Planing dedicated haddoni tank. Input?

[phurst]

Howdy folks. I just acquired a custom 37.5 gal acrylic tank from a friend of mine. The tank is 36" x 16" x 15". It has a 175w halide and 2 T5 actinics. I will be setting this tank up next to my 150g reef, and they will share a sump for stability sake. I picked up the tank with no real plan in mind, but I am thinking I'd like a nice blue haddoni and a pair of saddleback clowns in there. I've always wanted a carpet, but I was never willing to risk one in my reef with non clowns as potential meals. So, is this tank going to be big enough in the long run for haddoni? I assume the lighting won't be a problem. I've had a RBTA in my care for several years, so I'm at least competent when it comes to anemone care Is there anything else i should be aware of, or take into consideration? How deep should the substrate be? How much flow is too much flow? How does a carpet react to things like snails/crabs/shrimp/stars that I might want to have as part of a CUC? is there a good primer article or post somewhere for haddonis?

Thanks for your time.

Oh, here's the tank, after a little acid soak and scrub.

 

[a-T-m]

I just posted in your other thread about this in the local forum!

I picked up the giant haddoni from atlantis and i'll tell you some of the stuff from him. I have mine in a 1.5" sand bed, go with 1.5" to 2", mine moved sand around to make himself more comfortable so the extra 0.5 couldn't hurt. But if someone more knowledgeable tells you more, then go MOAAR!!!!

They don't like high flow like BTA's, mine avoids and moves whenever he gets to strong of flow from the powerhead.

That's just my 2 cents man, i'm sure plenty of more knowledgeable folks will help you out. I'm excited to see what you come up with.

 

[phurst]

Bump for some additional input/answers?

 

[E.intheC]

From all I've read, you're going to want to have a deeper sand bed than 1.5 inches.

Also, it's best to put the haddoni right where the rock meets the sand.. as it will have a better place to 'wedge' itself.

(As a side note; I just picked up a pair of black saddlebacks, and I'm restarting the Haddoni research as I type)

 

[Toddrtrex]

My sandbed are all about 2 inches deep (( I have 3 tanks, each with an S. Haddoni, the 75 has 2 )). I would not going any shallower then that.

As for flow, they aren't fans of lots of flow. For my 75, I have 2 MP10ES's -- running anti-sync -- any more flow then that and they would be ticked off. The oral disc being lifted up once in a while is about as much as you want.

"EintheC" is correct about them preferring the rock/sand interface, with their foot buried in the sand, under a rock. At least that is where all of mine stay.

If your clean up crew comes into contact with an S. Haddoni, it will be eaten -- the other day one of mine ate my tuxedo urchin.

Lastly, anytime you have to touch a Haddoni I strongly suggest wearing gloves. First, they are like velcro and will stick to your hands, to the point where the tentacles will have to be ripped off to free your hand. And they do have a heck of a sting, for me my hand will swell up if I get stung.

 

[bues0022]

Todd is right about the sting! When I picked mine up from a fellow reefer, the guy didn't wear any gloves. Not only did it take him almost 20 minutes to get it detached from his hand, but his hand swelled up and he even got dizzy and nauseous from all the poison coursing through his system. A few benedryl helped, but he didn't feel right the rest of the night.

Anything that calls the sand-bed home is a likely meal for your haddoni - fish, snails, stars, etc.

 

[phurst]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't mind periodically replacing the CUC. I assume it just spits the shells out? It's not actually harmful is it? I'd rather have them in there and just replace as necessary unless trying to ingest a snail shell is likely to do damage.