New LTA Acclimating! Where should I start him/her!?

[stagefright13]

I just got an LTA. He is drip acclimating right now. I cleared a rock to the other side of my tank to give him some room and more light.

Do they always get placed in the sand or can I put him on a heavily lit rock? I have 2 65 watt 50/50 pc's. which I am sure is plenty compare to the store I got him at. That will be at least triple the light he had at the store.

I read the anemone faq. (Actually for the 20th time over the years) And said no strong preference for placement. Said sand if brightly lit or rocks.

I do understand that he may eventually want tons of light so I may put my Halide back in the hood but what placement do you suggest for now. He is big, healthy and beautiful. I couldn't resist. He has a deep foot and lotsa tentacles. I picked him out of 3.

Instict tells me sand because of his very large foot. But do have a great starting rock for him with lotsa light. I have about 4 inches of sand where I was thinking of placing him. His foot is about that size.

Thanks!

 

[elegance coral]

The light the LFS had over the anemone is irrelevant. They simply want to keep the anemone alive long enough to sell it. They also want to spend as little money as possible in the process. Which means they typically use very little light. If I were you I would put the MH back on the tank. IMO, LTA's don't require blinding light, though. I have never been able to keep a LTA on the rocks. All the LTA's I have had would move if there was any flow on its foot.

 

[stagefright13]

Yeah actually every anemone I ever had didn't like alot of flow. So I already redirected my return nozzle. And I have a powerhead near it to flush the back of the rocks. The flow goes left to right towards the overflow. I am gonna place him in the left corner in the front. Away from the blast as much as possible. So I pretty much have the flow perfect in my experience with BTA's.

So you think the sand? or 10 inches higher on the rock? Actually the 10 inches higher is ALOT brighter. But even the 4 inch sand spot ain't bad. It is way brighter than the store. I watched these nems at the store for over an hour and checked their lighting thoroughly. They had a 10k and an actinic on it. Just an NO bulb tho. And they weren't there last saturday... So it is VERY healthy.

Think I use the PC's for a few then swap out to the MH?

 

[stagefright13]

wow almost overflowed my sump!! I have new water going in the sump to replace the drip for the Nem. And forgot to shut the new flow down. It is at the brim! Slap me for watching the sci-fi channel! Guess he will be acclimating for quite some time 'till it gets down to my mark. At least there won't be much store water left!

 

[stagefright13]

Well I just got this today and it was at the store for less than a week. Think I should put the MH and actinics in the hood right away? Or start with the PC's that are in there now?

 

[stagefright13]

OMG I put it in the tank. Wish I had a video! The Adult Clarki wants it bad but is getting stung. She is already close to living in it after 15 min. She is determined! The baby Clarki is kinda liking his BTA tho. I'll post some pics after I charge my camera batteries.

It opened up into a giant under the lights!

It's so much fun to watch this stuff. The baby doesn't know what to do but the BIG Female is on a mission!

 

[Toddrtrex]

Really should but it on/in the sand bed. All of the LTAs that I have had over the years had they foot buried in the sandbed -- to the point where you could see the bottom of the foot attached to the glass from the underside of the tank.

2*55 of PCs over a 29 isn't going to be enough light long term for an LTA. And in time I don't feel that a 29 is going to be big enough for an LTA and a BTA. I just sold my LTAs that were in my 29 because they were getting to big for the tank. (( they were under 250 watt MH, 14K. ))

 

[stagefright13]

Well I know the 2 65 watt coralife's ain't gonna do it in the long term. I took the 175 MH out a couple years ago cause of the fan noise... But have a 55 tank only a few feet away. And expecting to light it with 2 250's and 2 T5 actinics. But still have to make a hood.

Yeah I thought the sand was better. But due to my lighting I moved my rocks and made a spot for it. So it is on the rock with pretty good lighting right now. I got the one with the largest foot. The foot is like 50% of the whole thing. Looked like a sand one to me.

Trying to hold out 'till I move the 29 to the 55. I had trouble keeping the 29 cool. Unless I used 4 fans with the MH. And they kinda got noisey...

 

[stagefright13]

It's kinda amazing to me how fast Clarki's get immune to the sting! The adult Female is in. The baby is checking it out still. Batteries almost charged I'll post a pic soon.

Even tho it is a really big LTA it's still not 4 times bigger than the Clarki. But the Big female is immune already. After she stung her mouth for a couple hours. She is in...

At this point the Nem is heading down slowly to the sand. If it plants there I'll put my mh on. It's only a dual 175 watt one tho is that enough? And can only fit one mogul in the canopy. I sold my actinics. I was thinking of ordering 2 250's and icecaps for my 55 but not today... Or maybe...

 

[stagefright13]

OK Batteries charged here's pics:

 

[stagefright13]

Sorry not a photographer and the clowns are always wizzing around. They never sit still. REALLY hard to get a pic with my 10 year old camera...

 

[stagefright13]

More pics:

 

[stagefright13]

Sorry. I could get much better pics if I was patient. The tentacles are alot more purple in real life.

 

[stagefright13]

I'll post more pics after it migrates to a good spot it likes. I don't have any coral's so is not a problem.

 

[stagefright13]

Thanks for your advice Todd. I think I will just put 1 250 MH in. But I know for a fact it will bleach my coralline. And tan the baby Clarki..

I never used a UV shield before is it necessary? I have been keeping my mogul halide like 12 inches up over the water. When I was using it. My Clarki can splash up top 7 inches when it gets crazy. I know that is a stupid thing to measure. But hey I love her...

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13029617#post13029617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stagefright13
Thanks for your advice Todd. I think I will just put 1 250 MH in. But I know for a fact it will bleach my coralline. And tan the baby Clarki..

I never used a UV shield before is it necessary? I have been keeping my mogul halide like 12 inches up over the water. When I was using it. My Clarki can splash up top 7 inches when it gets crazy. I know that is a stupid think to measure. But hey I love her...

The only way that a 250 watt will bleach your coralline is if you don't acclimate it to the light. All of my tanks ( 29, 58, and 75 ) have 250s. ( the 58 and 75 have 2 each ) and the coralline growth is annoying --- it grows too fast.

If it is a SE bulb, you don't need a UV shield (( the outer envelope does that )). But, if it is DE, you do need one. I personally have a shield over my SE bulbs, so they won't get slashed.

 

[stagefright13]

Sold my dual 175 watt. And it had Mogul single ended bulbs. So if I got a dual 250 to light my 55 I am ok? If I used regular mogal socket bulbs?? I am undecided about T5 actinics and 10k MH. Or 250 watt 14k MH alone... Will a 14k MH bulb keep my pets ok?

Regardless my pets will be taken care of. And hopefully from advice on here live a very very long life.

Yeah but going to MH in 1 day will bleach it. Not kill it but...

Done it. And too lazy to search for screens etc. For all I know this LTA was wild caught and use to amazing par levels! But at the moment is moving away from the light. If it likes the sand then it gets MH tomorrow.

 

[stagefright13]

I do have misc. skimmers and MH laying around in my garage tho. And tanks. Gonna look and hopefully it will be a 175 or greater MH. I know I never bought anything smaller than 175.

 

[stagefright13]

Well it is slowly heading to the sand. I'm gonna put a 250 14k MH in a few days. I still have fans in the canopy etc. I just have to wire them back up... I don't even think I'll bother with actinics. I'll just use the MH by itself. That may keep it a bit cooler and should be plenty of light.

 

[elegance coral]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13029617#post13029617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stagefright13
I know that is a stupid thing to measure. But hey I love her...

As you should. She is a BEAUTIFUL fish.