Magnifica compared to sps

[hobbzz]

I've seen people compare magnifica's care level to sps, saying that if you can keep sps you can keep mags. But personally, I don't see sps being as hard considering all the experts that talk others out of mags. Would that be an accurate comparison? They seem considerably harder from all the research I've done so far.

 

[Reefahholic]

They are surely difficult at first. One mag can get them all sick. Talk about a pain in the rear when 4-5 are sick at one time.

Things get ugly quick and trying to find the right antibiotic is challenging and sometimes impossible. I think a gig is even more difficult.

 

[hobbzz]

I'm going to try a mag in my 300. I'll have cipro and qt on hand before get it. I've just never thought of sps as difficult.

 

[GroktheCube]

Based on what I've read, you might also want to have trimethoprim-sulfa on hand too, in case it doesn't respond well to ciprofloxacin.

My impression from the research I've done on Gigs and Mags leads me to believe that they are comparably demanding to difficult SPS in terms of their environmental demands, but are much more fickle, ship horribly, and are tough to get acclimated without opportunistic illness setting in.

Usually with SPS, if you give them the right flow, lighting, and water conditions they tend to thrive and remain hardy against minor and passing stressors. You don't hear about people setting up QT/TX tanks for their Acros with multiple types of antibiotics on hand and a plan to do 50%+ WCs daily.

It seems like the majority of people who get Mags and Gigs to survive in their tanks go through a thorough and labor intensive QT and treatment process. The majority of SPS will be 100% fine if you just pull them out of the shipping bag, give them a quick dip for parasites, and toss them in the tank. 5 minutes and a few mls of Bayer vs weeks of time, dozens of gallons of water, and a course of heavy-duty antibiotics.

That said, I also get the impression that once acclimated, healthy, andsettled into an environment they're happy with, even Mags and Gigs can be pretty hardy, if a bit more unpredictable than SPS.

At least they're easier than Dendronepthea!

 

[hobbzz]

^ that's what I've gathered from my research as well, but I have ever no first hand experience. Thanks for the tip on the trimethoprim-sulfa.

 

[D-Nak]

Based on what I've read, you might also want to have trimethoprim-sulfa on hand too, in case it doesn't respond well to ciprofloxacin.

My impression from the research I've done on Gigs and Mags leads me to believe that they are comparably demanding to difficult SPS in terms of their environmental demands, but are much more fickle, ship horribly, and are tough to get acclimated without opportunistic illness setting in.

Usually with SPS, if you give them the right flow, lighting, and water conditions they tend to thrive and remain hardy against minor and passing stressors. You don't hear about people setting up QT/TX tanks for their Acros with multiple types of antibiotics on hand and a plan to do 50%+ WCs daily.

It seems like the majority of people who get Mags and Gigs to survive in their tanks go through a thorough and labor intensive QT and treatment process. The majority of SPS will be 100% fine if you just pull them out of the shipping bag, give them a quick dip for parasites, and toss them in the tank. 5 minutes and a few mls of Bayer vs weeks of time, dozens of gallons of water, and a course of heavy-duty antibiotics.

That said, I also get the impression that once acclimated, healthy, andsettled into an environment they're happy with, even Mags and Gigs can be pretty hardy, if a bit more unpredictable than SPS.

At least they're easier than Dendronepthea!

This is a perfect summary. Great job.

I can only add that if you plan to add a magnifica to your tank, it will sting and kill all corals it touches. Many hardcore SPS folks won't even think of adding a rock-dwelling nem like a mag or gig to their tanks.

 

[garygb]

I completely agree with the assertion that magnificas are quite hardy once established. The antibiotics and poor survival pertains to newly acquired mags. Once they have been thriving in a system, they can survive, even if the system takes a turn south. I've had one magnifica since 2001, and I can tell you, it's been through a lot. I started off with PCs over the tank and a deep sand bed, both not ideal. It survived nitrates up to 60-80ppm after the deep sand bed crashed (as they are prone to do in year 2 or 3), though it did not look happy. I've learned that compared to PCs, MH and T-5s are far preferable, with the later being ideal, in my opinion. After the initial acclimation, these are the elements I would say to strive for in keeping a magnifica healthy: sg 1.025-1.027, nitrates undetectable (if your magnifica moves it can be because of flow, light, clownfish biting at its base when they want to spawn, other occupants irritating it and detectable nitrates), temp 80-82F, moderate to high water flow, reef quality lighting. My ph tends to stay in the 8.2 to 8.3 range, Ca and Mg is not an issue and in a strictly magnifica tank there is no need to check for it.

 

[Reefahholic]

Antonio told me that once a mag gets happy, that they do not move. I said..."well shoot, none of mine are happy." Lol.

 

[Reefahholic]

I take that back, one has been in the same spot since he settled there. Hasn't moved since. It's actually the mag on my avatar pic.


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[AD87]

I have been keeping mags for a long time and the best advice I can give someone is be patient. I qt anemones for a few months before putting them in my DT. I have seen a lot of people lately going crazy with purchasing mags and do not know what they are getting themselves into. I have been there too many times and have learned my lesson.

 

[M Woodhill]

I've seen people compare magnifica's care level to sps, saying that if you can keep sps you can keep mags. But personally, I don't see sps being as hard considering all the experts that talk others out of mags. Would that be an accurate comparison? They seem considerably harder from all the research I've done so far.

They're different. Mags and gigs are very delicate during acclimating period. Once established in your tank, they can be pretty hardy

Sps requires very stable parameters. They can go down fast too if you check out sps subforum you'll see lots of rtn cases.

 

[hobbzz]

Yeah I see the rtn stuff but I've never had the problems. A frag every once in a while but never mass die off.

Ad87 how do you qt them for a few months? Do you have an established tank with live rock and everything a full setup has that you use for a qt?

 

[Reefvet]

My impression from the research I've done on Gigs and Mags leads me to believe that they are comparably demanding to difficult SPS in terms of their environmental demands, but are much more fickle, ship horribly, and are tough to get acclimated without opportunistic illness setting in.

I've put frags of the most delicate SPS in a Styrofoam cup and spent hours driving them home from a frag meet. Popped them in my tank and they never skipped a beat. A week, maybe 2 or 3 and they're growing.

You can carefully give a Mag a temp controlled 20 minute transport, spend an hour or more acclimating it to your water and watch it go from healthy to sick by the next day.

Once established both require stable environments but can handle some extremes on occasion.

 

[Reefahholic]

I have been keeping mags for a long time and the best advice I can give someone is be patient. I qt anemones for a few months before putting them in my DT. I have seen a lot of people lately going crazy with purchasing mags and do not know what they are getting themselves into. I have been there too many times and have learned my lesson.

I agree totally. I've put some in the DT with 3 other Mags and they got sick and spread it to all the others.

 

[Reefahholic]

I've put frags of the most delicate SPS in a Styrofoam cup and spent hours driving them home from a frag meet. Popped them in my tank and they never skipped a beat. A week, maybe 2 or 3 and they're growing.

You can carefully give a Mag a temp controlled 20 minute transport, spend an hour or more acclimating it to your water and watch it go from healthy to sick by the next day.

Once established both require stable environments but can handle some extremes on occasion.

True that!

 

[M Woodhill]

Shipping is just part of long term maintenance. After acclimation, mags do better than sps in a lot of things: alk swing algae strike temp swing pest... I once had a very bad dino outbreak and the mag was basically the only survivor along with very few hardy sps like green slimer. Ssc, plana and few others r notoriously sensitive. I have a problem of running a Berlin system. I've long been looking to have a beautiful macro algae refugium

 

[adtravels]

SPS dont walk into your powerheads?

 

[Yuri Barros]

In my oppinion.............this kind of set up is one of the best to keep Heteractis magnifica...............and even Stichodactyla mertensii Anemones...........

http://brasilreef.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=3532

Specially Heteractis magnifica enjoy the flat top of Rock formation............

He keep many sps Corals...........

But I think that...........keep just 2 or 3 Mags.....in a kind of plataform............is fine............or one large Mertens.............

 

[taylor t]

In my oppinion.............this kind of set up is one of the best to keep Heteractis magnifica...............and even Stichodactyla mertensii Anemones...........

http://brasilreef.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=3532

Specially Heteractis magnifica enjoy the flat top of Rock formation............

He keep many sps Corals...........

But I think that...........keep just 2 or 3 Mags.....in a kind of plataform............is fine............or one large Mertens.............

Can you please elaborate on why you singled out a mertens? As opposed to a gig or other rock dweller? Any opinions or insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Yuri Barros]

Stichodactyla gigantea like to live in shallows............usually in the sand..........seagrass................etc..........

Stichodactyla mertensii...............like to live in Reef slopes.........attached in the rock formation.........exposed to strong currents.............

Heteractis magnifica...............like flat surfaces.............on top of the rock formation...........or Reefs...............


Carlinhos Moreno set up............shows an intresting rock scape..........a plataform...........

It is suitable for a large Anemone expand the mantle over the plataform..............

Mags needs this space to expand.................

Mertens too...........

A tank like this................with no Corals...........with similar rock scape....................is good for Mags and Mertens.............

Gigs needs DSB............they like sand...............as well as LTA........Haddons........and Auroras..................

Mertens and Mags needs flat Rocks.............exposed to a bit stronger flow..........


This posts are just an idea...........about what I think that is a good tank model to large rock anemones.............such Mags and Mertens..........