how do i know if im ready for a nem ?

[new_world_disor]

well ive always wanted to keep nems in my tank. i think i have the right equipment ( lighting etc ) and the tank is comming up to 5 months old. when is a good time to start getting nems ? are there rules to mixing nems in one tank... and do i have to have clownfish to keep a nem ( sorry random thing to ask... ) as at the mo i have the following fish/criters :

1 juvi yellow tang
2 bangai cardinals
6 blue/green chromis
1 yellow choris wrasse
15 ish red legged hermits
1 sand sifting star
and 2 large cleaner shrimp

i run an arcadia series 4 pendant with 2 actinics and a single 450 mh.any help or info would be amazing

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[Aerowen]

its usually recommended that you wait atleast 6 months and have stable params. it is not nessesary to have a clownfish with an anenome and vise versa, but the are symbiotic and have a pretty relationship ( most of the time). there are some really good stickies on the top of this forum you should read before getting an anenome, then decide if you are ready.
- by the way how big is your tang?

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

seems like you have a massive bioload for a 60gallon tank...a nem will only add to that...

i would say you should wait atleast 6 months after having stable parameters..therefore approximately 8 months to a year...

and then decide which nem you would like...figure out what it needs and be sure you can provide an adequate environment for it..

it is not just about the lights..most of them really like flow too..

 

[seafansar]

Check out karensroseanemones.com. It's very informative about keeping anemones.

 

[new_world_disor]

the display is around 60g and total system is 80gallons.
i do have a bit of a high bioload but it hasnt been a problem until recently with my algea bloom ( which is on the decrease ) i run a good skimmer and do weekly water changes. ill read up on it flow is good. i have a rio 1100 powerhead as well as a the rio 1100 as a return and a CL with a OR2500 on it ( soon to be upgraded to a3500/4000 )

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

How is that a big bio-load?
Unless your Chromis are huge, I'd say your fine. Look at my list of fish, I don't even have a skimmer yet. Still doin it the old-fashioned way.

To answer your question, if your params are stable, and where you want them to be, I'd start shopping around for that first nem.

I wasn't sure about my first one either. I started with a small GBTA. I now have 3 nems, and all are doing great

do your research and you should be fine. Just be ready for it to roam around at first to find it's spot. They are amazing creatures, and awesome to watch (especially with a clown bouncin around in there

good luck

 

[new_world_disor]

the chromis are preety small. i intend on getting a pair of clowns and possible a small flame angel eventually. but ive always loved nems. they look awesome. and my gf has an obsession with finding nemo. so she'll be happy haha. my params are stable. just going to wait a few weeks to get this algea under controle 1st. u got any oucs of ur tank SK8RREEFGEEK ?

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

It's a work in progress, but it's starting to come along
the Haitian nem moved to the center of the tank, right over the bigger cave. He hasn't moved from there yet. I'm glad because it looks cooler where its at now.

what kind of algae are you having trouble with?