Flow for sand dwelling anemones

[ocellaris123]

Just wanted others opinions on the matter. I am moving to an apartment building so I am in the process of redoing my four foot 60 gallon to display some sand dwelling anemones (either haddonis or long tentacles), pair of gold stripe maroons and clams. I recently placed an order for two koralia 1050s and was wondering if this would be too much flow for the anemones to handle? Should I downgrade to two Koralia 750's? All opinions and thoughts are welcomed and thanks again.

 

[garygb]

With 1050 you're looking at ~20x turnover/hour based on 50 gallon actual volume, with two 750s you're looking at ~30x turnover. The two anemone species you're considering prefer moderate rather than strong water currents. You have more flexibility with two pumps and you get more random water flow, I would be thinking more like Koralia 1s or equivalent, preferably controllable.

 

[ocellaris123]

Thanks, I was thinking that would be too much flow with 30x turnover with the 1050's. I already have 2 koralia 1's lying around, so maybe I can get them swapped over to something else.

 

[garygb]

Why not just use the two Koralia 1s? I would at least try that and see how the flow is.

 

[ocellaris123]

I did in my older setup, same size, the flow was kind of lacking but it seemed to be good for the anemones (had a blue haddoni, and bubble anemones). LTA's ime take a while to firmly attach so having a strong turnover wont help things im assuming?

 

[garygb]

Yeah, while attaching they only need gentle flow. When attached they still only need moderate flow as in some tentacle movement, but not quickly swaying back in forth in the current. If the current can be above them and they just get a nice, gentle breeze they seem content.

 

[ocellaris123]

Thanks Gary, one of my regular LFS seem to get nice blue/red/green carpets in regularly, so i'm leaning towards the carpets for now, but we will see. hopefully my maroon pair takes to carpets, and they do not make it a habit of brushing the sand from the foot of the anemone.

 

[garygb]

Carpets aren't natural hosts for maroons (BTAs are their only natural host); however, they don't seem as picky as some species when it comes to choosing a host. If the clowns are very large, you will want to make sure the anemone is signficantly larger--anemone should be 3 times the number of inches as your clowns.

 

[ocellaris123]

Yes I have noticed the same about maroons not being as picky about hosts, even though they only host Bta's in the wild. The pair is still small, the "female" is around 2 inches, while the male is only 1.5 inches, but they get along great, and the male already does the classic cheek kissing to the "female," plus they sleep together in quarantine.

 

[garygb]

Glad they've bonded, with maroons that can be touch-and-go sometimes. Small ones like that are less rambunctious so that will bold well for any new anemone you might get.