Showpiece Anemone for 82G?

[justinky]

I will be ordering a ATI 36 Inch SunPower T5HO 6x39watt next month, I have 1 WP40 and 1 Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400gph which I am possibly changing to 2 WP25s in the future. My tank has been setup for 3 months but the live rock in the refugium is about a year old. I won't be adding the Anemone until I get my new lighting next month.

I think I want to add a showpiece anemone to my 82G mostly soft coral reef. I am looking for ideas on what would be best suited for a tank this size, I was thinking possibly a Heteractis Malu but I cannot find any stores online that sells them. I love Carpet Anemones but I don't think it will be a good fit in my 82G, the tank dimensions are 42 by 24 by 18 tall. Any opinions or help would be much appreciated!

 

[davocean]

Do you wish to have a sand dwellar or rock dwellar?
Do you have a deep enough sand bed for a sand dwellar?
I love Malu's for their size and colors, great for mixed, but they do need a sand bed.
While your tank is still fairly fresh I think w/ your established rock you shouldn't have any issues at that time when you get your lights.

 

[justinky]

Do you wish to have a sand dwellar or rock dwellar?
Do you have a deep enough sand bed for a sand dwellar?
I love Malu's for their size and colors, great for mixed, but they do need a sand bed.
While your tank is still fairly fresh I think w/ your established rock you shouldn't have any issues at that time when you get your lights.

Sand dweller mostly as I have a minimalistic hardscape, but if someone shows me a rock dweller that I can't pass up I can redo that to make room. I have about a 2-3" sand bed as well.

 

[OrionN]

The last few days Live Aquaria Diver Den had several malu for sale at very reasonable price. They actually have them for sale regularly. You jus thave to pay attention and snap them up quickly or they are gone (especially those Purple Malu)

 

[OrionN]

There are always colorful BTA morph that you can get.

 

[OrionN]

Don't rule out a brightly color LTA. They are nice sand dweller also.

 

[davocean]

What clowns do you have or plan to keep?
That also makes a difference, matching natural hosts species is always a plus.

 

[justinky]

Don't rule out a brightly color LTA. They are nice sand dweller also.

I've honestly never been a fan of LTAs but I will keep in mind BTAs if I can find an amazing color variation.

What clowns do you have or plan to keep?
That also makes a difference, matching natural hosts species is always a plus.

I have a pair of Platinum Clownfish, according to snorviches thread Perculas do not normally host Malu's but they do host Crispa's which I find weird as they are both apart of the Heteractis spp.

 

[davocean]

Yeah, but my percs took to a Malu pretty quick even though not a natural host, they seem to like longer tentacle nems, and did NOT go into or like my hadonni.
So next in line for a natural would be my own personal choice and what I now have, a mag/ritteri.
They are a rock dwellar and like to be high up for max light, heavy flow, somewhat on the higher end care wise, often need cipro treatment from what I see here, but still doable.
A BTA could do as well, but they wander more, and my picasso's/percs lost black color while hosting in BTA's, so I ditched mine.
Crispa get huge, same as gig's

 

[justinky]

Thanks for the help Minh & Davocean. I will probably go with a Malu or Ritteri. It will be a while but I will try to post pictures when I get it in.