Good buy?

[rockryno]

I have recently set up a 17gal tank that will be dedicated to BTAs and a clown pair. It is currently cycled and just has the live rock and snails. Awaiting any real livestock.

My original plan was to grab a BTA or two, and slowly let them grow, maybe add a few more, maybe let them split, then eventually add a pair of clowns and "hope" they pair and host.

Recently, I have come across a local club member downsizing his anemone tank, and has offered me a rock with seven RBTAs and a Clarkii pair that already host. All for $200.

The questions - do I take the slow road and stretch this process out? Or make the one purchase and have the ideal setup in one day?

Half of me thinks this is a sweet deal and I'm going to get there eventually anyway - why wait? Half of me thinks I'm rushing it and its a big step with little margin for error.

Thoughts?

 

[bfraenza92]

The encouraged practice is to wait till your tank is mature for 6 months or more. You can do it but you risk burning the money spent on the specimens.

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[bfraenza92]

I got a rainbow bta when my tank was three months old and it declined to the point of me being afraid for its life, so I took her back. My parameters were perfect, but I found out my heater was in a non working outlet so the temperature swings probably did her in, not the water parameters. So after about a month I'm gonna pick her back up and try again. my lfs said I could have her back if I wanted. [emoji56] good luck with whatever you decide

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[zooman72]

The "anemone rock" is a good way to go (did it myself a few years ago), but you might consider leaving the A. clarki behind - they get a bit big for a 17g. I had a pair in an IM 20g Nuvo (really only 15g of display), and they outgrew it quickly (as did the RBTA's to be honest). As long as the rock the nems come on is not too big, I don't see why it is not a good way to "get up to speed quickly", and should not pose any problems with the aquarium's biology. The "mature tank" advice for nems usually comes down to bacteria biodiversity, and equipment run-in, which you seemed to have covered, so I think you would be fine.

As for the A. clarki, they will host anything (seriously, they are the easiest species to keep with anemones as they seek to be hosted by most nems readily), so unless the pair is small, you might want to consider a smaller species, such as the ubiquitous A. ocellaris, which are generally smaller, and will typically take to BTA's (not as "surefire" as Clark's though).

Either way, I would grab the nem rock at least, and hold off on the clownfish possibly for a bit if you are nervous about the aquarium "being on the new side"... good luck!

 

[pfan151]

Are they nice RBTAs or bland ones? Seems like a good deal if they are nice. 17g is going to be too small for those clowns long term though. Honestly it may be too small even for the Anemones. They can get pretty large.

 

[rockryno]

Thanks for all of the advice guys - I did it. Not only was there an additional nem on the rock for a total of eight, he let it all go for $180, including the fish. The way they are attached to these nems, it would have been a crime to split them up.

Bucket ride home -

After a day of acclimation -

The nems are rather small at the moment, so I should have some time before they get too big for the tank. The fish are active, eating, and hosting like crazy! I'll try to keep them as happy as I can.

 

[aznflyfisherman]

Thats a good buy, make sure you have good lighting n keep up with the parameters, since your tank is fairly new. Once it settles in you may want to feed it mysis.

 

[zooman72]

Nice score!

I love A. clarkii clowns personally, and that is a good looking pair (love the dark bodies and lighter yellow finnage).

 

[rockryno]

On it. Thanks guys!

 

[ChizerBunoi]

Good score. I love the pair of Clarkiis. If you don't want to buy any more RBTA, you can do a force split by dropping the salinity. I normally drop by .003 which causes them to split. If you don't have a ATO yet then with future salinity swings it will split on its own.


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[Swayze27]

Awesome

 

[Pinkskunk]

congrats, hope you enjoy it. keep an eye out for the one(s) that decided to move, and eventually walk into the powerhead, hopefully they wont move.

 

[Kinetic]

that rock looks really nice too! Good work and love the peninsula style tank!

 

[matty21]

Good buy for sure!

 

[rockryno]

Thanks guys. I have a gyre mesh guard ready to go on the pump shortly. Just in case.

So far so good. These clowns sure do "love" these nems hard! They won't leave them, and sometimes force them to retract and deflate. But they keep coming back for more...

 

[rockryno]

everyone is happy -

 

[zooman72]

Nothing better...

 

[rockryno]

Still getting bigger! One already split...

 

[swimsree]

looks really nice!

 

[hottuna]

what kind of sand do u have in the tank ? Clarkii's love to "tail" the sand and blow it all over...if it's ooilitic plan on a "dust storm" every now and then..