GSM and anemone advice

[Lunchbucket]

well my wife aquired a 58gal RR just like mine and she has decided she wants a pair of GSM clowns. i have always loved those clowns and am happy to have them since i already have a pair of clowns. we really want to add an anemone to her tank. i wont put one in my established reef. i need to read up quite a bit on anemones as i have never had the need to know about them. i'm going to start w/ the FAQ's that are supplied in the stickies.

he has 4x36" VHO's on the tank right now. i already told her taht i am 99% sure we will need to get a MH to support the anemone. do i need a MH? what watt would be sufficient 150, 175, or 250? i'm no stranger to MH's i've run them for years but need to know what would be best for this application

i'm wondering what would be the best anemone for this tank and those clowns?

any other reads i should do before diving in? i run a full SPS system and have for ~5yrs so i'm no stranger to water quality and husbandry. anything completely different from SPS to an anemone tank?

thanks
Lunchbucket

 

[GSMguy]

MH or t5HO are good for any bubble tip anemone which are the maroon clowns favorite
on a 58with that depth i would run a 250 or a 36inch t5 fixture like the aquatinics
luckily maroon clowns love BTA and BTA i a great beginer anemone
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1045296

 

[Lunchbucket]

i thought for the little extra cost a 250 would be the way to go also.

hmm..never run t-5's but i guess i could look into them. you run 2 or 4 36"ers on that tank??

Lunchbucket

 

[GSMguy]

a 5 bulb aquatinic fixture would fit or the 4 bulb ati fixture
i run 2x250w and i would feel ok putting either of these fixtures on to replace my 500w
i would call reefgeek about the ati fixture that is the best way to go for sure with my lights i evaporate 2 gallons a day whice can cause serous problems

 

[Anemone]

Lunch,

You'll want a BTA for the GSMs - they'll be in it in a heartbeat. And that being said, your 4x36" VHOs are plenty of light. That's 380 watts of light. I have 300 watts of VHO on my 65 gallon, and I'd say my RBTAs are healthy (and then some). Click on my little red house for more about my RBTA tank, but IMO you have the perfect setup for a BTA/GSM tank right now.

Kevin

 

[GSMguy]

true dont know why i did not notice that the Vho you have will support a BTA perfectly

 

[Lunchbucket]

Anemone - hmm...an old timer here....w/ a NICE tank. 4 VHO's is enough huh?? wow didn't think i'd get that response but i guess the proof is in your pics!!

if i kept up feeding them more that would also help offset not having MH's correct??

how long you had that Rose anemones?? want to get rid of one of your MILLION in htere

thanks
Lunchbucket

 

[Anemone]

With the VHOs you really won't need a lot of supplemental feeding (no, really). I used to target feed mine at least once a week, but haven't really done that for years now. Now, whatever they catch when I feed the fish is what they get... and things have gotten so busy that I'm not feeding the fish all that regularly. I'd say that would make me a negligent owner, except my pair of GSMs just began spawning and are on their second and are on their second nest.

this is my third pair of GSMs that I've created in this tank. In both of the earlier spawning pairs, mishaps took out the female and I re-paired the male with a smaller, new GSM, and the new pair eventually began to spawn (between a year and 18 months later).

I've had my anemone(s) since 1995.

Kevin

 

[Lunchbucket]

I know this is old but how much lighting would be needed for a 125? We are thinking we want a fish only tank and put an anemone in there. Could we get away w/ 4' VHO's stagered to cover the 6'?

Lunchbucket

 

[sleeperls]

I tried that and had to feed alooot. On the smaller tank the 4 vho work great. Had a rose under 440w of vho on a 55 gallon.

If your going todo the 125 you'll prob come out ahead doing some mh retro's and use the vho as supplements.

 

[patriots81]

the bta will need an established tank. apart from that, you should be fine. anemones are pretty east to take care of. (talking about the 58 gallon tank)

 

[Lunchbucket]

sleepers - I have a MH that I am trading for the VHO's. Since going no corals except this anemone I'd love to use just the 4x4ft VHO's. IF I could pick up another kit I could do 4x72" I guess. Trying to keep my money in the fish as have everything else.

patriots - Yes sorry will not add till established. I'm talking the 125 though now could/would the 4x4fts work?

Lunchbucket