How do you feel about anenomes?

[JCnflies]

Sometimes I think about buying an anenome for the tank - they seem really cool. Then I read how if they die, your tank can suffer big time. Today I heard that, in order to get a really nice bubble tip, you might have to pay $125 or more.

I was wondering if any of you guys had strong opinions on anemones for a 75 gallon like mine. If you like one, which one would you get? I have a pair of occelaris clowns. Thx.

 

[DgenR8]

What have you got for lighting?

 

[JCnflies]

I have 6 T5s totaling 324 watts. 2 actinic, 3 egular and 1 mixed actinic and regular

 

[DgenR8]

Common rule of thumb, no Anemones in a tank less than 6 months. I say that's too soon for most, but there are hardy Anemones that can live under your lighting in a brand new tank. Take a look at Aiptasia, they are really easy to keep
Seriously, if you want an Anemone to host your clowns, allow your tank to stabilize. I can't stress enough that 99% of "Anemone caused my tank to crash" threads are due to adding a sensitive creature to an unsuitable tank.
When an Anemone dies, it will pollute the system it's in. If said system is 10,000 gallons, there will be little effect. If the system is 75 gallons, there will be a significant effect.
You not only need stable conditions, you need to protect the animal from pump intakes and overflows. Anemones wander, and as they do, they often times kill or at least damage corals in their path. They also wind up getting sucked into pumps, and pureed. You need to be sure that you take what ever steps necessary to prevent that, or risk a major loss.
As far as price, several club members have red or green BTAs that regularly split, and the clones are often times offered to other club members for less than $50.00.

 

[JCnflies]

Thx I'm really betwixt and between about getting one....... getting one from a club member would be great. At least hat way I would have a good idea what kind of conditions it will like and make a fairly intelligent decision as to how likely it is that my corals might get ruined

Have you found that they are very difficult to maintain?

 

[Jakaru]

I just got my gbta at a lfs for 45 bucks. It's about 8 inches across so it's not that bad but it just depends on which one you are looking at.

 

[kevin21]

when your tank is stable they arent really difficult to maintain. you just have to watch them and make sure that there not going to roam and ruin your other corals.

i agree with larry's advice. good luck!

 

[JCnflies]

That's encouraging I have about two months till my tank is old enough Hopefully someone in the club will have one they want to split by then

 

[eboonaman]

Chris (Cb747) RBTA are always splitting contact him when your ready. I got one from him, it split 4 times within 1 yr. they can really take over your tank fast..
chuck

 

[Justjoe]

RBTA will essentially become big red aiptasia in terms of reproducing and then stinging/ taking over sections of your tank without proper thinning. They are wonderful creatures, and its a testament to reef keeping skills, considering it was only a few years ago that anemones were deemed not possible to keep in captivity long term.
If you get one knowing it will be a dominant creature in your tank, and you'll have to plan your tank around that animal, that will work out fine. If you can create your tank with a separate rock that it will hopefully attach to/under all the better but it will be a long term maintenance situation.
The clownfish/ anemone tank at AMW is 2,200 gallons, and it is too small to try and do a combination long term anemone/ coral combo tank, unless of course you constantly remove the budding anemones.
And of course, the easy answer here is that your 75gal will become an anemone tank, and you'll just have to set up another larger reef tank

 

[DgenR8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8483057#post8483057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justjoe
of course, the easy answer here is that your 75gal will become an anemone tank, and you'll just have to set up another larger reef tank

And so it begins......... :strooper:

 

[cb747]

RBTAs are very hardy and easy to keep. I have a pretty steady supply of them. I propogate them. Yep slice em in half and let them heal I never feed mine either. They eat whatever residual food makes it to them. Mine are under 440 watts of VHO and 2 175 MHs that are run 4 hours a day. Your lighting is more than adequate for them. When your ready for one send me a PM
Chris

 

[JCnflies]

Will do thx Your help is awesome

 

[JCnflies]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8484992#post8484992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DgenR8
And so it begins......... :strooper:

Once the kids get out of college

 

[Zoa]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Justjoe
of course, the easy answer here is that your 75gal will become an anemone tank, and you'll just have to set up another larger reef tank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And so it begins.........

This is exactly how our tanks themselves become like anemones in our home--overtaking any possible space......gotta love it!