Newbie to reefkeeping, on the fence regarding anemone

[Fmellish]

Setup my first reef tank and it's kinda empty. Some fish and a few frags sps and soft corals.

I really like the whole anemone/clown thing. I had 2 clowns, but one died.

How long should I wait. My tank has been cycled now since beginning of January. It is progressing well. (I think).

If I decide to get an anemone, when should I get it, and what type?

I'd like to get a mate for my single clown and an anemone large enough for both of them to live in.

My one clown is confused, he is hosting in a hard chalice coral. And he rubs and rubs himself raw in it. Actually, he has no physical damage, so obviously he isn't hurting himself, but it sure looks painful to see a little perc rubbing against a hard coral.

Anyway, where do I start? Bulb tips are supposed to be easiest, but IMO they are ugly. The seabe anemone seems prettiest, nice long dense tentacles, but I hear they are hard to maintain.

And I hear when anemones move they kill anything they touch?

I have a 4 sided tank so it can't move away from view too much.

What is good for a new tank?

My red house link has all my info.

Thanks
Josh

 

[stykthyn]

I would hold off on an anemone for a while. your tank may be cycled , but it hasn't matured yet. I would wait a while, 6mo to a year, get some experience at keeping your fish healthy b/c they need you a whole lot more than they need the anemone. Get your clownfish a mate and take it from there.

BTW what kind of clownfish do you have?

 

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

Somebody gave me a BTA (pretty purple-ish one with green tips) when my tank was about 6.5 mos old. Then I was given another (regular BTA, but HUGE) a couple weeks later. It's been about 7 mos since then and their both doing great.

I would recommend you wait about as long as I did. To tell the truth, I would have waited a whole year probably, but these "gifts" were unexpected.

 

[Fmellish]

I have a true perc. Very small guy about 1" long. He had a mate but the mate was a tad smaller and eventually died after this guy wouldn't let the mate settle down anywhere. The living clown would chase the other clown out of any coral the other clown tried to settle down in.

I think to keep my clown from being such a bullie its next mate I buy will need to be bigger than it.

I'll wait on the anemone.

Thanks
Josh

 

[Nagel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6762919#post6762919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fmellish

I think to keep my clown from being such a bullie its next mate I buy will need to be bigger than it.

I wouldn't do that.. If you clown is alone for an extended period of time, it has the possibility to start to change to a female.. If you got a larger one, and yours was female, its WWIII.. I'd let yours be alone for a month or two more, then get a small clown from a large group. Much better chances of them pairing up.

I'll wait on the anemone.

:thumbsup: Good idea... Anemones like stability and a mature tank.. That only comes with time and experience.. With decisions like this, when you finally DO get one, I am sure you will be successful.. Patience is a tough thing, but in the end it REALLY is worth it!

 

[Fmellish]

I'll make sure to get a smaller one.

Thanks
Josh

 

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6764757#post6764757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fmellish
I'll make sure to get a smaller one.

Thanks
Josh

It's kind of counter-intuitive, but if you add one that is much smaller (like less than half the size) the better the chances of them pairing.