Safe to put a nem in a 29g?

[Roadki11]

So I know my LFS swears it'll be ok, but they're the same one that told me my horseshoe crab would be ok in a 29g :debi:, so I thought I'd ask you guys first. My 29 has been set up for 6 months and never had any issues with water quality. Running a 2 bulb t5 light fixture, no sump, just live rock and a skimmer as filtration. Would it be safe to put a small nem in (ya, I realize they grow)? Is there any that stay relatively small? Or would you guys discourage it completely?

 

[G4546]

You might need a little more light if you're going for a hosting anemone otherwise I think you could do a crucifer or tapetum something to that effect... Are you using the 29g biocube? What are your recent test levels? Horseshoe crab in 29 :eek1:

 

[wabooth555]

I have a bubble tip anemone in my 29 gallon biocube. My friend has a regular 29 gallon and also has a bubble tip. I have stock Power Compacts, but plan on upgrading to LEDs through RapidLED in a few months.

Anyway, my anemone seems to be doing fine, and my clownfish love it!

 

[Roadki11]

Mines just a regular 29. I'm out of town so I don't have my water specifics, but normally runs 1.025 salinity, 0 ammonia and nitrite, and around 79 degrees F. looking to upgrade to a DIY led lighting, but it's still just an idea in my head so far.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

your going to need more or better lights IMO

 

[JamesBryan]

nem in 29

nem in 29

+ 1 for the rock flower anemone

 

[seamonkey84]

2 t5 will prob be ok if your using the right bulbs, I'd go with ATI blue+ and ATI aquablue special,'bot give great par value and color over standard 10k/atinic. I run a 4 bulb t5ho over my 10 gallong for sps, with ati bulbs its winderful. But ive also delt with 2 bulb systems and its still fine as long as your rock is stacked high enough. the nem will move to where it's comfortable and gets food. I'd go with bta as they are hardy and not too keen on super bright lighting to begin with (people use to keep them under 2-4 bulb t8, just not great coloring). Both of mine rest on the back side of a rock that recieved constant indirect flow. I am using LEDtric full spectrum over a 12" cube with 80 degree optics for my 2 small rbta. It's my frag display/growout tank on my nightstand. I have a 46 bow to move them to once I build my own full spectrum array over it.
Original question, IMHO you'll be fine with BTA, don't do long tentacle as they live on sand bed and your light isn't strong enough for that depth. That is if your going for a hosting nem, otherwise rock flower nems are almost as tough as aptasia.

 

[Roadki11]

Thanks for the help. I'd like one that will his my clowns, so I'll look for a BTA. Rock flowers don't host then I assume?

 

[bradam]

I kept green bubble tips in a 29 gallon biocube for years. With the stock power compact lighting. Although after a few years I did drill the back and plumbed it down to a homemade sump so I could stuff a real skimmer in it. I even kept one in a 12 gallon nano for a few years.

Frequent water changes are the key I think, but you have to be spot on with the new water parameters. There is so little room for error in that small of a quanity of water.

While they did surivive and split rather often once I moved them to a 240 gal under metal hilides they tripled in size, darkened up in color alot and rarely split anymore.

So imo they would survive but could be happier in a larger better equipd' setup.

 

[Sethjamto]

I understand peoples comment to upgrade lighting or tank size, but I have a Sebae and 3 RBTAs (was one, but it split) happily living in my 29BC under stock PC lights. They came to me slightly bleached and have gained massive color and size since I got them! It CAN be done.

I do have my next tank in the garage, though, ready to upgrade. If not, the Sebae would be too big for my 29, but I wouldnt hesitate at the BTAs in a 29 under PC lights.

Poor cellphone pic.....

 

[Sagz70]

Looks like it's working well for Sethjamto.. I would think your tank size is sufficient, just depends on lighting and your params.

 

[Roadki11]

Thanks for the help guys. And nice tank Sethjamto.

 

[OrionN]

This is a case of Do What I Said, not Do What I Do

I keep aquariums for 30+ years and reef for almost 20 years. If you know what you are doing, you can keep any anemone is a 29 g tank.

Magnifica in a 30ish cube

early Gigantea in a 30 cube also

Male (green) and female (purple) H. malu in a 30 g tank

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Here's some of mine in a stock 14g biocube

Clowns sleeping in the middle of the night

 

[Roadki11]

Dang, nice nems. Now I want one even more. Waiting till after my vacation next week to get one though. Last thing I want to do is buy one just to have it blow up in my tank while I'm out of town.