Med light anemones

[SJSobczyk]

Good day,

Wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions on some Medium light anemones. My tank has been currently running for about 1 & 1/2 years now so i know its stable, and i have about 3.4 wpg of lighting. Would anything suffice?

Also, if anyone could give me and good links on coral care, requirements, etc, that would be great!

Thanks

Steve

 

[DragonForce]

BTA would be fine.

 

[Fluff]

I would consider 3.4 on the low end for light. Bubbletip may be ok under those lights as suggested. Other options would be flower anemones, tube anemone's, condy's or maybe a curly cue. They aren't normally hosting anemones but they are attractive non the less.
I don't know of one site that covers everything but you might want to pick up Eric Borneman's book "Aquarium Corals". Great book on specific corals and captive care. You could also check out Reefkeeping online magazine and WetWebMedia. Both great sources of info if you don't mind the search.
http://reefkeeping.com/
http://wetwebmedia.com/

 

[SJSobczyk]

BTA would be fine.

A BTA would host clownfish without a problem?

Thanks

Steve

 

[Fluff]

Yep. But there is no guarantee the clownfish will care for the anemone one way or another. I have a pair of clowns that would rather play house in a patch of zoo polyps. And they had a bta, lta, beaded, and two other unknown species of anemone to choose from.

 

[SJSobczyk]

Fluff,

You agree as well that this kind of anemone will survive in this type of lighting?

Sorry didnt see your above post!

Thanks

Steve

 

[DragonForce]

My clowns host in my flowerpot. I hear they will sometimes host to shrooms, plate corals, bubble corals etc. Mine took to the flower pot within a few hours.

 

[Fluff]

Yes, I think one would do ok in that light. I don't normally suggest feeding them but with the limited lighting, after it gets acclimated (a week or so) you might want to offer food to it once a week. Small meals, even if it's only a few mysid would be good. Other foods to offer could be pieces of raw shrimp or silversides. Food size will depend on the size of the anemone. But, it's better to offer it a few small meals once or twice a week than to offer something to large that it regurgitates the food and slowly starves. And if at all possible, get yourself a cloned one.

 

[SJSobczyk]

Thanks for all the info!

I know i am jumping the gun here but what about acclimation, what is the best way?

Thanks

Steve

 

[Fluff]

Slow acclimation. I would suggest a slow drip over a few hours. Put some water in a bucket of heated water. Putting a heater in before hand and getting the temp the same as your tank. Float the bag in the bucket. Get a length of airline tubing to run to the bag from your tank, start a syphon and tie a knot in the line to get a slow drip. I drip my anemones and corals for no less than three hours, check in from time to time to empty some water from the bag. After a few hours it should be ready to just place in the tank.

Also, don't be disappointed if it goes in the rockwork and is gone for a few days. It takes a few days to acclimate to your tanks lights and lighting schedule as well as the new enviroment. Chances are it's gonna move to a spot you don't want it, but moving it will stress it. You just gotta let it do it's thing.

 

[physicsdude]

whoa, the lighting is VERY wrong guys....watts per gallon is not as important as the distance from the light source...i keep a condy anemone in a 10 gallon hex tank with about 5.6 watts/gallon, but it is inadequate- the anemone likes to climg the brnaches of lr to be as close to the light as possible...thats is a key, the distance from the light to the anemone itself...also, before you buy one of these magnificent creatures, check out these links from some very knowledgeable experts...
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/condyfdgfaq.html
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/condycompfaq.htm
http://trickstr.tripod.com/survey_r.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/bubbletipanemones.htm

 

[physicsdude]

forgive my spelling, my bad - i need to take a comp type course!!!

 

[Fluff]

whoa, the lighting is VERY wrong guys....watts per gallon is not as important as the distance from the light source...i keep a condy anemone in a 10 gallon hex tank with about 5.6 watts/gallon, but it is inadequate- the anemone likes to climg the brnaches of lr to be as close to the light as possible...thats is a key, the distance from the light to the anemone itself...also, before you buy one of these magnificent creatures, check out these links from some very knowledgeable experts...
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/condyfdgfaq.html
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/condycompfaq.htm
http://trickstr.tripod.com/survey_r.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/bubbletipanemones.htm

I wouldn't say 5.6wpg is inadequate for a condy, the fact that it's in a hex tank may have something to do with it climbing though since hex tanks tend to be taller so the lights have to penetrate deeper. Your right WPG isn't the only thing to look at, depth is very important as well. 3wpg over a hex tall tank wouldn't be the same as if it was a standard tank. And, condy's actually like more light than bta's (and is why I suggested a bta and the others only a secondary suggestion) but I stand by my advice that a bta would do ok.