ANENOME (SP?) OR NOT??? OLD SALTS PLEASE REPLY
- Thread starter skeeter1
- Start date
Guess I'm a middle-aged salt, anyway. Bubble-tip, Long-tentacle, and Haddoni carpet are generally the only species recommended for the average aquarist. Even those require reef-quality lighting and overall excellent conditions. Read some books before making any purchases...
Why don't you tell us some more information about your tank and your experience before we give you advice...
Things I'd ask...
-How big is your tank?
-What type of filtration?
-How long has it been set up?
-What other inhabitants?
-What type of lighting, spectrum, and intensity?
-What were water parameters last time you tested?
-How much research have you done on the different species of anemones you'd like to keep (no offense, but I'm guessing not much since you can't spell anemone.)
A good starting place (beyond filling us in on the tank details) would be Joyce Wilkerson's book on clowns and their host anemones. It's rudimentary, but I'm working on a site for a project for a web-design course I'm taking over the summer for upkeep of my teaching licensure. You could check that out, too. It's http://portfolio.iu.edu/jwikman/website/index.htm .
-John
Things I'd ask...
-How big is your tank?
-What type of filtration?
-How long has it been set up?
-What other inhabitants?
-What type of lighting, spectrum, and intensity?
-What were water parameters last time you tested?
-How much research have you done on the different species of anemones you'd like to keep (no offense, but I'm guessing not much since you can't spell anemone.)
A good starting place (beyond filling us in on the tank details) would be Joyce Wilkerson's book on clowns and their host anemones. It's rudimentary, but I'm working on a site for a project for a web-design course I'm taking over the summer for upkeep of my teaching licensure. You could check that out, too. It's http://portfolio.iu.edu/jwikman/website/index.htm .
-John
I've never bothered with anemones. Why bother when there are so many corals that are equally beautiful and don't have to be fed all the time. Corals don't move around, don't have to be fed, and are much hardier.
Get corals, leave the anemone in the ocean where they can live and prosper.
Many many anemone's die needlessly due to their feeding requirements not being met, insufficeint lighting, or poor water quality. Many hobbiest buy them without doing the proper research on their care. Anemones also move around to where they want to be, not where you want them to be. The back side off an anemone on the front and center of your aquarium is not very pretty!
FWIW and IMHO corals are the way to go. With good lighting (MH or VHO, depending on tank size), good protein skimming, and off course - properly maintained water quality (which which is a whole new subject in it's self), and good water circulation, corals are very easy to maintain.
I have lost only a Fire Polyp (requires special feeding that I did not provide, I bought them before I reseacrhed them-DOUGH!) and a xenia (they died when I upgraded to MH lamps, I guess I fried them-Double Dough!) in my 20 months in this hobby. I haven't lost the first anemone because I haven't bought any!
I'm sure that others will chime in and tell you that they have kept a such-and-such anemone for X amount of time, but if you research this subject you will find that I speak the truth. I don't know any real statistics, but if I had to guess I would say that it is likely that 80% of corals live and 10% of anemones live, in the average hobbiest rank. This number was pulled directly out of my rear end so I would appreciate it if there are any expert's out there that could give you a factual %, that is...if any such reasearch is available.
My 2 cents!
Louey
Get corals, leave the anemone in the ocean where they can live and prosper.
Many many anemone's die needlessly due to their feeding requirements not being met, insufficeint lighting, or poor water quality. Many hobbiest buy them without doing the proper research on their care. Anemones also move around to where they want to be, not where you want them to be. The back side off an anemone on the front and center of your aquarium is not very pretty!
FWIW and IMHO corals are the way to go. With good lighting (MH or VHO, depending on tank size), good protein skimming, and off course - properly maintained water quality (which which is a whole new subject in it's self), and good water circulation, corals are very easy to maintain.
I have lost only a Fire Polyp (requires special feeding that I did not provide, I bought them before I reseacrhed them-DOUGH!) and a xenia (they died when I upgraded to MH lamps, I guess I fried them-Double Dough!) in my 20 months in this hobby. I haven't lost the first anemone because I haven't bought any!
I'm sure that others will chime in and tell you that they have kept a such-and-such anemone for X amount of time, but if you research this subject you will find that I speak the truth. I don't know any real statistics, but if I had to guess I would say that it is likely that 80% of corals live and 10% of anemones live, in the average hobbiest rank. This number was pulled directly out of my rear end so I would appreciate it if there are any expert's out there that could give you a factual %, that is...if any such reasearch is available.
My 2 cents!
Louey
Anemones are one of my favorite reef creatures, after fish. That said, one should be amply prepared for more than just the immediate care of said creature.
Bubbletips that do well, get enormous, often divide and take over your tank. (I think I know a few people with testimonials to that..) I had to move mine from the 155g reef, and buy them new lights......
My sebae is gigantic and I am literally moving rock away to accomodate it's huge oral disc. Only tonite, I am really starting to wonder if I can provide for this magnificent anemone, which started out as a white, terrified, sulking creature.
My absolute favorite, still, is the LTA, who I have had about three years. It is an incredible anemone for someone who takes the time to learn and has a suitable environment to keep one. It stays in one spot (sand bed - MH light), looks incredible, and has hosted many different clownfish for me. My current ocellaris make the sebae their main home, but vacation every few hours in the LTA.
Bubbletips that do well, get enormous, often divide and take over your tank. (I think I know a few people with testimonials to that..) I had to move mine from the 155g reef, and buy them new lights......
My sebae is gigantic and I am literally moving rock away to accomodate it's huge oral disc. Only tonite, I am really starting to wonder if I can provide for this magnificent anemone, which started out as a white, terrified, sulking creature.
My absolute favorite, still, is the LTA, who I have had about three years. It is an incredible anemone for someone who takes the time to learn and has a suitable environment to keep one. It stays in one spot (sand bed - MH light), looks incredible, and has hosted many different clownfish for me. My current ocellaris make the sebae their main home, but vacation every few hours in the LTA.
tank specs
180 gal reef ready
PM skimmer
PM calc reactor
chiller
60 gallon sump
2 110w white actinic
2 110w blue actinic
3 250w MH
400 lbs live rock
4 in sand bed
tank has been up & running for 14 months
water parameters are all excellent
After reading post I guess I'll back off anemoe(sp) and go with plate
180 gal reef ready
PM skimmer
PM calc reactor
chiller
60 gallon sump
2 110w white actinic
2 110w blue actinic
3 250w MH
400 lbs live rock
4 in sand bed
tank has been up & running for 14 months
water parameters are all excellent
After reading post I guess I'll back off anemoe(sp) and go with plate
Louey, gotta disagree with you.
"Corals don't move around, don't have to be fed, and are much hardier."
Corals DO need to be fed; daily, just like an anemone.
"Many anemone's die needlessly due to their feeding requirements not being met, insufficeint lighting, or poor water quality."
If you're successfully keeping corals you should already have good water quality and sufficient lighting. As far as anemones go, feeding is more important than high intensity lighting anyway.
"Many hobbiest buy them without doing the proper research on their care. Anemones also move around to where they want to be, not where you want them to be. The back side off an anemone on the front and center of your aquarium is not very pretty!"
Ok, I'll agree with these points.
"This number was pulled directly out of my rear end .."
No comment. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Steve
8{I
"Corals don't move around, don't have to be fed, and are much hardier."
Corals DO need to be fed; daily, just like an anemone.
"Many anemone's die needlessly due to their feeding requirements not being met, insufficeint lighting, or poor water quality."
If you're successfully keeping corals you should already have good water quality and sufficient lighting. As far as anemones go, feeding is more important than high intensity lighting anyway.
"Many hobbiest buy them without doing the proper research on their care. Anemones also move around to where they want to be, not where you want them to be. The back side off an anemone on the front and center of your aquarium is not very pretty!"
Ok, I'll agree with these points.
"This number was pulled directly out of my rear end .."
No comment. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Steve
8{I
SteveP,
I've never fed my corals, they are filter feeder and soak up trace elements from the water. That's it! MOST corals do not HAVE to be fed. ALL anemones require real daily feeding, do they not? I have never owned one, but I thought they required daily feeding of like chopped up shrimp ot something like that. I thought they have to be target fed? If I am wrong here, please correct me!
Louey
I feed my anemone 2-3 times a week, usually a whole silverside or frozen krill. I've had it for almost a year now and it's in great shape. The Tomato clown it hosts also feeds it.
Very few corals we keep, except for Xenia and photosynthetic gorgonians (I can probably be corrected here) require some kind of feeding. Absorbing trace elements isn't filter feeding, btw. If you're putting in ANY kind of food, not additives, you're corals are probably eating it. I'd wager if you target fed your corals for a month you'd definitely see a change in them. Try it. It's not only good for your corals, it's cool to watch them do it! SPS's, LPS's, and some softies, especially mushrooms, can be active feeders.
Steve
8{I
Very few corals we keep, except for Xenia and photosynthetic gorgonians (I can probably be corrected here) require some kind of feeding. Absorbing trace elements isn't filter feeding, btw. If you're putting in ANY kind of food, not additives, you're corals are probably eating it. I'd wager if you target fed your corals for a month you'd definitely see a change in them. Try it. It's not only good for your corals, it's cool to watch them do it! SPS's, LPS's, and some softies, especially mushrooms, can be active feeders.
Steve
8{I
Louey":3qlqzzg2 said:
Couple of things to consider Louey. Most coral species have large tentacles to capture prey. A large proportion of the corals body is dedicated to capture and ingestion of prey. Why would an organism do that if it doesn't need to feed?
Ok guys, for clarification, I'm sure some of my corals, such as elegance, bubble, tongue, and wellsophilia, do eat some of the food that is put in the tank to feed the fish. Acroporas, montiporas, turbanias, and most SPS do not. If I added anemonies to my tank and continued to feed in the fashion, without spot feeding them, they would die - RIGHT?
Please don't lecture me that I should be spot feeding my corals. It isn't neccessary. There are plenty of articles to back this statement up! Of course, it probably doesn't do them any harm, so feed them if you are so inclined.
I have another thread going right now that is talking about removing my football-sized bubble that has outgrown the tank, without any special feeding.
My clownfish has developed a symbiotic relationship with my tounge coral. I think most clownfish would eventually accept a LPS or a sofite as a host. So you can still have the cool interaction between the clownfish and host. http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?...3&US=0&collid=55789079303&photoid=66789079303
Please don't lecture me that I should be spot feeding my corals. It isn't neccessary. There are plenty of articles to back this statement up! Of course, it probably doesn't do them any harm, so feed them if you are so inclined.
I have another thread going right now that is talking about removing my football-sized bubble that has outgrown the tank, without any special feeding.
My clownfish has developed a symbiotic relationship with my tounge coral. I think most clownfish would eventually accept a LPS or a sofite as a host. So you can still have the cool interaction between the clownfish and host. http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?...3&US=0&collid=55789079303&photoid=66789079303
If you want an anemone I would suggest a Bubbletip Anemone(BTA). BTAs are relatively easy to maintain and with the tank you describe,you should have no problems. If you do not want them to multiply,only feed once a month. I feed mine once a week or two and they multiply a few times a year. With the lighting you have I would place an anemone in the middle of the tank within a crevace. She should latch on and move to the edge for some light.
The other reason I suggest a BTA is that they are readily captive propigated and have the best survivorship of anemones in the home aquarium. With good water quality,adequate lighting,and feedings you should have no problems keeping a BTA.
Dr. Ron Shimek's Host Sea Anemone Secrets has some good insight and is relatively cheap. The Reef Aquarium Vol2 by Delbeek and Sprung is another great book with anemone keeping advice.
Good Luck
The other reason I suggest a BTA is that they are readily captive propigated and have the best survivorship of anemones in the home aquarium. With good water quality,adequate lighting,and feedings you should have no problems keeping a BTA.
Dr. Ron Shimek's Host Sea Anemone Secrets has some good insight and is relatively cheap. The Reef Aquarium Vol2 by Delbeek and Sprung is another great book with anemone keeping advice.
Good Luck
As Em and others said, some anemones move around like no tomorrow. I had a green carpet that literally climbed over my rocks split my Xenia from 1 nice area into 4 – 5 patches. It was cool though. The problem with my tank was that it was only a 33G so the carpet was to big for my tank. Took it back after 4 months for something else.
Will get another when I get a bigger tank that can handle a moving object.
Cheers,
Will get another when I get a bigger tank that can handle a moving object.
Cheers,
I can tell you from my experence that anemones need MH's and strong current. I have had mine for 10 months and it does not move around if you place them near the high current near surface. I feed mine every 2 days mixture of brine shrimp and flake. I really don't have any problems at all. I run 2 -175w MH w/ 2- 160w VHO's. Its maintains a full 12" across.
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