H. Magnifica care

[Reefing Newbie]

I am hoping to be able to get a mag for my reef after I get my lighting upgraded as well as my power heads upgraded. Hopefully this will be done in a 180 gallon reef tank, but may be done in a 125 gallon if I don't get my upgrade approved. The reason I am choosing a mag is because I would prefer to have a natural host anemone for my B&W ocellaris clowns. There still may be a chance they don't associate with the mag, but I prefer it over the other host nems going by looks.

I just have a few questions on these, and may have more as my questions are answered.

1) How reef friendly are magnificas?
2) Would a magnifica be able to thrive under a DIY LED fixture made for light loving photosynthetics? If not, what kind of light would be recommended?
3) Do mags move around a lot or do they just find their place then stay comfy?
4) How big will one get? I have read that they can get quite big, and some say they usually only make it to about half of their wild size in captivity.
5) Is there a certain color morph that does better than another in captivity?
6) How well would a mag do in a cooler temp. reef (73-75)? The reason I ask is because if it can handle cooler temps the I want to get ventralis anthias, but the nem is coming before the anthias.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Catchoftheday]

I have had an H. Magnifica since Dec/2011 they do move around mine just last month took a walk for the first time up the glass i think the reason is because my Nitrate was really high your water parameters need to be good and stable . My lighting is 6x54 watt T-5 ATI bulbs i still feed about every other day . as for it being reef save if it moves and happen to touch a coral you will lose your coral and if it get a chance to eat your fish it just might I have not lost a fish yet Knock on wood . as for the temp im not sure i this 73 is to low i keep my tank at 78 . Hope this helps

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Was it only when your nitrates went up that it moved around?

Every piece of information I get helps with my decision making.

 

[fish042099]

don't be upset if one of your prized fish goes missing. Just a warning

 

[Reefing Newbie]

They don't eat fish like handdoni carpet nems do they?

 

[Tmoriarty]

They are very sticky but not quite as sticky as Haddonis (I have both). Members have said that Magnificas are like nitrate barometers, if they start shifting the chances are you have some nitrates. They are as reef safe as an anemone can get that crawls around and stings stuff (BTAs have a less potent sting I have noticed). I would not place one in a way that allows it easy access to other corals. I do however keep mine in a mixed reef with LPS/SPS and have not had it wander far enough to contact anything (Only had for a little over a month though).

The chances of your B/W associating are extremly high if not guaranteed. My true perc and false perc B/W were both in the nem within 30 mintues. I have since removed the B/W male and replaced with a Blackice snowflake male, the new clown also took the the nem instantly.

If you like the look of magnificas I would go with them, I am obviously biased because I went with one . I do like Gigs as well though and that was my second choice. My magnificas are large already, 10-14 inches depending on how stretched they are one way. I know they will probably continue to grow just giving you one size base to think about.

As for LED's I have heard success with them on magnificas in some other threads but have no first hand experience. If you acclimate it properly you should be able to keep them under LED's without a problem. I would advise keeping the tank at temperatures more in the normal reef zone then lower, unless you really want the anthias, in which case I would forgo the nem.

 

[garygb]

I agree with everything Tmoriarty said. I also have mine under T-5s which they seem to respond very well to. Before I had them under metal halide. I'm not experience with LEDs, so I can't comment. I definitely would not recommend keeping this species in the temp range you asked about. 80-82F is typical reef temps, and for this species. I would shoot for that if I were you.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I want the nem more than the Ventralis anthia so normal temps I will go for. Plenty of other anthias to replace them with. The tank will be LPS and zoanthid dominated with some SPS. Thanks for the help so far. How often do you guys feed them if at all?

 

[garygb]

I go through phases of regular feeding (3times a week or so) and for the past couple of months I have been feeding much less frequently, 1 time per week. I don't see much difference so far.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

What do you feed? Mysis shrimp of a mix of stuff?

 

[Catchoftheday]

What do you feed? Mysis shrimp of a mix of stuff?

I feed mine 3 times a week but thinking i may cut back at it is getting really Big . I feed mine scallops and it will also catch and eat the flakes that i feed my fish .

 

[Reefing Newbie]

That sounds simple enough for feeding.

Could I get pictures of your guys' magnificas?

 

[Catchoftheday]

Sure here you go

 

[Tmoriarty]

Here are mine, so far I am doing ok with multiples but I have heard it does not work out in the end. I will post whether it works in my case or not once I have some time with them in the tank. Success or failure Ill post either way.

 

[Tmoriarty]

As for feeding I feed mine multiple times a week but normally just small amounts. I feed a cross of mysis and food I make myself consisting of scallops/shrimp/kalamari/clams and some other stuff.

One thing I have read is that large pieces can be detrimental. Many members have posted that feeding silversides can sometimes result in the death of the anemone because the nem has a hard time digesting it properly. I prefer to feed smaller chopped items as they are easier to digest.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Nice nems you two! How big are your guys'?

I had a handdoni and I never fed anything but Mysis before I sold it. Although there was a brave damsel who took the Mysis away from it all the time...

 

[Tmoriarty]

The three in my tank are all about the same size, at their largest throughout the day they each measure around 12 inches across. They will grow more and feeding often will increase the rate of growth.

 

[IridescentLily]

Tmoriarty, those are gorgeous!

 

[Catchoftheday]

Mine is about 15" to 18"

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Plenty of room for clownfish to play around in!