Pic my nem please

[miniwhinny]

I'm nemless and when I recover from surgery and paying medical bills (arghhhh) it's a shopping I will go lol. What I really don't want to do is purchase and then regreat or want to change or upgrade or whatever...you know - we've all been there. I want to get it right first time.

I have a 29 AGA - small tank - 2 fish only and there will always only be the two (2 pic percs) params are great, everything is thriving, 150wMH 14,000k phoenix sunpod.

So what nem/s can I choose from. I've already presumed from the size of the tank that it's going to be one of the BTA color morphs but just want to check with you experts.

I'd love a blue or green carpet but I presume that's out of the question.

Thanks anyone inputting

 

[Haddonisreef]

If you find a small enough carpet it would work short term, but as you already stated it would be the wise choice to go w/ a bta. I have a sunburst anemone and it is awesome color, or see what is available to you and go from there

 

[miniwhinny]

Charlie, what's a sunburst? That's one I haven't heard of before?

 

[miniwhinny]

oh and just FMI what is the minimum tank size a carpet can live long term in?

 

[Haddonisreef]

Goggle sunburst its another color morph of BTA. long term for a carpet id have to say that 50 gall or bigger , i had blue haddoni in my 46 bow for a yr b4 i upgraded to the 90, now i have a blue and a red living in there happily!

 

[miniwhinny]

thanks Charlie...just googled

 

[garygb]

I like my RBTAs. GBTAs and variations, like sunbursts are all nice. A large, healthy BTA of any color variety is beautiful and will make a nice focus point of your 29 gallon. Your lighting and setup sound ideal for a BTA and your clowns. You might check locally to see if anyone in your area is selling clones, as these tend to be very hardy.

As far as carpet anemones, I don't have one, so I can't speak from experience as some others can. Your concern about it growing too large is legitimate. S. haddoni is reputedly the easiest (although another RC member who is very knowlegeable about anemones says Merten's is also good in captivity) and gigantea is the hardest to keep.

The general advice is to make your first anemone a BTA. I don't think you or your picasso clowns will be disappointed. The worst thing about a BTA is that until it finds the spot it likes it will wander. But, I know you've done the research and have a good idea of what substrate and other conditions a BTA requires.

 

[miniwhinny]

Thanks garygb,

I'm settled on a R or G BTA (or both if I get greedy) especially as they like caves for their feet which I have plenty of and don't require sand ..which I don't have.

Now the hardest thing of all...being patient

 

[garygb]

I know, patience is the worst part about this hobby. Yeah, why settle for one, get a R and a G. In time, they will probably dominate the tank.

You mention you don't have sand, do you have a sump? The reason I asked is, will you use chaeto or a deep sand bed, or just rely on a good skimmer and water changes for nitrate/phosphate control?

 

[miniwhinny]

I don't have a sump or chaeto. I have a remora skimmer that does an awesome job and I'm religious about weekly water changes of 5 gallons. Plus with my upped flow and BB I don't have any detritus laying around. Every week I blast the turkey baster over the rocks too so all in all the tank is pretty clean. Hope it will be okay for my nem/s.

 

[garygb]

Sounds like you're on top of things for sure.