the 6 month rule, ideas for a sticky

[Clarkii3]

i really wonder how this rule ever started in the first place. On all of the forums i belong too and people i know who keep reefs, they have always added an anemone well ahead of 6 months, basically 1-3 motnhs in. i believe stable water is one key, but i think most people don't do the "lighting" part correctly. ive read many articles that state , one you have had corals and they have thrived and grown, you are now ready for an anemone. is this rule basically to scare away the noobs? do you still think this rule holds for someone who is an experienced reefer for a few years? id really like to get some opinions on this. how many of you guys actually waited 6 month or more? i also think it would be a good idea to list common tank sizes, and different lighting options for an anemone in that size tank (i see way too many questions on lighting), pc,t-5, mh, etc etc, also clown pair tank minimum sizes, just an idea for a sticky.

 

[Sk8r]

It's meant to give somebody pause and be sure they test, for one thing, but for another, even the most experienced reefers observe instabilities in tank chemistry during the first 6 months or even longer, depending on the origin of the rock, etc. Unstable tank chemistry bothers anemones bigtime. You can luck out...but you can also have an unmitigated disaster, all the way to a total crash. Meticulous water-keeping is one big plus that will help save your bacon. But as the tank ages, and depending on its size and type, it gains more 'flexibility,' more resilience in the face of sudden change. And everything is safer.

 

[TOURKID]

I got my nem about 3 months in and I almost lost it many times.

I definatly think 6 months is a good time to wait for one.

I cant comment on an experienced reefer. maybe they can get it stable faster. but personally, I really shouldent have gotton a nem when i did. not enough light, an inaccurate hydrometer, nitrates.. it was a bad situation.
I had to spend big money fast to keep it alive, and it stressed me out to no end. skimmer, mh, refractometer, had to learn to use it all, all the while watching my nem get worse and worse.

even an experienced reefer cant speed up a cycle or predict the changes that are going to occur in the first months.

why chance killing a beautiful creature due to immpatience? If i would have known i was going to go thru so much trouble Id have definatly waited. Unfortunatly I hadent found reefcentral until I was already haveing issues. but everyone helped me keep it alive and its now flourishing.
6 months isent long at all when you are going to have a tank for endless years. the nem will outlive you!

 

[Tiggsy]

i set up a tank and added my nem after 2 months, it was fine and grew well and looked superb.

nems need stability....when the tank is stable and you are ready...you are ready. The 6 month thing is nonsense in my opinion...it is there to stop new people rushing in and buying one yet the reality is many of those people will still not be ready after 6 years!

the above post is a good example...wrong lights and rubbish hydrometer have nothing to do with how long a tank runs.....i set up my first tank with a 6ft skimmer, $3,000 of monitoring equipment, a sump larger than the display, etc, etc - as such it was ready sooner.

my pet hate is words like "mature water" which do notihing but allow people with poor skills to think they will be fine just because their tank has run for a year.

 

[TOURKID]

I disagree. I really think 6 months is about right. not because it needs time to cycle n stuff, but because unless you have a very experienced reefer to guide you every step of the way.. it really takes that long to learn everything you need to learn.

A lfs gave me so much wrong information im sure if i would have souley relied on them, my tank would be in the garage collecting dust.

its skill that needs to be learned. knowledgeable help and patience.

 

[Raibaru]

Alright, I have absolutely 0 experience but I can tell you the 6 mo. rule has probably stopped me from buying an anemon 3 or 4 times now. I almost got one 2 weeks ago and almost bought one just a few days ago from a local guy (who I will try to get in contact with again around xmas).

If for nothing else it encourages people to do the research needed to keep the things and ask questions about it. Does the tank really need to mature to that level? I don't know and I bet no one could give a definitive answer.

But for me, just making me think twice was probably good enough .

 

[bencozzy]

keeping nems healthy goes like this

water quality
water movement
high quality food
lighting

lighting is not really as important as you make it out to be in maintaining anemones.

most important is to have a healthy specimen to begin with.

and yes 6 months is a reasonable amount of time takes most people that long to get the water quality right and nice and stable.

as for lighting here is the new school rule(down with wpg) http://woo.gotdns.com/Aquarium/Lighting.htm meant for planted tanks but aim for the high or very high level and it will work for reef tanks and change the kelvin ratings to your liking.

hope this helps everyone out

and as for clown pair tank miniums i believe all the clowns can be put into 30g breeders(ocs and percs are the exception) if for breeding only and they have a sump connected.

 

[bencozzy]

wow didnt read all of the original posters questions

now i believe it is to scare noobs which is good nems are to be considered a non renewable resource, no need to needlessly kill them. 6 months gives time to gain experience and research alot and see if they really want to commit or was it just an impulse.

now for anemones most carpets and ritteri need large tanks 75g++

LTA sebea and malu 55g+

BTA 20g+

now that not including sumps and such.

if you have a good base with growing LPS and sps then you might have better luck with nems then a total noob.

 

[Wryknow]

I agree that the 6 month rule is certainly not an absolute. I do think that giving a new tank 6 months to establish itself is a pretty reasonable idea though. It takes time for your LR to establish itself and your algae cycle to play-out. There can be a lot of major swings in water paramters as you get your alk/ph/calcium balance figured out too. That being said, I added my RBTA at 3 months in my new tank and it's been just fine (it was a used tank so the LR was already well cycled and established.) I also get a lot of help from reading forums like this!