Nem Newbie, general questions...

[rovster]

I've done a bit of research on the subject, and feel like I have a good grasp on the general concepts. I recently started an upgrade that will be almost exclusively SPS. I did really want a nem. I had a friend that wanted to get rid of a small RBTA so I took a chance and introduced it into my tank. My thinking is I would like it to find its happy place and then I can build around it.

The nem moved from its original placement. I think the flow was too strong. It moved the first night, and has been in more or less the same place for almost 2 weeks. I say more or less, because its in the same crevice, and pokes out its tenticles from 1 of 2 sides of a small arch.

The nem looks very healthy. Great color, tentacles are nice and plump, but does seem like its buried a little more in that crevice than I would expect. It has not come out and shown its full glory yet.

I was wondering if maybe my flow and light is too strong? Its a 100 gallon tank, 3 MP40s at around 40-50%, and 3 radions at around 60%. I have a few tester frags in there and they seem fine. Water has been super stable since setting it up. Just the usual diatoms with a newish tank. Salinity is 35, Alk is 7.5, Nitrate <1, and Phos 0.04.

I was thinking of trying to feed it a small piece of shrimp in a week if it doesn't move.

I guess my questions are:
1. Is it too soon to start feeding it?
2. Is it normal for them to be a bit reclusive at the beginning?
3. Should I turn down my flow for a week or 2 to see if it comes out more?

Thanks. Here is a pic...


Thanks, and don't flame me too much for jumping the gun on this one. I am not an inexperienced reefer:facepalm:

 

[clorox]

I've done a bit of research on the subject, and feel like I have a good grasp on the general concepts. I recently started an upgrade that will be almost exclusively SPS. I did really want a nem. I had a friend that wanted to get rid of a small RBTA so I took a chance and introduced it into my tank. My thinking is I would like it to find its happy place and then I can build around it.

The nem moved from its original placement. I think the flow was too strong. It moved the first night, and has been in more or less the same place for almost 2 weeks. I say more or less, because its in the same crevice, and pokes out its tenticles from 1 of 2 sides of a small arch.

The nem looks very healthy. Great color, tentacles are nice and plump, but does seem like its buried a little more in that crevice than I would expect. It has not come out and shown its full glory yet.

I was wondering if maybe my flow and light is too strong? Its a 100 gallon tank, 3 MP40s at around 40-50%, and 3 radions at around 60%. I have a few tester frags in there and they seem fine. Water has been super stable since setting it up. Just the usual diatoms with a newish tank. Salinity is 35, Alk is 7.5, Nitrate <1, and Phos 0.04.

I was thinking of trying to feed it a small piece of shrimp in a week if it doesn't move.

I guess my questions are:
1. Is it too soon to start feeding it?
2. Is it normal for them to be a bit reclusive at the beginning?
3. Should I turn down my flow for a week or 2 to see if it comes out more?

Thanks. Here is a pic...


Thanks, and don't flame me too much for jumping the gun on this one. I am not an inexperienced reefer:facepalm:

It looks nice and healthy.

Replies to your questions:
1- You can feed it small food at first (mysis) and later if you want it to grow, you can give it small pieces of scallop/shrimp for human consumption.
However, keep in mind they don't necessarily need to be fed. Remember, the more you feed them the more they grow and in some cases, they can grow really fast, so if you intend to keep sps you should let it acclimate for at least a month and in theory it should stay put once it found the spot it likes.

2- Yes, all anemones take time to acclimate, some do it in weeks and others take several months.

3- Yes, you should decrease your flow and then once you 'know' it's happy in a certain spot you can slowly increase flow over the span of a few weeks.
Once fully acclimated to your tank, bta's can take a wide variety of flow intensities.

 

[rovster]

Here is a video....
https://vimeo.com/104100998?utm_source=email&utm_medium=clip-transcode_complete-finished-20120100&utm_campaign=7701&email_id=Y2xpcF90cmFuc2NvZGVkfDVlNjA0YzUzZGQ2Yzc0NWYxMjI2Y2NhMzcyMjQwOTM1NTY1fDI4ODc2MzA4fDE0MDg3MTU1OTh8NzcwMQ%3D%3D

 

[rovster]

Thanks for the feedback!