Lesson learned: when keeping H. magnifica, have a species tank

[WrinkleFreeZone]

I have been very fortunate and I am successfully keeping 3 H. magnificas in my mixed reef. The smallest one is a daughter of a healthy split and measured about 12" in diameter until last week. Recently, it had been jockeying with its clone for position on my rockwork. This dance was amusing until it walked into a Vortech and had about 90% of its tentacles pureed. The release of nematocysts into the water column must have been tremendous because it killed every one of my fish with the exception of, you guessed it, my clowns. The lesson that I would like to share with you is that it may not be a great idea to mix these anemones with any type of fish besides clowns. From now on, I will be keeping my magnificas and my clowns in a species tank.
-B

 

[Reefvette]

PROTECT YOUR PUMPS

PROTECT YOUR PUMPS

Im not so sure this is really the anemones fault.

Its fairly common knowledge to cover up your pumps when you have anemones.


VORTECH IMO are a bad idea for an anemone tank. The sponge that covers them is a detrius trap and considerable slows it down. Go for tunze with the rock covers. Ive had bubble tips and mags and giganteas do fine with tunzes the one time i tried a vortech the anemone managed slip off the foam cover and get sucked in.

 

[WrinkleFreeZone]

I'm not sure why you would post a response the way that you did but let me begin by saying my livestock's wellbeing is priority number one. I am well aware of a fickle anemone's tendency to wander inadvertently into a powerhead. The pump was covered with the sponge cover that the manufacturer makes for it. Despite this, it still got a severe haircut. The foot was completely uninjured and will recover. It ate half a silverside today.

My only point is that their sting is severe and even with the appropriate precautions an accident can occur that will jeopardize the lives of the fish sharing a tank with them. I now believe as some others do that H. Magnifica deserves a species tank. The intention of my post was to share an experience that might help someone thinking about keeping them.

For the record, I lost a Tennenti tang to a Tunze once.
-B

 

[Grunt]

Same thing happened with mine. Although my brand of pump there is no way to cover as it pulls from around the whole thing. I was using aggressive flow to keep it within a certain area "anemone island", which worked until that "one day".

Lost 12 fish that day to include my clarkii pair.

 

[OrionN]

It was well know to me that puree Magnifical will kill all fish in a tank with the possible exception of the clowns. Several people documented this before. I think a species tank is not needed but reefkeepers must take steps to keep this from happen.
IMO, anemones like S. haddoni a species tank is need due to it's tendency to eat fish.

Sorry it happened to you. I hope the corals and the other H. magnifica are all OK. Other people reported the corals are not affected

 

[WrinkleFreeZone]

Both of the other mags are fine. The corals were completely unaffected. Interestingly, my snails were also unaffected. If I had to fathom a guess, the neurotoxins in the nematocysts have been optimized through evolution to affect prey items. Apparently, snails and corals aren't on the dinner menu.
-B

 

[BigJay]

Re: PROTECT YOUR PUMPS

Re: PROTECT YOUR PUMPS

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15028414#post15028414 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefvette

VORTECH IMO are a bad idea for an anemone tank. The sponge that covers them is a detrius trap and considerable slows it down.

I can attest to this. I have BTA that recently decide to snuggle up close to the vortech, so I covered it. I have to clean the foam every other day because of the detritus.

 

[Reefvette]

Wrinkle

Wrinkle

Sorry if i came off in a jerky way.

I didnt mean it like that.

Vortech's pumps for all the glitz and glamour they protest, they arent really that good. They need to be aligned constantly and can sometimes make a thumping noise is they become unaligned.

I dont beleve the corals would be affected cause they can retract but if any of the materials from the ripped up tentacles got on them it would harm them.


I also had a lettuce sea slug go through a vortech. EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

[BigJay]

Re: Wrinkle

Re: Wrinkle

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15032099#post15032099 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefvette

Vortech's pumps for all the glitz and glamour they protest, they arent really that good. They need to be aligned constantly and can sometimes make a thumping noise is they become unaligned.

I've had a completely different experience with my vortechs. The flow is great, and they aren't as obtrusive as a koralia or tunze. It's actually the only thing in my tank that actually has lived up the the hype (other than my lumenmax reflectors).

The second generation** pumps almost never need to be aligned, I just soak the wetsides in vinegar once every month or so to remove calcium deposits that might cause the magnet to wobble. It was worse when I dosed two part, now notsomuch after I switched to a calcium reactor.

** My first generation iron vortech magnet rusted and actually broke. No problems with the replacement after 6 months with it.