Few Gigantea Questions

[JustinReef]

I have had my Gigantea for a few months now, so not long at all. So far so good though.

Few things I would like to ask though.

1. How much flow do they like? I was told they love lots of flow and this is an SPS tank, so it does have a lot but sometimes it seems to be too much.

2. Will they sting or irritate SPS if they touch them? I assume yes but I never really thought about it before. The anemone is getting awfully close to a colony.

3. How often should I feed it? Right now I don't really spot it too much but instead I feed the tank heavily.

4. Mine often looks like a toadstool...it rarely is actually 'laying' down on the sand/rocks like I see in pictures. I thought maybe too much flow? When my Vortech slows down, the anemone seems to relax a little and almost look better. But when the flow is up full speed, it does seem to extend its tentacles even longer which seems good too. Any advice?

Given Giganteas reputation for being very difficult to keep in captivity, I feel pretty lucky so far...how long would you think it takes before your 'in the clear' so to speak. Obviously its never a sure thing but if it makes it to a year, is it pretty good bet it will survive long term? Whats a good milestone?

Thanks!

 

[JustinReef]

Oh and a picture to make the thread more interesting

 

[tufacody]

1) Most successful gigantea keeps will tell you that its not so much flow as it is "surge and rest". They seem to do best is random flow patterns.

2) Yes, anemones will sting corals, fish, and other corals. Its just what they do!

3) Feeding opinions vary. I think most do at least once a week. Several posts lately seem to be espousing more feedings than what was generally recommended. Since you have had yours for two months and it looks beautiful, I'd start slow and work up.

4) See number 1. Healthy anemones will find a spot that they like.

5) With this anemone, I don't think you are ever out of the clear! But with that said, I'd say two months is a fantastic start. Pretty much says that you received an healthy anemone, and now its up to you to keep it that way. I'd say the milestone is a year.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15110578#post15110578 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
1) Most successful gigantea keeps will tell you that its not so much flow as it is "surge and rest". They seem to do best is random flow patterns.

2) Yes, anemones will sting corals, fish, and other corals. Its just what they do!

3) Feeding opinions vary. I think most do at least once a week. Several posts lately seem to be espousing more feedings than what was generally recommended. Since you have had yours for two months and it looks beautiful, I'd start slow and work up.

4) See number 1. Healthy anemones will find a spot that they like.

5) With this anemone, I don't think you are ever out of the clear! But with that said, I'd say two months is a fantastic start. Pretty much says that you received an healthy anemone, and now its up to you to keep it that way. I'd say the milestone is a year.

Ok thanks for the info...pretty much what I thought but always nice to get more advice. I have only kept bubbletips in the past. I honestly did not know how tough Giganteas were when I first got it or I probably would not have even tried.

I had to take down my 200G and only have a 34G solana now, so space is tight but the tank is pretty much dedicated to the anemone, so as of now it has half the tank to itself and if it needs more, I will give it more. My biggest concern was stability in a small tank but so far its been much easier than I thought with a reliable ATO, chiller and decent skimmer. I guess having only 3 small fish also helps

As for the flow, I have an MP20 full power on reef crest mode, so its very random and the anemone is definitely getting 'surges'.

I knew they can sting corals and obviously fish but I wasn't sure if it would do much if any damage. The carpet has touched a close by SPS once and didn't do any damage but maybe it wasn't touching it long enough.

Thanks again.

 

[JustinReef]

Oh one other thing....

Sometimes the carpet seems to get a little smaller and keep its tentacles quite short and tight together like this:

Other times it expands and really extends its tentacles and just gets HUGE overall. I don't really have a picture but you can see in this one its tentacles are longer and more spread out:

What is the reason it does this? Obviously at night it retracts a bit and once in a while even balls up but I am just curious about why it seems to have these different moods. Very fascinating!

Also, how fast do they grow? I know it depends on feeding but is there a general monthly growth rate that is noticeable? Mine is about 9" now I would say when fully expanded.

 

[adtravels]

mine does exactly the same as that, morning and evening it is floppy and smaller, early after noon (when the halides come on) it goes more "tight" the late afternoon gets real big, like clockwork.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15111369#post15111369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adtravels
mine does exactly the same as that, morning and evening it is floppy and smaller, early after noon (when the halides come on) it goes more "tight" the late afternoon gets real big, like clockwork.

OK, thanks. Mine though seems to be more random though and not so much routine. Although very similar...usually really big in the afternoon/evening after the lights have been on for about 3-4 hours.

I only run my lights for 6 hours a day but may start to go a bit longer for the anemone. I like 6 hours for SPS but maybe the anemone would like a bit more light. Might try 8 hours. Just increase by 30 mins. every few days.

 

[adtravels]

Mine gets 6 hours in the week and 7 at weekends from halides I reduced from 8-9 to save electricity and it has been fine.

 

[JustinReef]

Thanks...

So the night after I post about how well it seems to be doing the thing decides to move! I guess its not so happy after all

Still looks fine but its actually moved up onto the side glass a bit. No powerheads or anything it can get into but I am worried about why it would decide to move now. Because its an all in one tank, there is a false wall in the back. The false wall doesn't go all the way across the tank from side to side but instead goes to within a few inches of the side walls and then angles to the back corner where its attached to the tank. Don't know if that description makes sense but the false wall leaves a little area between itself and the side glass. The anemone has kind of put itself in this area.

Do they like to wedge between things? Have their foot in small places?

I don't like where it moved to but I guess if its happy that's good. I obviously don't want to stress it more by moving it.

 

[tufacody]

I do think there is a posting jinx when it comes to nems!

Giganteas seem to like smoother flat surfaces and attach right above the gravel line, but they will move to suit their flow and light needs. You are right not to move it, too easy to tear the foot and it will just move again anyway. Obviously if its moving you want to make especially sure it can't get near a powerhead.

 

[JustinReef]

I agree about the Jinx but actually it kind of looks really good today after moving in the night. Its very big and seems really happy. It also is in a cool spot. At first I thought it was kind of weird but its grown on me already:

I will take some more showing the foot and how its attached. Its quite cool to be able to clearly see the foot on the glass!

 

[JustinReef]

You can see the vortech is just on the other side of the tank from it which makes me nervous. Hopefully it won't go for another walk and if it does, I hope it just goes back down to the sand and not across the back wall.

 

[tufacody]

Don't mean to be bossy, but you need to move that powerhead or get it covered or something. It is a beautiful gigantea, but they love flow and could crawl over to it in less than 15 minutes. I have one that is very similar to yours.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15119884#post15119884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
Don't mean to be bossy, but you need to move that powerhead or get it covered or something. It is a beautiful gigantea, but they love flow and could crawl over to it in less than 15 minutes. I have one that is very similar to yours.

Well it hasn't moved again and I will take my chances. There is nowhere to move the powerhead and I will not cover it. I would sooner get rid of the anemone than move the powerhead Its in a 'dry' box built for the back compartment of the tank. I could move it to the side wall but it would be very ugly.

 

[thorsky]

2nd that recommendation. No gigantea for me but my LTA has been known to cruise the whole tank. I got lucky in that it only lost a few tentacles to a power head, but ever since then I've moved it to a special tank (was going to be my refugium ) with no exposed inlets.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15119950#post15119950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thorsky
2nd that recommendation. No gigantea for me but my LTA has been known to cruise the whole tank. I got lucky in that it only lost a few tentacles to a power head, but ever since then I've moved it to a special tank (was going to be my refugium ) with no exposed inlets.

Thanks. But like I said I will take my chances. I know the risks.

If it doesn't effect the performance of the vortech I will try putting the foam over the inlets that it came with.

 

[Reefvette]

Time

Time

Its only a matter of time. In your case i ditch the gigantea.

If that thing gets sucked into a vortech your going to loose your whole tank.

Gigantea are very sticky and when they get vorteched as i like to say its messy.

 

[JustinReef]

Thanks...

 

[Reefvette]

Nice

Nice

Well the reason i beleive people are "beating a dead horse" most times is that you never hammer your point home enough.

You were being very dismissive of other peoples advise, which led people to beleive that if enough people tell you maybe you will realize that its not going to lead to a good outcome.

Why take a risk when you can prevent it.


BTW VORTECHS SUCK

 

[synofreak]

IMO, the nem looks rather healthy. I'm wondering why it moved? Flow would be my guess.
How about a different suggestion, as the OP is trying to keep the Nem in question(and doing a good job in my eyes).
Maybe cut some screening, and use zipties to connect to the outside.
Maybe fiberglass screening would be reef safe? Just as a precaution of coarse.
I have no exp with Vortecs, but do have alot with nems and Koralia. Although my Gigantia exp is limited to 3 months.
Just a thought, and nice job on the nem.