Anemone expert on ritteri????

[brigmanj]

Who is the resident anemone expert??? I need some info about a ritteri (Heteractis magnifica) anemone. Or at least anyone that can help me. I found what looks like to be a real nice specimen in tampa fl that was bright purple and had pink and yellow tips on it and was the size of a basketball. The guy there told me that he would stay away from them. This is the guy at the fish store telling me this. I'm thinking isn't he soppossed to be selling me. Anyway. He told me that they just dont do well in the aquarium and usually die in a week or two. Anyone out there had any luck with these?

 

[remora23]

i have seen one in the lfs before and it looked to be doing fine. it had a perc in it and a anemone crab. i cam back a week later to buy it and it was already sold.(i have heard that type of anemone can host any type of clown fish)

 

[thomas712]

Heteractis magnifica
Considered a very difficult species to take care of, high maintenance. If this is a first anemone then I suggest you get some experience with an easier anemone like the Bubble tip anemone first.
With the magnifica you will only be able to have long term success with Metal halide lighting in order to sustain it. Supplimenting the MH with actinics is also good. However the fluorescent lighting just does not penetrate enough for this particular anemone unless you have it in the top 6-10 inches of the water column under the fluorescent lights.
I see that you have 3 MH and PC lights, not bad. I would personally choose the 10k MH bulbs.
I would also make sure that you have a good strong current hitting this type of anemone. They love strong current. I would calculate your tank turnover rate with this type of anemone, they can be aggressive but can also fall prey to other corals and chemical warfare.
I would consider anyone keeping this anemone for a year successful.
You could make this work with that lighting. These are a very nice anemone but way to many of them wind up on death row in most aquariums. Keep the water quality excellent and you might be able to make a go of it.
What is in your fuge? Macro’s, DSB? Water parameters in check? How about other filtration? Skimmer?
Sounds like it could be a nice system.
I've never kept this type but have been keeping BTA's for over 4 years.
Thomas

 

[brigmanj]

Thomas 712
Yeah, I have the 10k BLV bulbs, which I was told that they are a division of usiuo. I upgraded and got the metal halides after a previous column about my blue carpet had suggested it.
I run two pumps in my system. Both lifegards a 4000 1017gph and the 6000 1506 gph and my refugium is right behind the tnk at the same level so I dot lose to much from the height factor. I had originally built my stand for alot bigger tank. The 4000 goes through the refugium and the 6000 just goes to circulate the water. As far as protein skimmers, I just have a little 150 seaclone on the right side of the fuge, and a sea systems that I had left over from a discus tank on the sump side. No calcium reactor or anything like that. I do run a lifegard fludized bed filter 300, Emporer 400 that I keep on the back of the fuge, and of course the uv sterlizer. The fuge has calupera, shaving brush, live rock, and bunch of blue leg hermits.
The water quality since I got the refugium has been great. lowest levels of nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and ph is stable. One thing though the kh is very high about 540. It has never gone below that.
I just lost my blue carpet because of a rip in his side that I noticed. I think it was from the maroon clown that was always rough with him. That is why I'm looking for a new anemone and then I saw this ritteri and wanted info on it. I didnt want to buy him and not be prepared to keep him healthy.
Do you have any suggestions about my setup?

 

[thomas712]

No suggestions other than to double check for any dead spots in the tank that might need more flow.
Like you my 55 gallon filtration tank is behind my display, mine is simply gravety fed and just a few inches below my main tank water level. Its only been up since October when I was running trates at 50 or so. Now they are almost reading 0.
I just trimmed some of the chaetomorphia today and sent it packing to my LFS.
This is exciting, you sound like you have a really good system. I say go for the anemone you want. When healthy the can look spectacular.
Oh and I want pics when you get it :yes:

 

[brigmanj]

Yeah the dead spots is something I'm working on. I've been looking at the lifegard custom flo system and the scwd that I have seen. I currently have a couple eheim spray bars directing the water in 4 different ways with each one. I've already called them about the ritteri, but they cant put a hold on it so I'm going to make the 3 hour trip to go get it this weekend hopefully.