, gig, or crispa, crispa being easiest of those.
BTA's are more forgiving but they tend to wander more, and your occs may not take to it, or may take longer to accept it.

 

[thefishyboy]

I have percula clowns I think is that the same thing?


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[davocean]

Percs are pretty similar, yes, read the sticky above on what clowns match what nems and specific nem requirements as they do vary, but one thing on that sticky which most believe to be innacurate would be BTA listed as a natural host to them

 

[EthanHawaii]

I have a 2 year old green bubble tip anemone that is doing really well in my 55 gallon mixed reef tank. But unfortunately my clowns are not letting the GBTA host them.

That's why I'm kicking myself that I didn't buy the Magnificent Sea Anemone instead (they are one of the natural hosts for both the ocellaris and purcula clownfish). If I were you I would get the easiest natural host anemone for your percula clownfish.

 

[JonezNReef]

Considering getting an anemone would like some advice

Ive had a Seabae for around 3 years now and it has hosted my occelaris for about the same amount of time. It doesn't move around the tank and its not huge so it leaves more room for coral.

When I got it is was sickly white and small and it didn't want to open all the way. So I just fed it daily and kept an eye on everything and now its a purplish brown and opens itself up all the way everyday feeding from the current. It moved a couple of times the first month or so when I got it but has since had its foot planted on a rock and hasn't moved from it even in the 2 or 3 times I have moved it to different tanks. It did loose its color on one of the tank moves but gained it back within a month.
I even got it where it will eat pellet food too
https://vimeo.com/168457250

 

[OrionN]

You will probably do well with a H. crispa. Crispa is a rock anemone, fairly easy to to keep and tolerate shipping well. You are much more likley able to get a healthy one without have to treat him. They can get rater large and your clown will accept them as host without problem.
If you are up to it, research and get a Magnifica or Gigantea. They are beautiful. Of these naturla hosts for Ocellaris, Gigantea is a threat to your fish. Crispa and Magnifica are not much of fish eaters.

 

[OrionN]

Hard to tell from the video, but JinezNReef's anemone's seem to be a H.malu rather than a H. crispa. Both are called Sebae anemones.

 

[JonezNReef]

I do believe you are correct! It was almost dead when I bought it from a LFS for $5. They only knew it was a Saebae. Only thing is it has been doing well for years being attached to a rock with no sand (BB Tank) and I know h. malu usually prefer sand beds. Guess it has adapted to its environment over the years. Ive always wondered if it was a malu because it doesn't have very long tentacals and you almost never see its base.
Thanks for helping me identify it!

 

[OrionN]

If you can post good quality pictures of the anemone. A general picture, good picture of the oral plate and picture of the column I can ID him for you. Partial good quality picture of them would be fine. The video is too small and not enough detail.

 

[davocean]

Yeah Crispa is easy to come by and keep, not hard to find a healthy one, magnifica much harder to find healthy unless it came from an established tank already, otherwise usually do need cipro treatment, but once healthy they tend to stay put, and I don't think I've seen any posts claiming them to be notorious fish eaters

 

[JonezNReef]

This is what it looked like a few months back when it bleached itself out because I changed tanks

And this is what it looks like now

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[thefishyboy]

Thanks for the advice all. Think I will do some more research on crispa and magnifica and see what my lfs has in stock. JonezNReef your anemone looks amazing hopefully I can have something similar in my tank one day!

Don't want anything that is likely to eat my fish though!


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[OrionN]

This is what it looked like a few months back when it bleached itself out because I changed tanks
.....

And this is what it looks like now

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You do have a H. malu. He will be much happier if you give him about 3+ inches of sand to bury his foot in.

 

[Kenreefer]

I've been wanting a nem for quite some time and finally got two. Long tentacle n bubble tip. Definitely check out the nem before you buy. The LFS had their's attached to rocks n you got the nem and the rock. Great so the foot does not damaged in the process. The long was loose but I checked the foot n mouth n overall looks. Im not a pro but you just seem to know if it's healthy. Try karenanemone site too. When clowns host it's great mine did right off. Good luck

 

[MikeyAl]

Thanks for the advice all. Think I will do some more research on crispa and magnifica and see what my lfs has in stock. JonezNReef your anemone looks amazing hopefully I can have something similar in my tank one day!

Don't want anything that is likely to eat my fish though!


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Piece of advice if I can - especially if your are going ritteri. Please have a hospital tank ready along with some cipro. Very often these do not do well moving from one location to another and are susceptible to infection. Understand the protocol and know when he is not doing well. It can ultimately save a beautiful creature




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[thefishyboy]

I do quarantine all livestock except coral currently but I only have a normal bulb on the hospital tank would this be a problem for a nem?


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[jstack]

I do quarantine all livestock except coral currently but I only have a normal bulb on the hospital tank would this be a problem for a nem?


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Well not the most practical but I take my T247 on legs off the tank at the end of the light cycle and snap them on the qt overnight it's a pita but ehh I don't have cash for a set an extra set atm