how many months before adding anemone?

[polyp02]

So, I wanted to buy an anemone. It had a dark greyish color and orange tips. The owner of the store did not want to sell it to me because, he as he says, my tank is to young to be putting an anemone and believes that the anemone might die in it. He would like to test my water first before he considers selling.

My tank is about 3 months old and the phosphate, nitrates, nitrites and ammonia are all zeros, my SG 1.025, PH 8.3, and Temp 79 degrees. He, however, suggest that I wait another 3 months before buying the anemone. Now, I can wait but I don't know if that rare color anemone will be available and at that low price. Plus she also suggested that I should stop using Instant Ocean salt and buy the Marine Environment brand.

What do you guys think about the time for the anemone and the salt.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Is this your first tank? Have you ever kept anemones before?

What size tank? What lights? What all do you have in it?

Usually, for a person new to the hobby, and new to keeping anemones, I would agree about the 6 month guideline. Not only does it give your tank plenty of time to settle in, but it also gives you time to get used to your tank. It is important to be able to realize something is amiss, and be able to address it -- before it becomes a problem and too late to fix. That really can only come with time and "learning" your tank.

Do you know what type of anemone it is?

 

[polyp02]

Yeah, it's my first sw tank. It is a 75gal and the only lights are the ones you see on the left side picture. It is an Actinic and an 18000K T5 HO bulb. I have a damsel, false clown, 2 peppermints, 2 camel shrimps, a cleaner shrimp, 2 turbos, 2 naussares, about 6 hermits, a sally light foot crab, and a blue linkia starfish.
Equip; a 1040 Koralia Evo, a Koralia 2, a SEIO powerhead, 2in of sand and about 30 lbs of rock 10 of it was live rock straight out of an 5 yrs established tank.

 

[sardonicscorpio]

I agree with the 6 months...also, I might think about adding more live rock. Most people prefer 1-1.5 lbs per gallon

 

[Toddrtrex]

Yeah, it's my first sw tank. It is a 75gal and the only lights are the ones you see on the left side picture. It is an Actinic and an 18000K T5 HO bulb. I have a damsel, false clown, 2 peppermints, 2 camel shrimps, a cleaner shrimp, 2 turbos, 2 naussares, about 6 hermits, a sally light foot crab, and a blue linkia starfish.
Equip; a 1040 Koralia Evo, a Koralia 2, a SEIO powerhead, 2in of sand and about 30 lbs of rock 10 of it was live rock straight out of an 5 yrs established tank.

Are those 54 watt T5s? Even if they are, that isn't going to be enough light for any of the hosting anemones.

I would keep an eye on that sally light foot -- many reefers have issues with them. And keep a very close eye on the blue linkia, they have a very poor track record of survival, and even a worse one in new tanks.

 

[ChrisMan123]

an anemone is a fragile creature, that is delicate and very effected by slight changes in its environment. I would wait AT LEAST 6 months before adding one. I agree with the person who said you need to learn your tank first, so when something does go wrong, you know exactly what it might be and how you can try to fix it.

Anemones like to be close to light, so higher rock work closer to the light would be best. They also eat food, so they need to be fed for best results. I think you should wait it out the 6 months, it's not that long and I'm sure you'll be able to find a beautiful one again, if not maybe even the same one at the same store may still be there.

Is it a bubble-tip anemone?

 

[rayn]

Okay, can we change this up a little? What about someone who has had anemones is other tanks and sets up a new tank. This person is capable of handling a tank and watching for the different issues that may arise. Then how long should one wait?

 

[Toddrtrex]

That is a gray area.

Is the new tank - new new? Meaning, all brand new live rock, etc. Or is it more like a transfer, or somewhere in-between?

If it is a new new tank, I would still try wait 3 months -- just to give the tank time to settle.

When I set up my cube, (( a transfer from my 29, but still a new sandbed and a few new rocks )) I waited a month.

Then... When I redid my 58, I pulled out the existing LTA, changed out the sandbed, put in the new rock (( which I had already cured for a month separately )), and ended up putting the anemone back in 29 hours later. But, the key to that was/is that I am pretty familiar with anemones and knew what to look for.

There are so many factors, that can't really give a blanket statement.

 

[polyp02]

So I'll just wait. Thanks guys, any additional info will be useful.

 

[Vicarious Cynic]

My tank is three months old also. I'm waiting a few more months before adding an anemone. Here's a link I've been reading, might be helpful.
http://www.karensroseanemones.net/

 

[rayn]

Yep it's new new. I was just thinking for a different perspective. Everyone asks for their first tank a month in, but I was wondering about someone who has a tank setup, has a rbta, and then sets up a new tank. Never really heard a answer on that.