Ritteri in a SPS tank

[fullmonti]

I have a 180 SPS tank that has been set up for most of three years now. It has a pair of Ocellaris clowns in it, & I got a Ritteri for them about a year ago from DD. It didn't make it. The set up seems perfect for a Ritteri, strong MH lighting & strong alternating flow & I'm thinking of putting it on top of a rock pillar in the middle of the tank. From what I understand Ritteri nems don't ship well, & it's best if you can find a healthy one at LFS or some ones tank. A LFS can get them in & have a holding tank set right for them & will hold it for 7 days for me to make sure it's OK. Does this seem a good way to go, or what would you suggest?

The first one I got moved around a lot & never really inflated well. I got conflicting opinions about lighting acclimation. Some said it wanted more light & some said it needed dimmer light for awhile. I tend to think since it would move to the bottom of the pillar it wanted less light, So I turned the light right over the pillar off. But it still didn't make it. It was very traumatic watching it struggle & die. I don't want to put another one of them or me through that again! What about the lighting acclimation?

Thanks
Jim

 

[psusocr]

Ritteri's love lighting and need very strong lighting and good strong random flow to be happy. If not they will move around until they are happy. If you could find one local it is best as you said they are poor shippers.

 

[fullmonti]

I have 1050w MH lighting on a 5' tank & a hammerhead pump with an ocean motion for flow. Surely that would make a Ritteri happy?

 

[TriNewbie24]

I have one in my SPS 3ft 90 gallon. Sits at the top middle, hasnt moved since it settled. Have two mp40's and about 900gph from my return with (2) 250w MH's

 

[fullmonti]

I feel good about my set up. The things I wanted feed back on most was the LFS holding one for 7 days for me, & if they need/like the lights dimmed for the first day or two?

 

[fullmonti]

Any comments if 7 days is enough to know if Ritteri is healthy or if it is a good idea to dim the lights in the tank for the first day or two or not?

Jim

 

[Jasanden]

Some people say 6 months some say a year before you are int the clear so to speak. But holding it for 7 days is better than any of the Lfs around here. By the 7 day mark the nem should be inflated with the mouth being somewhat tight if I was buying it.