How do you know if your ready for an Anemone?

T

Tom39

New member
What things should I be looking for the tell if my system is mature enough for and anemone?

Currently my system has been up and running for 5 months, including the 1 month it took to cycle.
I have 2 clowns, 1 fairy wrasse, 1 mandarin goby, 3 pajama cardinals, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 peppermint shrimp, 1 emerald crab, a large snail cuc, 1 pc frogspawn (2 sm heads) 1 pc candy cane (4 sm heads) 10 mushrooms, 3 clumps of zoas (75 polyps total).

I have not seen a reading of NH3, NO2 or NO3 since the cycle ended.
My ph average is 8.3-8.15, sg is 1.024, mg is 1320, Alk is 9.2, Ca is 425 and temp is 78.5
I dose Kalk at a rate of 1 tsp/gal and evaporate 1 gal/day via ATO
I run carbon and GFO thru BSR reactors and have used only RODI since day 1
System is 50gal with LR, LS, sump and led lighting.

Thanks for reading,
Tom G
 
I would say consistently undetectable nitrates is a good start. You didn't mention it, but a good protein skimmer is a big help, in my opinion. Your chemistry all looks good, anemones could care less about Ca, I've observed. You also don't mention which species of clown you have or which species of anemone you want to get, but the BTA is the hardiest of the host species, though they are not natural host for all species of clownfish.
 
Undetectable nitrates? Just got a beautiful gbta from fellow reefer , and he has several, and his nitrates are consistently above 40ppm. I know mine are always 20 ish, so I don't see how important that is really.
 
For an established anemone, nitrates won't kill the anemone, however, for a newly acquired one it just might. Also, anemones tend to move around starting with shifting a little with low nitrates and then literally moving around the tank with higher nitrates. So I feel they are important with anemones. I've had my nitrates creep up to 60ppm in the past when I ran a DSB for a long time (bare bottom tanks I think are much easier to keep low nitrates), and though my anemones survived just fine, they certainly didn't look their best. Higher nitrates can result in stress dividing also in BTAs, so frequent divisions in this species is often attributable to poor water quality. In excellent water quality they divide as well, just probably not as frequently.
 
Thanks for that. The fact that this came of a split in his tank was a bonus for sure, because the water quality is not best in the world. My tank is well established at this point but again I would agree the lower the nitrates the better.
 
Tom39,

How have the swings been? Parameters, as in do you see any popup levels then either, leave it alone or do a water change?

Diatoms and algae... How did you fair? Algae will normally consume the nitrates and such before we get a chance to measure it in the water column anyway.

Flow what are you using and are you going to be able to keep it up with a foam protector on the power head, or do you need to add another power head or two?

50g...

To start out I would say a RBTA or BTA as a good start.

You can always sell it back or to another reefer when you decide to upgrade or get something different, or even just keep it as they are hardy as stated earlier.

I am not saying use it as a test to see if one can survive in the tank, I am saying it will show any issues that may not have manifested yet.

Something on the size of a GIG or Mag should be in a larger tank, not only for over all growth but for more stability in the water conditions.

Can we get some pictures and maybe see how the flow is. The flow is a major factor not only is keeping it from moving but also to keep it happy and NOT from moving.

On another note....

You are down the street from me... I am in MD right across from Woodbridge. HI neighbor, maybe we can meet up and maybe come visit or help out as/if needed.
 
Worm5406,

I actually don't have any fluctuations in my parameters, everything seems to stay constant. The only issues I really ever had was my ph dropping into the high 7's. I fixed this a month or so ago, it was due to the oxygen level in my house, so I drilled a hole in the wall and installed a fresh outside air intake for my ps.

For Water changes, I do a 30% water change once a month.

My Diatom bloom in the beginning didn't seem to bad compared to what I seen from pictures of other tanks here and in other forums. I can't say that I have noticed any further Diatom growth, and my cuc keeps any algae @ a minimum.

For flow I have 2 Sicce 800gph power heads and my return I have calculated it to be around 600gph. Not sure what you mean by a foam protector though.

My entire system consists of a 50gal corner bowed front tank and a 29gal sump (sump is only 15gal of volume). The water volume total is 50gal (when I started I filled it one gallon at a time so I would know). I have 2.5in of sand and started with 75lb of dry rock for aquascaping and an additional 20lbs of saw cut dry rock I used as a base (the base rock is entirely covered by sand).

My thought is to get a RBTA so I am glad to hear that would be your recommendation. I don't think my tank would handle much more than that. It is not that big.

Yes you do live very close to me. I am 6mi off rte 95 exit 130. I live on Cobblestone drive in Spotsylvania, VA 22553. It would be kool to meet up.



Thanks for the help,
Tom G
 
Last edited:
Very cool. Not a problem.

A few of us actually started a 'visit a tank' group. We spend 3-6 hours at a house once every 3 months. Our first meeting was 2 months ago. Our next one is in Dec, then Mar at my house. We just sit around talk see what and how each others tank is and give suggestions or help with movement/water change or what ever. Bring test kit, par meter, or cameras as needed/requested. Eat some lunch and just relax. (there are only 3 of us so far.)
 
If you are looking for a 4th member or a guest I would gladly show up. I will PM you my info, when the time comes just let me know.

Thanks
Tom G
 
Well I took the plunge and added a RBTA to my dt this evening. I purchased it from a vendor in Florida and it appears to have made the journey ok but I am not sure. I say that because today was cold and the temp of the water in the bag was 64* when it arrived. I warmed it slowly to 78* in the sealed bag it came in over a 2 hour period before I opened the bag. After I brought it up to temp, I opened the bag and I then drip acclimated it and added it to the dt. Do you think that the low temps may have harmed it? What would be the signs?

When i first added it to the dt, it inflated and stayed put for about 30min. Then it started to make its move.I have read that they will move until they find a spot they like and its only been a few hours since I added it but it has moved to a spot where it is hanging upside down under a rock. It is mostly inflated and swaying with the water movement. It seems to be fine but never caring for one before I really don't know what to expect.

Any help would be appreciated,
Tom G
 
Thats the norm. It will come out in a week or so. Just leave it be,he getting use to the tank. All mine did the same
 
Well a few weeks later and a bit of coaxing it finally has found a place to settle in.
Now the question is, "How can I coax my clowns to host it?" I was thinking of target feeding in that area to get them to notice it but that would also attract other tank mates and may cause it stress.

Thanks for looking
Tom G
 

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You dont coax a clown to it. You let nature take its course at hope the anemone hosts them. It took mine a few weeks before they went into my BTA when i had one. I have heard others never have it host. Just wait and see. Make the tank as stress free as possible and they will find each other.
 
I feed my GBTAs every week, I have 11 now and soon 13 in my Red Sea 130. I feed them small slivers of squid one week, shrimp the next. Maybe a 1/4" cube for each one.
 
I direct feed mine maybe once a month - if I think about it. They should get enough from lighting and whatever the fish don't snag first. That being said, once a week feedings are fine! If you forget to feed them, don't sweat it. Come to think of it, it's been a good month since I fed my BTAs. Maybe this weekend if I remember! Lol
 
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