Suggestions for a 4' tank

[brad]

I just lost several large E. quadricolor's I've had for 8+ years, with hosting A. frenetus, due to a power outage. I have a 4'x4'x28" 270 gallon tank, and am considering a large anemone as the centerpiece when I restock.

Before the power outage, I just upgraded to 600 watts of DIY LED lighting and was starting to have success with SPS which is the direction I was taking my tank. I have 4 Tunze's, so this is relatively high flow, and I was trying to get rid of any sand I have.

I am wondering if I have too much flow for a Haddoni, and I am not thrilled about adding back sand that can blow around and makes a mess.

An S gigantea is better suited to the setup I want, but I have heard they are next to impossible to keep. After this loss, I want to avoid animals that are less hardy.

An S. mertensii might be a good choice, but I was hoping for something more colorful, and they are next to impossible to find for sale anyway.

I had an H. magnifica that came with the tank when I bought it used. It did not survive long in my care. This was the 2nd magnifica (after the first died) the previous owner had, and he was very successful with many hard to keep animals. The magnifica to me looked like nothing special, just a less colorful E. quadricolor. So I am not leaning towards buying one.

I know it seems like I am shooting everything down, but this is good tank for a large anemone and I am starting with a clean slate so I can pretty much change anything I want to accommodate my purchase.

 

[Daniel62]

Anything is possible with planning, SPS high flow, Haddoni low flow. So you will need to creat an area where the haddoni will be sheltered. Lighting not really a problem Haddoni like bright lighting. Look into the PVC pipe housing setup if you do not want a deep sand bed. And ALSO REMEMBER Nems can and WILL move from time to time. Do you really want to risk the loss of your prized sps. I would also have the nem in first, just to make sure it likes where you put it.

Good luck

 

[brad]

The PVC solution might work, but IMO it looks awful.

I am starting to think rock in back and sand in front, with the powerheads on the back wall is the way to go. There are a lot of cool fish I can't keep without a sandbed, and any visible bare bottom looks bad. Of course, if I find a mertensii, I will probably go that route.

As for "prized sps", what I had is most definitely dead, even if this ends up being less than a total loss. I am not one of the SPS people who has to collect the most rare/expensive/challenging pieces. I just like branching shapes, bright colors, and fast growth. I had very little trouble with my E. quadricolors, which almost never moved. When they did take out a coral, usually it was because they got bigger.

 

[Daniel62]

The PVC does really need to be camafloged Also what I did in my tank was to install glass dividers To keep different sand levels in my tank. You really can't see them.

But I Always vote for sand beds