Noob Question

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FadeToGrey

New member
Can any anemones thrive under 4watts per gallon? If so which kinds?
If not, what anemones need the lowest watts per gallon, and how many watts do they need?

Thanks for your time.
 
you cant look at it that way. of coarse any anenome could survive under a 400w MH in 100g tank. im not sure how many could survive under 80w on a 20g.

Just say what your set up is.
 
Ok, well I am considering a 65gal tank with 260watts of PC lighting, but a just wondering if that would be sufficient for an anemone. The tank is 16"deep if that helps. I am just doing some advance research.

I appreciate the help.
 
No? No anemone could thrive in that tank at all ever, or just with the lighting? How many watts per gallon do I need for that tank, and for which anemone? I am just trying to make sure that I don't set up my tank and 6 months down the road when everything is i order find out I can't have what I want. I want all happy inhabitants. Most of the corals I want are low light, so I was hoping their was an anemone which could tolerate that level of lighting. So, if there is not one that would like that amount of light, then what anemone would do well in that size tank, and how much light does it need?

Forgive me, I am a compulsive researcher, and the time has com for me to start buying, so I want to buy the right hings, the first time, and hopefully still keep in budget! (I know, lol on the idea of a budget friendly reef...)
 
You have 4x65 watt pc and you have enough to light a bubble tip anemone. Make sure the bulbs are as close to the surface as possible and you need to make sure the bulbs are replaced every 6-9 months. Later on down the road you will probably want to house high light corals/inverts so look into something else. If you have not purchased the light already look into 2x150 or 2x175 watt metal halides or HO t-5 lighting. This will allow you too keep most anything you want.
 
Thanks! I have a really good deal on that light fixture, so I was hoping it would work, at least for a year or two. I do plan to upgrade to MH later, most likely. This is my first tank,and I have been obsessing over it for almost a year now, so I think I am about ready to dive in, I just don't want to make any mistakes which would cause my creatures to die, so I am cautious. I am trying to keep it as low energy as I can, at least while we are still apartment dwellers, which is another reason I am trying to see if this could work with the PC lights.
 
I had the same lighting scheme over my 55 gallon reef which housed bubble anemones, soft corals, and LPS. Some say it cannot be done but ime and from what I have seen from other peoples tanks you can get certain species of cnidarians/inverts (bubble anemones included) to thrive under your lighting scheme.
 
Thank you very much! It is helpful to know you have actually done it with a similar tank set up. (Mine is 10g more, but about 5" shorter if you have a standard 55.) Nice to know about the LPS too, I was thinking I might eventually want a few LPS, but I love the looks of softies and they are easier and cheaper then the rest, so I thought that is where I would start... but I was told we *have* to have an anemone in the tank... So since that was my hubby's only request, an anemone is 'on the list'.

I appreciate all the advice everyone.
 
Although it seems possible to keep an anemone under 4watts per gal, I am thinking of lowering my number of gallons to 50 (48"x18"x12") to give me about 5.2 watts per gallon, which would give me a better range of possibilities. Also, I really enjoy the look of a shallow reef tank, so I think that it would look nice as well.

I have also been looking at rock flower and tube anemones, both of which are non-photosynthetic, does anyone have any experience with them? They apparently do not host clowns, but can they be kept with other anemones which do? I am just curious...
 
Tube anemones can devour your fish and have a nasty sting to them. Mixing different anemones species can be problematic. If you get a bubble anemone it is best to stick with that species.
 
I wouldn't put so much emphasis on the watts per gallon rule. It really isn't as helpful as you'd think. Types of lighting makes a big difference. As does the SHAPE of the tank...depth more specifically. I think that's what Arati was getting at in the first response. Quality and intensity is more important, and that varies a lot even within one tank.

So while your plan to downsize to a 50 gallon makes the watts/gal math work more in your favor, it's not going to make much difference. At the end of the day, it's still PC lighting, which really isn't quite enough for an anemone under most circumstances...unless it was a *very* shallow tank. If you plan on getting halides at some point, I would honestly wait until then to buy an anemone...and I say this from experience. It's very tempting, and it's easy to bend the rules around enough to convince yourself that you can keep a nice, flourishing anemone in substandard conditions. Much like my once beautiful rose BTA I was sure I could keep thriving in my 12 AquaPod under PCs. The disappointment of watching it's beauty fade away slowly was much more than it would have been had I simply waited until I have the proper setup that I have now.

Anemones can be tricky business and are by no means an easy reef inhabitant. If you decide to learn this on your own, I would recommend a bta, which are the most forgiving. Keep those bulbs close to the water and keep the anemone as close to the surface as you can with a tall rockscape. And try to get a healthy one to begin with. Not white or transparent or "neon" colored. Mouth closed tightly, and foot attached to the rock...buy the rock it's attached to, if you can to avoid further insult.

Here's a link to a site that I learned a great deal from. http://karensroseanemones.com/

Good luck!
 
Thanks SlukBunWalla, for the advice.

The tank *is* very shallow, (12"), but I am considering starting with some zenia and/or frogspawn rather then an anemone to get some movement while I determine whether it would be a good idea.

Ocellaris123, Thanks for the advice on the tube anemones. I actually read that they were fish eaters (even clowns!) as well after I had posted. I have also been peeking at rock flower anemones, which seem to be interesting. Do you know anything about them?

I appreciate everyone who has chimed in. I am starting the purchasing process this week, and anticipating a slow set-up, and I just want to avoid as many mistakes as possible.
 
Oh sorry, I read your tank measurements and assumed you meant 12 front to back and 18 tall...putting you closer to a standard 55 gallon. (48x12x20) If your tank is only 12 inches tall, that raises your odds.
 
Ok, I thought it would qualify as shallow, but then what do I know? ;) Anyways, I am hoping it will all come together in the next few months. I am ordering the tank tomorrow!!!!!!
 
The rock anemone is a hardy species of anemone and would do well under your lighting. Just drop him in and let him find a spot he likes and feed him some krill or squid every week or two. You will love the frogspawn coral as well as xenia. I currently have both in my tank and the pom pom xenia is starting to spread after 3 weeks in the tank. A warning about xenia however is that they do well in some aquariums and just perish in others for no reason.

Again I am quite confident that your lighting can support a bubble tip anemone. I have seen them thrive under that lighting (in my own experience as well as seeing others aquariums) but it is important to note that lighting is only one part of the equation when it comes to keeping cnidarian.

Good luck with your tank. What species of clownfish do you plan on keeping out of curiosity?
 
Last edited:
I am planning on ocellaris clownfish, most likely just starting out with the traditional color morph, but I do love the B&W ocellaris that I have seen... I just don't know if they fade in BTA's like B&W percs do.
 
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