Haddoni 40 breeder suggestions please

[Mavrk]

I am plumbing my 40 breeder into my long established 90 gallon tank (they will share a 30 gallon sump). I am experienced with fish and BTA's (I currently have a couple happy BTA's in my 90) and was thinking of putting a Haddoni in the 40. I was wondering if people had suggestions on the best setup for this anemone:
1. I understand that it needs sand, but how deep and how course (I use oolitic aragonite in my 90)?
2. What lights would you recommend? I don't really want to hang the lights unless I have to. The tank is only 18 inches deep.
3. Does it need a rock to push up against? I am trying to keep minimal rock in the 40 since my 90 and sump have plenty.
4. I have two spare Koralia 4 powerheads. Would one be enough or do I need both (or would they be too much and I should get something else)? Or perhaps this is not enough, but I would think so. I will be splitting my Mag 7 for the return.
5. What else can I keep in the tank besides clowns? Are clams okay? Or is it best to just keep some zoos or mushrooms or the like? Any other fish to recommend (dwarf angels, etc)?
6. Any other suggestions or links would be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[Kayo2289]

I kept a haddoni for like 2 years and watching the symbiotic relationship with the clowns is truly something wonderful... but I will say this he grew like 3x the size that I got him.. to at his max like 14" dia. I kept him under a 250w de mh but he prob would have been okay under t-5's (I have seen a healthy red one under BC pc's in a BC29) so.. I dont know what that says to what they NEED as far as light goes..

But that lil butthole cleaned me out by eating like a 6-8 fish.. granted I never saw him actually catching them but he would if anything other than the clowns touch him.. very sticky.. forgot the tentacle names think their called nematocysts.. anyway there was a bunch of missing fish cases that pointed to him as the culprit.. still loved him anyway..

I see that you wrote that you are gonna plumb the 40 to your 90.. although your 90 is established iono if its wise to place a haddoni in there immediately.. as I did that with my 40.. I transfered rock and water from a 2+year 90g aquarium and transfered him in within the week of establishing him.. and the morning after I transfered him he was in my koralia.. he was done for.. I was definatley hurt cuz I had him so long but am relieved now because don't got to worry about losing more fish..

sorry bout goin off on a riff.. but back to your questions.. when first introduced he is gonna move around until he feels comfortable and continue to do so until he finds the sweet spot. they do like corners or a decent size rock to use as like a rest even though they might not attach to the rock.. I definately liked it more when his foot was all in deep in the sand. They like high flow areas but not necessarily direct flow, more like in the vicinity.. clams should be okay but be careful because the tentacles are indescriminate and if he is roaming anything is capable of getting stung, maybe not to the point of death but def irritating..

I love haddonis but Might want to stay away for a bit, right now im into maxi-minis.. which are really cool dont move much to at all are hardy and really pretty..

so in the end I recommend one, but maybe be patient and wait a while to purchase it while the tank becomes established even though its in an established system the tank itself isnt...and when you are talkin about microscopic bacteria, a 40g breeder is alot of real estate that they can cover which they havent moved into yet... if you get a healthy one into a good situation I'm sure you will love it.

 

[Mavrk]

Thanks for the tips. You are right, it is probably a good idea to let the 40 go for a little while first. I am in no hurry. I would like to get the setup together though so that it will be ready. I don't even have and clowns in QT yet for this tank. I feel like the haddoni is the next step in anemone keeping for me. A mag or gig would be nice, but I think a haddoni is probably a better idea.

Maybe I will just keep it as a haddoni/clown and macro algae tank.

That said, the maxi minis are cool and might be worth looking into. Although they don't host clowns. Plus I don't know where I would get one.

 

[E.intheC]

IME haddonis don't like a lot of flow. You will probably have to replace the k4s with something smaller. If you have the budget, an MP10 would be great. I've been talking a lot locally about anemone keeping and a few people are suggesting a stronger return pump and a Wavebox instead of "normal" power heads. They say its much safer that way.

Regarding lighting.. What do you have in mind? I bleached my haddons with a six bulb sunpower on my 90.. But that was probably because I didn't light acclimate the haddonis properly.

 

[Mavrk]

I have an MP10 on the back of my 90 I could probably move over. My MP40s are dialed down, so I don't think there will be a lot of loss other than not being able to properly use ecosmart modes. For lights, I was just hoping for something with "feet" that could go over the tank. I was thinking T5s since that is what is on my 90. If it would thrive under a less expensive fixture that would be great, but if it would do better under Tek elite or something I could do that.

 

[Mavrk]

Would a Gig or Mag be okay in a 40 breeder? I was considering going bare bottom since the tank is just an extension of my 90. I know they are more difficult, but I am considering giving it a try. I think I read that mags are harder to keep. Any thoughts?