Smallest tanks for healthy nems?

[miniwhinny]

Please don't bash me for asking this Q guys...I'm a big softie and I WILL start crying lol.

I'm wondering with some of the threads recently posted, just what would be the smallest tanks that you nem experts would recommend for the different nem species?

You're probably asking why would anyone want to use the smallest tank but there are many of us who, for financial, space, other commitments, existing equipment etc like smaller nano tanks i.e. I have a 29 with loads of equipment and to upgrade in size is just prohibitive.

I'm planning on getting a nem but not until I've done all of my research so that I don't become a one way ticket for the poor thing. I asked in a previous thread what kind of bio load nems produce and got the impression it was little to none but in other threads it looks like they are heavy producers.

Someone I respect a lot just posted about putting a haddoni in a 40...so now I wonder could I put one in my 29?

Okay experts....everything else out of the equation (lets say that the owners of these tanks WILL maintain water quality and have good lights) what are the smallest tanks that each nem can physically thrive in?

...and if you feel there are no small tanks nems can live in...that's fine...us nano and newbies need to know that too.

Thank you.

 

[sugartooth]

My personal feeling is if you start with a small one (4 inches or so) a 55-75 gallon would be the smallest I would be comfortable with. Also, no other corals or nems in the tank. That should buy you time to plan your upgrade. My recommendation would be to get a nem always with the intent to upgrade. If you are successful, then they will grow very large.

My explanation of my answer is that I place a high value on these, so I will do everything I can for them. I believe I have only the minimum requirements currently being met in terms of water volume, space, and flow and it's making me very uncomfortable.

For having a long lifespan in the wild, I feel a heavy responsibility to put their needs above all other inhabitants (that's why the dedicated tank).

I chucked looks out the window a long time ago after realizing all I can do is keep adding powerheads in my cube to meet their needs. I have 3 tunze going along with the return for estimated 4500 gph of flow and I tell you it's my gut that it needs more.....especially when they get larger.

I also feel the ebb and flow feature of the tunze is important. I also stop everything and siphon as much water out as I can during water changes to try and simulate 'low tide' not knowing if it helps at all or not.

My belief is, the larger the system, the more biodiversity you may have (microfauna and such) and the more stable the environment. A larger tank will also give you more options as far as flow, direction of current and just plain living space.

 

[Toddrtrex]

After keeping Haddonis for 9+ years, I wouldn't keep one in a 29 -- at least not long term, they just get too big.

In the past I had LTAs in a 29, and even with weekly 5 gallon water changes ran into water quality issues --- which improved after I sold them.

Honestly, the only hosting anemone I would try in a 29 would be a BTA, and would make it a species only tank.

 

[garygb]

For a BTA, I would say your 29 gallon is fine, as long as you do like Todd suggests and keep it a species tank with a pair of clownfish. The anemone isn't so much the culprit for water degradation as the fish are. From what I've read, the bioload of a BTA is very low--the zooxanthellae utilizes most all the waste produced by the metabolism of the anemone. In contrast, the fish produce waste that has to be removed via protein skimming, water changes, activated carbon, macroalgae growth/harvesting, etc. Picture it: your 29 gallon, a large healthy BTA (rose or green or a variant you like), a pair of clowns, you doing 15% water changes every other week, a good protein skimmer, activated carbon changed every 3-4 weeks. If that sounds like something you would like, then you would be able to keep that going long-term with a 29 gallon. If what you want is a community tank with lots of corals and several species of fish, in conjunction with your anemone, then you want to think about a much larger aquarium.

 

[seaduck]

Question, when u say species only tank do u mean only one nem and no other type of nems in the same tank????? How about 2 small btas in the same tank??? Also, can u raise zooanthids in this same tank??? Or is species only just one specimen and no others???

 

[elegance coral]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13978382#post13978382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seaduck
Question, when u say species only tank do u mean only one nem and no other type of nems in the same tank????? How about 2 small btas in the same tank??? Also, can u raise zooanthids in this same tank??? Or is species only just one specimen and no others???

A species tank is a tank dedicated to one species. You can have many individuals of the same species in a species tank. If you had a tank with one species of anemone and a pair of clowns, most people would still consider it a species tank, because of the symbiotic relationship.

 

[block head]

thousands of bta's are being kept in nanos. small tanks are more of a challenge. i have a bta in a mixed reef 28 gallon and it's doing great. take your time and read up on nems, they can be alot of trouble,but also very rewarding.

 

[miniwhinny]

Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge. This nem purchase is truely giving me headaches lol.

I don't see me upgrading my tank. I just find that it's the perfect size for me to maintain. I'm religious about it's maintainance and with it only being 29 that's an easy thing to do. With rocks I probably have 25 gallons of water and change 20% every week. Have a great skimmer, lots of flow, BB etc.

What worries me about BTA's is some of the posts I've read about Percs not wanting to go in them.

My tank is pretty bare of other corals. Just a couple of zoa colonies and a couple of 'shrooms that hitchiked on the rocks from my other tank. So setting up a species tank is possible.

If I decided that I couldn't provide the perfect home for a nem does anyone have a suggestion for a substitute host? I adore my perc pair and my main goal is to make them feel happy. Does anyone have any ideas for something my percs could live in that's easier to keep in a 29?

Sorry for so many Q's...just want all the answers before I jump in.
Thanks.

 

[Toddrtrex]

If it helps, many years ago I had a pair of true percs, and they were very happy in my BTA.

 

[elegance coral]

I think you will be fine with a BTA in your 29. Check out all the perc's in BTA's in this thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1357282

 

[miniwhinny]

AWESOME thread elegance coral, thanks for sharing that. In a few minutes I'm going to take new pics of mine and join "the club"

Okay, I'm convinced. No more nemnewb Q's.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13982886#post13982886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miniwhinny

Okay, I'm convinced. No more nemnewb Q's.

Can we hold you to that?

Always better to ask, even if you have the slightest doubt.

 

[miniwhinny]

HAHAHAH you can hold me to that Toddrtrex !

I won't post another Q until I ask " how come they haven't gone near my new RBTA" and that won't be 'til after Christmas now hahahahah

 

[dc]

My RBTA's are in a 40 There's lot's of room...They're not with percs tho.

 

[miniwhinny]

Gorgeous !!!!