How do you q-tine an anemone?

[mattsilvester]

As a follow on thread to my previous query, how does one q-tine an anemone?

My dealer keeps clowns with his anemones, and further to some recent very bad experiences with ich out breaks etc. I have vowed to q-tine EVERYTHING WET that goes into my tank from now on. That includes any prospective anemone.

The thing is, with their sensitive disposition in mind, does one need to provide MH lighting and skimming / high flow for the 4-5 week fishless-q-tine period?

Cheers,

Matt

 

[MarinaP]

I have never QT'ed my nems and never had a problem. I usually acclimate them, drain them in a colander and in they go.

BTW, clowns rarely get ich when first introduced. They are much more prone to nastier stuff, such as brook or velvet. Ich might strike if there is vicious fighting between the pair(s).

 

[davocean]

Break your vow, no need to QT nems.

 

[mattsilvester]

I'm afraid I can't "break my vow" - it is just too much of a risk for me...... alot of my fish are "ich prone" species, so strict q-tine is the only way I'm afraid.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I can understand your concerns, but think it will end up causing more harm then good.

I can't remember how many anemones I have had over the years. Currently have 5 over 3 tanks, didn't QT a single one of them.
(( though it should be noted that I am stupid and have never QT-ed anything I've gotten. And while I have lost fish over the years, can only recall a couple dying within the first couple of weeks ))

 

[mattsilvester]

Well I have come accross an opertunity that might satisfy all my dilemna's!

A friend is breaking down his reef, and has a nice anemone - I think it is a "Heteractis magnifica" (from pics on the Anemone FAQ web page - http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf). Its going to take time to get everything out of his tank - I think I could convince him to net out the few fish he has and let the anemone in a fish free system for a month......

I know Heteractis magnifica is not the hardiest anemone in the world, however I know that I am the most experienced / qualified reefer in the area, and my buddies "LFS" is not exclty what you would call "conscientious" - so if I take it, it has a fighting chance...... and if returns it to the LFS, it is most likely doomed! I'll be heonst and say I don;t think he is all that happy in my buddies tank either - he has climbed right up the front glass to get the best light....... and his lamps are only 150MH.

It will be going under 250W MH lamps, and I have good flow in my 240 (4 no. Tunze streams). I will build a pinacle for it, and position in directly under the MH lamp, direct good flow toward it, and hopefully it will be happy there....... do there anemone's like to root their foot into a crevice like buttle tip's do? This brings me onto another question....... what about the Tunze's ..... I tried a bbble tip last year and during the ngiht it climbed onto one of the tunze's and got minced...... which was totally my stupid fault.... but how do I avoid such a re-occurance?

Thanks for the input guys,

Regards,

Matt

 

[prickles]

I have a 20g long for a coral QT tank, It has t-5 lighting on it and it is pretty shallow. It works for SPS, so I'm sure something like that would work for anenomes. The corals end up about 6 inches from the light. With the inverse squared relationship of light, that is probably about as bright as MH's.

 

[Dan]

I'm with you, Matt. I QT everything, using a 20 gal reef tank with no fish (sand and rock only with a few shrimp). After a month, I move the coral or invert into my main system.

Dan

 

[mattsilvester]

Well I actually have a 20 gal long, and te same friend that is selling up has a 4' T5 twin unit...... might be worth a little investment for this and future purchases.

As you say prickles - 6" under a twin T5 unit is reasonable intense lighting.

Cheers guys,

Matt

 

[NirvanaFan]

http://www.karensroseanemones.com/coverpowerheads.htm

Check out that sight for covering powerheads. It's a nice sight with lots of information.