upgrading to a 125 and a carpet?

[jelwyoming]

I am upgrading my 60g to an 125 tall next week. After it settles out from the change, I would like to add a carpet anemone. I already have a pair of ocellaris hosting a GBTA that will go in there. Is it too risky to add a small green carpet to the tank with another clown? Or should I just stick to my plan and add a RBTA down the line?

 

[argus]

you could get away with it but id stay the course.

 

[dantodd]

In a 125 you can certainly add the carpet but the additional clown could be a problem. However; if you are adding any new live rock in the 125 you'll want to wait 6 months or so for the tank to stabilize before adding ANY anemone. Also, many carpets eat fish so you may be limited in the other livestock you can have in the tank. Benthic fish and wrasses seem particularly vulnerable to being eaten by carpets. I've also heard reports of them eating ocellaris and percula on occasion.

Read the Anemone FAQ in the FAQ thread at the top of this forum.
Finally, here is a great article on why it is important to let a tank mature before adding livestock, especially anemones: http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic23945-9-1.aspx

 

[nathan_unsane]

thats a great hyperlink

 

[dantodd]

Thanks, I've been posting it ALOT lately becuase it explains why zero ammonia and trites isn't good enough time for a tank to be filled with livestock!

 

[jelwyoming]

Dantodd,
Thank you for the information. The thing that I am curious about now is how my anemones that are in there now will do when I shift the whole set up to the larger tank. I will slowly be adding new rock that is cured in another tank after this one stabilizes a bit.
One thing that I keep learning with reef tanks...go slowwwwwly!!

 

[dantodd]

slowwwwwwwly is good.

I don't know. I'd probably start the 125 with about 20 gal from the 60 and a couple cups of the LS plus and other sand you want minus the volume in the 60. Let it go for a month or so and then move all the sand from the 60 and let it settle for a day or two. Once it's settled I'd pull 60 gal out of the big tank and move everything over, including the water.

You'll probably get some dieoff from the stirred up sandbed but that's the way I'd feel best about doing it.

I've never done a big tank upgrade like that so someone with more experience might have better suggestions.