bubble tip anemone

[dlux4life]

Hi Guys-
From what I understand, the bubble tip anemone is a relatively hardy species. This is going be the first anemone addition to my newly established reef tank due he fact that I would like to provide my two clowns a habitat to be comfortable. I have a 55 gallon (48 inch) long tank. My lighting is a power compact set up with 2 22" 65w 460/460 lamps and 2 22" 65w 700+ lamps. When all lamps are turned on i have a total of approximately 4.7 watts per gallon. Do you feel that lighting would be adiquite for a bubble tip anemone survive / thrive?
Does anyone have experience here housing a bubble tip? I am looking for any pointers if possible. Where do they like to be placed in the tank? Any particlur liking to strong currents?
Any information that you might be able to provide would be a great help!

 

[bulldog123]

That is probably enough light to survive but not thrive. The watts per gallon is a rule of thumb but not that accurate. PC lighting does not have to lumms (penetrating valve) that the t-5s have and the t-5s dont have what the mh have. But the bigger question would be is your tank established. Most would not recommed anything less than 6 months closer to a year. But I put mine in at about 2-3 months and it is out of control (tank was setup in DEC 08). BTA like the rock and will move around until its finds a good home. Mine move for about 2 days and has not moved again. Not to say it wont.
Check into the different lighting and the ability to penetrate. There are many charts out there to explain it. It is rather confusing.

 

[meowzer]

my newly established reef tank
What do you mean by that statement? How old is your tank?
Anemones need established tanks...at LEAST 6 months old. I can also tell you that I have tried to keep bta's and other type of anemones under pc's and they all died...I now have metal halides and a beautiful thriving bta.

 

[dlux4life]

I didn't realize that BTA's need an established tank. My tank is still going through the initial cycling right now, only about a month old. My purpose for the questions was more from a planning perspective.
It deffeninantly seems as if the tank is too new in order to house a BTA at this point. Seeing as PC's do not have the ability pentrate water to the extent of T5's of MH's, I will have to keep my selections limited to lower light corals and probably positioning the BTA (when the tank is more established) towards the upper portion of the tank (if it decides to stay there is another thing).
Thanks for the help / input!!

 

[nycbob]

anemones need a matured tank to thrive. 2-3 months old is very new. the chance of a bta surviving under power compact lighting plus new setup is very slim. wait a few more months, and ur success rate will increase a bit.

 

[marchingbandjs]

Soooo... I just got a bubble tip anemone for my almost 2 month tank. And i have been scolded by everyone on here. But i have done the work to keep it. I do 5g water changes once a week. Water parameters are PERFECT. I give him a lil shrimp, he nibbles (or so i think) but doesn't eat much. My fish don't really host, but i have seen them feed him.
My set up though has 65 gallons of filtration for a 38 gallon tank with maybe 29 gallons after displacement, and then a 65 gallon Protein skimmer. But i keep my tank perfect, or as much as i can. It basically has 130 gallons of filtration for 29 gallons of water. I think its to much but ya.
Mine is thriving. Be careful with lighting. I get 4.5 watts with my lunar aqualights, and i run 10ks for around 10 hours. He likes it but near the end it seems like he is getting burned out and starts to shrivel then i flip on actinic and then moonlights and 1 hour later he is spread out again. I'm going to change it to 8 hours a day for 10ks.
I would urge you to .... to... not get him. If your tank is a couple months old and you have the load, and the protection i would say get him. (prob gonna get yelled at for saying that). Mine hasn't really done bad at all. For the first 2 days he was terrible. This was because of stress. He was kept in Low lighting at the fish store, and when i put him in the 10ks he hated it and crawled UNDER the rock. but now he is high on the rock and loving life.
My experience was good, but i would have waiting a little longer for mine. So if your tank doesn't have the qualifications, and you don't wanna do the work, then hold off for a few months.