Got my first Maroon..when can I get an anemone?

[courtneyclv]

I got my adorable maroon today and the LFS suggested I wait awhile to get either a bubble tip or long tentacle anemone. I think I want to get a nice colored one online.

How long should I wait since my tank is about 5-6 weeks old?(just finished cycling)

Also, I have two 60 watt coralife bulbs, 60 watt total. My tank is very long and very short, only 14 inches. The LFS said this was enough light since my tank is not tall.

I just love how they look and have some new live rock, can I get more than one anemone?

 

[Nikon_Guy]

Hi there new clownfish owner.

Conventional wisdom in this hobby recommends that a tank be six months of maturity prior to adding an anemone. Can it be done sooner with success? Sure but there are a whole bunch of things that need to be done and fall into place to make it a sure bet.

First, IMHO I think you should have about 60 to 70lbs more live rock if your tank is 78 gallons as listed in your signature. Being as you have already cycled and added fish, you will need to do this slow, maybe 5 to 10 lbs at a time and wait two to three weeks between adding more so as not to causes a mini cycle.

Second, again IMHO, there is no way 60 watts of light on a 78-gallon tank will be sufficient for any type of anemone. If you are going to stay with power compact lights I would shoot for four 65 watt 50/50’s at a minimum.

Please feel free to ask for second opinions, but trust the opinions you get here over the place you buy your livestock. The hobbyists that take the time to post here don’t make a profit by selling you things before you’re ready for them, nor do we make a profit when the livestock you buy dies and you have to buy them again.

 

[angry.clownfish]

I agree with Nikon_Guy that you need more light to have a healty anemone. get more lighting first, there's no need to rush into a purchase.

 

[55semireef]

BTW, if you do get an anemone make sure its much bigger than the maroon clown. Maroons are notorious for beating up their anemone.

 

[lfduty]

104 with the anemone one of mine splet and my maroon beat the **** out of it. naw it white and wont eat a thing and that was 4mons a go.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7886943#post7886943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lfduty
104 with the anemone one of mine splet and my maroon beat the **** out of it. naw it white and wont eat a thing and that was 4mons a go.

what???

 

[Jamie1210]

yeah, ditto to everything said above, and *especially* to the lights scenario. I went ahead and bought a bubble tip anemone and a condy anemone when I first started with just normal flourescent lights that came with my fish tank--HUGE mistake ... they both started looking bad, and then finally dying w/in a month. It was so sad watching them die. But after prowling around forums like these, I've learned sooo much about anemones--most notably, it's not the wattage that matters, but the light intensity that counts--bubble tip anemones with compact flourescents would be your best bet (at minimum)

Congrats on your marroon clown though!

~jamie

 

[courtneyclv]

Cool, I will wait at least a couple of months and will upgrade my lighting.

What do you think about a long tentacle anemone, purple from liveaquaria.com for my first? Are those harder to care for than a bubble tip.

And ifduty...WHAT?

 

[55semireef]

No don't go with a long tentacle anemone. Those are for more experienced aquarists. Stick with the Bubble Tip (BTA). They are the least light demanding and are more hardier. Not to mention it would have to be more of an upgrade of lights to get an LTA.

 

[TippyToeX]

courtneyclv - What store did you buy your maroon from? I was at one of our LFS's yesterday and saw a tank with 4-5 maroons in it. Two of those maroons were showing brooklynellosis. Just asking to be sure you did not purchase from that tank.

 

[55semireef]

Hey Tippy, what kind of sps coral is that because I have a frag but have no idea what kind it is. Your aviatar is what I have. And if you don't mind me asking how much would a frag be? I didn't buy mine, it was given to me.


Also, I woulst stick to one anemone. Ususally getting two different kinds of anemones is a risk especially in small tanks. I would go with the BTA.

 

[r00onmac]

agree with everyone so far... wait to mature your tank and upgrade your lights first of all...next i would add more rock a little at a time, you should have about 1lb per gallon of rock as the general rule... i would also recommend you stick to BTAs as they are generally the easiest "clown friendly" anemone... Condys can be kept pretty easily but they arent a host for any clownfish and have been known to eat all kinds of fish including clowns...

If you want a purple LTA you will need more lighting than you would for a BTA and a sand bed of AT LEAST 4" so that the anemone can attach properly..

55semireef - his avatar looks like a red montipora digitata and i saw some at a frag swap last sunday going for about 15 for a 1.5" piece...

 

[TippyToeX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7890105#post7890105 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by r00onmac
55semireef - his avatar looks like a red montipora digitata and i saw some at a frag swap last sunday going for about 15 for a 1.5" piece...

Actually her avatar is your everyday ORA orange polyp montipora digitata. Under 14k Hamiltions. They are cheap-o. I wouldn't pay more than $10 for a hefty sized frag.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Courtney Dearest: please make sure to read the RC Anemone FAQ before purchasing any anemone:

http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf

 

[courtneyclv]

Hi neighbor!

I got my Maroon at Atlantis Fish on Buffalo and Lake Mead. Their tanks are very clean and their fish look very healthy. My Maroon was with one other fish in the tank.

The ATM on Sahara..some of the fish are dead. They have a lot of smaller inverts though. Where do u suggest I go for a nice colored anemone when my tank is ready?

 

[TippyToeX]

Atlantis is a good one. The ones I saw were at ATM I. The guy who is working in ATM I is a good guy and is making some changes (QT tanks, working on the coral/invert section), but right now you couldn't pay me to purchase a fish there.

Most of our LFS's can get some healthy anemones in from time to time. If you don't mind the trip to Henderson, Green Valley Aquarium has had some stunning ones in now and then.

If you order online I'd suggest Reefermadness. Chris is a cool guy and is whom I got my purple LTA (though I agree, a BTA would be best for you to start with down the line).