Anemone Survival? - Page 2

mike31154 · #11 09-11-2008, 05:04 AM

GBTA in a 75 gal under 2 x 39 watt T5HO hosting a pair of Maroon clownfish. Purchased at LFS, it was quite small and fairly white. It's been in the tank for well over a year, has coloured up nicely, grown substantially and is doing well. There have however been some anxious times.

Early this summer it decided to slowly migrate farther down on the perch it had occupied since I placed it in the tank. Similar scenario as ElGuappo was dealing with. It ended up mostly hidden under the rock near the back of the tank where I couldn't monitor what's going on, nor feed it effectively. Of course my clowns hung out back there now too and much of the entertainment value of the tank was gone.... What to do? I let it be for almost a month having read that nems will move to find a suitable spot. Well, this clearly was not suitable and it appeared too inept to get out of the predicament on its own for whatever reason. I checked it periodically using a mirror and could see it was bleaching and shrinking. Again, like ElGuappo, I decided to rearrange the rockwork (big job...) in order to get the thing back under some proper lighting and enable me to feed it.

So far so good, it is staying put and has recovered nicely. Colour is all back and it's putting on another growth spurt. Both clownfish fit into it no problem. The only thing I've changed in the tank set up this year was to add a VorTech pump in April. This improved water movement substantially, but the nem has always been in the lower quarter of the tank and I'm pretty sure the extra flow was not a factor in it deciding to hide. It's getting more flow now than ever and hasn't moved since the last little episode. I can't imagine my tank without it and the Maroon pair.

Oscar · #12 09-11-2008, 07:50 PM

Ok, I am getting a better feel for peoples experiences with anemones. Sounds like general success although some babying and cautious care is required.

A couple of more questions regarding improving success:

1. How old should a tank be before considering an anemone (probably a BTA)
2. To allow the anemone to move around and select its preferred site should the tank only be minimally stocked with corals?
3. What is the minimal tank size for a BTA? I have a Cad 39G but ~ 1/3 of that volume is dedicated to 4 chambers in the back that house additional live rock rubble, skimmer, refugia and return pump/heater.

mike31154 · #13 09-11-2008, 08:12 PM

1. I had my 75 gal running almost 6 months, but it was a second hand tank with well established LR and sandbed. Depends largely on your water quality/stability I would say.

2. I don't have many corals yet, just a few zoas, so I can't comment on this.

3. Not sure there is a minimal size of tank per se, but they do grow quickly when conditions are ideal and you feed them regularly. Water quality is the issue I guess. If you can keep that stable in a smaller tank, the nem should be fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscar

Ok, I am getting a better feel for peoples experiences with anemones. Sounds like general success although some babying and cautious care is required.

A couple of more questions regarding improving success:

1. How old should a tank be before considering an anemone (probably a BTA)

2. To allow the anemone to move around and select its preferred site should the tank only be minimally stocked with corals?

3. What is the minimal tank size for a BTA? I have a Cad 39G but ~ 1/3 of that volume is dedicated to 4 chambers in the back that house additional live rock rubble, skimmer, refugia and return pump/heater.

Oscar · #14 09-12-2008, 04:25 AM

Thanks Mike. Still working towards stabilizing water parameters.

trilinearmipmap · #15 09-12-2008, 05:36 AM

I would suggest one year of having a reef tank going before adding an anemone.

If I were to do it again, I would use pvc pipe maybe 2" or 3" diameter, maybe a 3" to 4" length of it with an end cap on it, find or make a crevice or hole in the rock to put the pipe in end cap down, choosing a nice locations for the display of the anemone. The BTA wants a location out of strong current, in light but not too strong, where it can keep its foot anchored in a dark and protected place. My BTA's unfortunately like to hide in the back of the tank. This way you could choose the location for your BTA ahead of time.