DopeCantWin
Active member
I'm starting a barebed 210 and need something to get my clownfish happy. It will be all SPS and very low nutrient. Is there an Anemone which will just stay in a rock without moving? Or something else I can use?
What to use as a clown host in an SPS tank?
- Thread starter DopeCantWin
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DopeCantWin
Active member
I'd really like it, but I use to have one and had each of those issues.
JPMagyar
New member
After keeping more than 15 anemones in total including many splits and dieing Magnificents brought to me by local reefers I would say that a Heteractis Magnifica can be an excellent choice. After the initial wandering mine stopped moving and has basically stayed in place for a decade now. Here are my recommendations:
1) If possible put the anemone in the tank before any other SPS.
2) Do NOT use LEDs of any kind.
3) Do use a minimum of 6 T5s or 250 watt MH preferably a mixture of both and 20k.
4) Variable intermittent flow is critical. I would recommend a Sea Sweep or similar.
5) Find a piece of LR that is as smooth as possible and build a pinnacle directly under you light center, put the anemone there, and raise your lights if it is pale.
6) Introduce the clowns at the same time as the anemone one at a time starting with the smallest first. If the clowns are already in the tank take them out and reintroduce them one at a time. They will be scared and should dive into the anemone. Be sure to release them right above the anemone.
7) If the anemone is pale feed it raw salmon pieces cut very small.
8) All power heads MUST be covered with anemone proof caging. You can make something out of eggcrate if necessary.
9) Once the anemone is healthy stop directly feeding it, and it will grow very very slowly and stay a manageable size.
Doing all that has given me a high success rate when recovering unhealthy specimens.
Joe
1) If possible put the anemone in the tank before any other SPS.
2) Do NOT use LEDs of any kind.
3) Do use a minimum of 6 T5s or 250 watt MH preferably a mixture of both and 20k.
4) Variable intermittent flow is critical. I would recommend a Sea Sweep or similar.
5) Find a piece of LR that is as smooth as possible and build a pinnacle directly under you light center, put the anemone there, and raise your lights if it is pale.
6) Introduce the clowns at the same time as the anemone one at a time starting with the smallest first. If the clowns are already in the tank take them out and reintroduce them one at a time. They will be scared and should dive into the anemone. Be sure to release them right above the anemone.
7) If the anemone is pale feed it raw salmon pieces cut very small.
8) All power heads MUST be covered with anemone proof caging. You can make something out of eggcrate if necessary.
9) Once the anemone is healthy stop directly feeding it, and it will grow very very slowly and stay a manageable size.
Doing all that has given me a high success rate when recovering unhealthy specimens.
Joe
DopeCantWin
Active member
Excellent post and pictures. Let me give you a rundown of the 210.
1. Possible
2. Already bought 6 AI Sols. If this is a no-no, then no anemone it is.
3. See 2. I did a quick google and looked like Anemones were doing good under those lights. I'll do some more research.
4. Flow will be provided by 2000+ gallons coming from the sump and an MP60. This will possibly be replaced.
psusocr
Active member
Why do you say dont put an anemone under LEDS???? I think this is a terrible statement..
I have had my mag for over three years now under LEDS, its strives, its healthy, and it grows..
Ive also seen over 50 anemones THRIVE under LED's????
I think far too many people blame things on " led's" instead of lookign at the water quality, parameters and stability of that tank.. Furthermore fish stores recieve nems all the time, MAGS are notoriously awful shippers , thats half the battle to getting one IMO, coupled with the questionable acclimation techniques "some" fish stores may use. IMO Acclimation of a mag is far more in depth than say a bta,, so it doesnt suprise me most mags at fish stores will die shortly after receiving them..
I have had my mag for over three years now under LEDS, its strives, its healthy, and it grows..
Ive also seen over 50 anemones THRIVE under LED's????
I think far too many people blame things on " led's" instead of lookign at the water quality, parameters and stability of that tank.. Furthermore fish stores recieve nems all the time, MAGS are notoriously awful shippers , thats half the battle to getting one IMO, coupled with the questionable acclimation techniques "some" fish stores may use. IMO Acclimation of a mag is far more in depth than say a bta,, so it doesnt suprise me most mags at fish stores will die shortly after receiving them..
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JPMagyar
New member
The LED recommendation is only one man's opinion, and highly controversial at that. As an opposing argument I will say that there is a local wealthy gentleman with a 2000 gallon tank in his basement using AI Sols for lighting and he has an H. Mag. with 5 clownfish in it and it is doing fine, but I have received several dieing anemones from my friend that owns an LFS all of which came out of LED lit tanks that used Pac Sun, Meta, Radion, and Maxspect LEDs. AI is the only one that I have heard of that had some success so far. If you do try an H. Mag with AI's I'd suggest direct feeding monthly to insure long term health.
Flow: It has been my experience that H. Mags do not like directional flow. If the tank is going to be setup with alternating MP60s that might be ok, but if the flow will have a steady uniform flow I have not had good experience with that regarding anemones.
Anyways, sounds like a great project and can't wait to see some pictures!
Joe
reefnewbie83177
New member
No LED's for Anemones? I have a complete DIY LED system over my 90 and my anemone is thriving. HOwever, I have an RBTA and it has grown so much over the last year with splittings and what not that it is starting to kill parts of an sps. I cannot move them b/c they have put there foot so deep in a rock that I cannot move. If I had it to do over again, I would not be putting an RBTA in my sps tank. Also, it has been under LED's the whole life of my tank and after 2 days in my tank it hasn't moved since.
Back on topic a bit... IMO Magnificas and Gigantea's are the best options when it comes to an SPS tank... Both will stay put if given proper conditions... They both like clean tanks, strong lighting, and can be pounded with flow... Most will build a "bommie" for Mags in order to keep them from any potential wandering... Good luck!!! :thumbsup:
Hyperion1337
Active member
how about rbtas in sps tank?
I have a mostly SPS tank and I have a nice duncan colony that my clowns love to use as their host! I epoxied the base of the duncan to the bottom of the tank, works great!
No worries about wandering anemones!
Here's an older pic:
^^^+1. My clowns love the Duncan colony:beer:
DopeCantWin
Active member
From what I read, it looks like Duncans will do okay win a low Nutrient environment, correct me if I'm wrong. Hosting in a cap is intersting. I have two pretty large caps (10" and 12") that I'll be putting in.
M Woodhill
New member
I had been contemplating adding a RBTA for my clowns until I noticed that my clowns host this! Is this normal? And I know it's bleaching and would appreciate any advice. It's midway up on my 120. I have 2 radions. All levels are good and stable!
Clowns can host anythin they like in a tank, like a coral, a stone or even tubes, powerheads---that's almost a full list of what my occ's once hosted
clowns sometimes can really harm a lps to death. before i put in the ritteri, the pair hosted an elegance coral that passed away a month later
Mag/Gig however is their natural host. they really love it
reefnewbie83177
New member
Like I said in an earlier post, my RBTA does great. In fact, too great. It is now starting to kill some SPS and I can't get it out of the rock it is in. If you could get it to move into a rock that is movable I would do it, but if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't put one in. They just get to big.
Guygettnby
Well-known member
clowns will host in about anything.
M Woodhill
New member
rbta will be a hit or miss for it isnt the natural host for onyx
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