not enough light for a nem, what other hosts?

[palmer373]

im going to buy a 2" maroon from a LFS and i was planning on adding it to my 55 which will eventually host a fu manchu (baby). i only have 2 T5 bulbs so ive been told its not enough light for an anemone. i was hoping an anemone could provide some protection for the maroon from the fu but since nems are out of the picture (unless i buy a nice light im eyeing) im curious what other corals could add some protection if the maroon decides to host. i have a hammer, probably going to get a frogspawn but i could get a nice platecoral also.

am i just to far ahead or heading the wrong way and should add the maroon to my 75? im starting to rethink my idea of having a fu in my 55 mixed reef cause of other fish options, maybe i should just set up my 29 for him?

 

[Nebthet]

If you really want a nem, buy a spotlight LED for just the anemone you are thinking of gettting.

Otherwise, I have seen clowns be hosted by just about everything.

 

[garygb]

Maroons are natural symbionts with BTAs. BTAs are less light demanding than some of the hosts. If you had another 2 bulb t-5 strip you should be fine to keep a BTA. That would probably be the route I would go personally. As you have probably heard, anemones do need a tank that has been set up for 6 months or so and water quality that's in good shape. BTAs are generally the least demanding of the hosts, but they still need things to be in check to thrive.

 

[palmer373]

nebthet- ill check into that thanks.

garygb- i thought they were less light demanding but i was told they still needed more light. i might be able to find another fixture, or i could go the route nebthet suggested lol.

 

[greech]

From what I have seen, those par38 style LEDS are pretty potent. Would think a spot over the nem would be enough and may even help keep it in one place. Just be sure to acclimate it to that light because they are pretty strong , especially if you have a shallow tank.

I was curious about LEDS for nems as well but have not really found many threads showing long term care under LEDs. Is there a consensus on LEDS?

 

[2Addicted]

We would need more info on your lights. Bubble tips are less light demanding than other species of nems but they definately need a lot of light.

 

[palmer373]

greech- im stoppig by a LFS today, ill see what they have and suggest.

2addicted- i have a 10k 54w T5 and a 420nm 54w T5 bulb currently. there are some nice LED and T5 fixtures at a LFS im goign to later today so ill look at them, get prices, and bulb count.

 

[Slickcg33]

i would suggest not purchasing equipment from a LFS, they usually charge an arm and a leg for any light fixture.
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/index.php?cPath=71

 

[Nemo8710]

Get a nice colony of Frogspawn, most clowns will host it.

 

[palmer373]

slick- ya ik a $90 online fixture will sell for $140 atleast here.

nemo- oh ya ive read/seen vids with that. thanks