soft corals & anemones

[paulbeau]

Hi everyone!

I am keeping soft corals in 22g. I would love to get anemones and clowns is this a good idea? I have researched this but still confused! Any advice appreciated!

Thanks Great site!!:rollface:

 

[Wryknow]

They can be kept successfully but it is something of a crap-shoot. The anemone is going to sting anything that it comes into contact with. In a 22 gallon tank that could be quite alot depending on the size of the anemone. Once/if the aenmone settles in one place you might be able to keep softies with it as long as they are not contacting each other but that will depend on the size of the animals, the tank layout, etc. Sorry, but it's just not a straight-forward answer.

 

[paulbeau]

thanks! Do you suggest using rock as a fence to keep anemone in more of a confined area?

 

[r00onmac]

the problem with anemone versus a stinging coral like torch is that the anemone can walk if it wants to. so no rock wall will prevent it unless its a sand dwelling anemone and even then its not 100%

 

[Wryknow]

Actually, the best way that I know to "fence in" an anemone is with power heads (make sure that you cover the intakes.) It's not certain that it will work, but mine won't generally wander where there is too much current.

My advice is to get the tank nice and settled in and then add a BTA first. Give it a month or two to get settled in. Once it has found a place that it is happy and it is no longer wandering around quite as much you can start adding some softies in areas that it cannot reach. Don't forget that it will grow though. Bottom line:
- 22 gallons is a small tank so space will be an issue as the BTA grows
- Anemones are going to "rule-the-roost" so to speak so if you choose keep one its part of the package. You will need to rearrange your tank to accomodate the nem more than the other way around!