Help a FOWLR guy out

[caribfan]

Greetings Clownfish and Anemone group.

I spend most of my time in the FO and Reef Fishes section, but was recently given an oceanic 29 gallon biocube. It's the perfect tank for my boys playroom, 3yrs and 16 mos.

My intentions are to have a couple of "picasso" style clownfish and an anemone. I'm thinking either a Ritteri, Bubble Tip or Long Tentacle. I have always loved the Sebae anemones, but never seemed to do well with them earlier in my career, so at the moment, they are out.

So i'm working on the lighting component and am trying to decide between three LED fixtures.

• AI Nano
• Retrofit Kit from Steve's LED
• A Kessil Fixture

In addition, I will be buying lights in the near future for my 240 FOWLR. I have no intentions of keeping coral in the 240, but would like to use LED's for their longevity and programmability.

So with that being said, i'm open to suggestions and opinions. I am currently leaning towards buying a used AI Nano because I like the idea of being able to purchase some used SOL's (which seem to be about a dime a dozen) for my FOWLR and manage both tanks from the Director. I know the director has/had some issues, so I'm not really decided all the way on that.

I know the Steve's LED kit is highly regarded and is made to fit in the hood of the 29 biocube, but i'm not married to the idea of the hood and I also worry that I lose some of the features that I might have were I to use the Director.

Lastly, I threw Kessil in there because I know it had sort of a cult following and is supposed to be a quality light.

I appreciate all advice.

Thanks

Matt

 

[jon1985]

Ritteri would be the natural host but they get big so may not be appropriate for a 29 gallon tank. I would think bubble tip or LTA would be a better choice.

 

[caribfan]

Definitely a concern, your point about the natural host was my initial purpose for choosing the Ritteri.

Any thoughts on the lighting? It will come first obviously, the anemone will be after that. I assume the lighting requirements for the bubble tip, long tentacle and rit are all similar? I'm a self proclaimed novice when it comes to keeping anemones.

 

[jon1985]

Im no pro when it comes to LED. I have been running a DIY LED over my tank for almost 3 years and can keep anything as far as the light is concerned, SPS, haddoni anemone, bta, doesnt matter. That said I have 72 3W LEDs.

 

[caribfan]

Thats a bunch! I'd also like to try keeping a clam at some point, but i'm a novice when it comes to that as well, so I have a lot more reading to do. I don't see nearly as many AI nano's for sale as I do Sols, I wonder why that is?

 

[ClownNut]

LTA is a very bad choice for nano. they grow fast and get big way to fast. BTA are fine. any of the 3 you listed are fine to keep bta.

 

[OrionN]

I would add a H. malu to your list if you have a sand bed. They are great for Nano. Only get to about 8 inches in diameter.

 

[caribfan]

Really appreciate all the input so far. I will rule out the LTA for sure.

I do have a sand bed, its about 2". I can add more if people think that's a good idea.

It sounds like all three LED choices will work, I'm surprised I haven't gotten any opinions on which route to go.

Is a ritteri a complete no go?

 

[OrionN]

Magnifica (Ritteri) is a difficult anemone to keep but especially difficult to keep in a small tank. It can be done but not for a novice

 

[caribfan]

What are some of the difficulties for the magnifica? Also, why are they sometimes called ritteri and sometimes called magnifica? I want to make sure I'm calling it by the correct name.

I'm planning to use an mp10 for added flow in the tank.

 

[caribfan]

So, I'm leaning towards the AI Nano then on the lights. I like the potential controllability with the director, assuming they get things sorted out. It sounds like it should be enough light to keep an anemone?

What's the story with the purple Sebae anemones? I've seen then occasionally, but not often. I know I once heard that the correct color for Sebae anemones is brown, not bright white or yellow. Are the purple variety truly a natural color and are they the Crispa or Malu specie?