min lighting for anemone
- Thread starter drea
- Start date
jerthunter
Active Member
Well I would say that you would need a LOT more lighting. I have wanted an anemone in my tank but everything I've read makes me realize that I do not have near enough light.
murph145
Active Member
well if u had a shallow tank i would say you could get away with power compact or vho bulbs....
since your tank is tall you would most likely need metal halide or a metal halide PC combo
i have kept 5 anemones in my reef tank and currently have 2 .... i have only had one die and it was a sebae which i kept under poor lighting before i really knew how much lighting they need .... the other were 2 LTA and 2 RBTA's (Long Tentacle Anemone & Rose Bubble Tip Anemone) all have done very well and have grown alot bigger i had to part with one LTA and one RBTA since they were taking up too much room and i wanted more of a coral reef tank and they were stinging near by corals....
anyways i would highly recommend getting as much lighting over your tank as possible and waiting a minimum of 4-6 months after your tank has cycled before considering one.... they need an established aquarium to do well in... some might say thats not even long enough but if u keep up on maintenance and your water is good then you can try one....
but id recommend stayin away from sebaes....
since your tank is tall you would most likely need metal halide or a metal halide PC combo
i have kept 5 anemones in my reef tank and currently have 2 .... i have only had one die and it was a sebae which i kept under poor lighting before i really knew how much lighting they need .... the other were 2 LTA and 2 RBTA's (Long Tentacle Anemone & Rose Bubble Tip Anemone) all have done very well and have grown alot bigger i had to part with one LTA and one RBTA since they were taking up too much room and i wanted more of a coral reef tank and they were stinging near by corals....
anyways i would highly recommend getting as much lighting over your tank as possible and waiting a minimum of 4-6 months after your tank has cycled before considering one.... they need an established aquarium to do well in... some might say thats not even long enough but if u keep up on maintenance and your water is good then you can try one....
but id recommend stayin away from sebaes....
hot883
Active Member
I set up my 55gallon 29-30 June. I added a Long Tentacle Anemone last month and it has doubled in size since I got it. I feed it every 3 days, 1/3 piece of raw shrimp which he devours and makes dissappear in about 15 seconds. I have 260 w PC's and am flowing around 1,100 gph with him sitting on the bottom. I also do a 7 gallon water change every Thursday religiously. He has moved once, his colors are very vibrant ,but seems very happy.
You definately need good lighting. and let the tank mature some more. Good luck
You definately need good lighting. and let the tank mature some more. Good luck
mudplayerx
Active Member
Beth is right on the money. Metal Halide before anemone. Anything less and the anemone is more than likely going to get smaller and smaller until one day it just dissapears or disintegrates.
Here is a survey done a couple of years ago on healthy anemones:
2003 Anemone Survey
Here is a survey done a couple of years ago on healthy anemones:
2003 Anemone Survey
drea
Active Member
thats what i was thinking too, since the dam thing is so tall.... i'm not in a rush to do it, cause the tank is at my gf's house (but I do all the work, she just feeds them
the tanks been up for about 4 months doing really well... but this is def something that will have to wait....
thanx for the help :happyfish
the tanks been up for about 4 months doing really well... but this is def something that will have to wait....
thanx for the help :happyfish
hagfish
Active Member
Another option is to get a tube anemone. They are not photosynthetic. They come in many colors, some of which are very vibrant. Don't expect them to host a clown though. Some people think these creatures are ravenous murdering beasts, but I don't believe it for a second. Mine won't accept big food usually and it scares pretty easily when a fish or shrimp touch it. I did have a Yellow watchman goby swim straight into its grasp once, but he got out right away.
diane4
Member
Interesting feedback about the Metal Halid lights as a requirement for anemones.
My favorite reef animals are anemones, any anemone - I love them. Unfortunately, people do say they are touchy to keep.
I have a LTA, BTA, Condy, Saeba and they are under a Coralife Aqualight lunar light system, 196 wats in a 50 gallon tank. I judge needs of my animals based on how they look and what I read.
For the animals that live in the center of the tank, they are doing well and have not moved from their spot. They are thriving, rich color and are happy.
However, some of the inhabitants that are near the outer sides of the tank are not getting enough light and I order another 96 watt strip light to provide more light coverage.
I haven't heard before that metal halide is required for anemones, however they are for some animals such as clams and others.
I think if you can get between the 5-6 watts per gallon, your ok.
Watch how your animals are acting and see if they move. I know from my experience that most of my anemones do not like a lot of current, they like some movement, but not super strong.
I would agree that saeba's are one of the more delicate anemones, I have never seen one in a lfs that was larger than a 1/2 dollar at best, not sure why and they are always pure white. I think they are stressed out and either removed to soon or maybe they shoudln't be kept at all.
My BTA is doing extreemly well, is healthy. Deflates and inflates daily, has grown and eats regularly. He is also about 10 inches away from the top surface of the tank and in the center so he is getting most of the light. I will be taking better care of my guys that are not as close to the center with the second light strip I will be getting.
So far, I haven't seen the need for metal halid lights in my tank. I might be ok because I do have alot of rock in there and animals are raised about 5 inches and in some places more, from the floor.
My favorite reef animals are anemones, any anemone - I love them. Unfortunately, people do say they are touchy to keep.
I have a LTA, BTA, Condy, Saeba and they are under a Coralife Aqualight lunar light system, 196 wats in a 50 gallon tank. I judge needs of my animals based on how they look and what I read.
For the animals that live in the center of the tank, they are doing well and have not moved from their spot. They are thriving, rich color and are happy.
However, some of the inhabitants that are near the outer sides of the tank are not getting enough light and I order another 96 watt strip light to provide more light coverage.
I haven't heard before that metal halide is required for anemones, however they are for some animals such as clams and others.
I think if you can get between the 5-6 watts per gallon, your ok.
Watch how your animals are acting and see if they move. I know from my experience that most of my anemones do not like a lot of current, they like some movement, but not super strong.
I would agree that saeba's are one of the more delicate anemones, I have never seen one in a lfs that was larger than a 1/2 dollar at best, not sure why and they are always pure white. I think they are stressed out and either removed to soon or maybe they shoudln't be kept at all.
My BTA is doing extreemly well, is healthy. Deflates and inflates daily, has grown and eats regularly. He is also about 10 inches away from the top surface of the tank and in the center so he is getting most of the light. I will be taking better care of my guys that are not as close to the center with the second light strip I will be getting.
So far, I haven't seen the need for metal halid lights in my tank. I might be ok because I do have alot of rock in there and animals are raised about 5 inches and in some places more, from the floor.
hagfish
Active Member
BTW, I have read Ron Schimek (sp?) say that much of the lighting debate on anemone's is myth and that they can live almost totally on feedings alone. That doesn't get mentioned much on here, possibly because he is a moderator on a competing message board. But it sounds like he really knows what he is talking about. I believe he may have said the lighting would make it easier though. He also said that nearly everyone underfeed's their anemone's. All that said, I keep my anemone under metal halides mixed with pc actinics.
Waitin' for a flamin'.
Waitin' for a flamin'.
mudplayerx
Active Member
Anemones will live under lighting less intense than mh, but generally not more than two years. Considering that anemones are pretty much immortal in the wild, that is pretty telling.
diane4
Member
Originally Posted by hagfish
BTW, I have read Ron Schimek (sp?) say that much of the lighting debate on anemone's is myth and that they can live almost totally on feedings alone. That doesn't get mentioned much on here, possibly because he is a moderator on a competing message board. But it sounds like he really knows what he is talking about. I believe he may have said the lighting would make it easier though. He also said that nearly everyone underfeed's their anemone's. All that said, I keep my anemone under metal halides mixed with pc actinics.
Waitin' for a flamin'.
Hi Hagfish - At last - someone else that feels that anemones are underfed. I feed my a small portion of food every day and keep a clean tank.
All of my anemone's do not like to strong of current, in fact they prefer rather subdued current. They reach for the light AND they eat food everyday.
BTW, I have read Ron Schimek (sp?) say that much of the lighting debate on anemone's is myth and that they can live almost totally on feedings alone. That doesn't get mentioned much on here, possibly because he is a moderator on a competing message board. But it sounds like he really knows what he is talking about. I believe he may have said the lighting would make it easier though. He also said that nearly everyone underfeed's their anemone's. All that said, I keep my anemone under metal halides mixed with pc actinics.
Waitin' for a flamin'.
Hi Hagfish - At last - someone else that feels that anemones are underfed. I feed my a small portion of food every day and keep a clean tank.
All of my anemone's do not like to strong of current, in fact they prefer rather subdued current. They reach for the light AND they eat food everyday.
diane4
Member
If Metal Halide lights are a must for anemones, than can someone explain to me why every pet store I go into does not have MH over the anemones? In fact, the current is low and there is normal PC lighting.
My lfs said MH are definately not a must have for anemone's - they said in fact, it will burn them. It is too much.
My lfs said MH are definately not a must have for anemone's - they said in fact, it will burn them. It is too much.
1968oldsma
Member
the way i look at it if you dont "think" you have enough then you probably dont lol anemones need a lot of light and great water or they will not be happy.
sin
Member
Originally Posted by hagfish
BTW, I have read Ron Schimek (sp?) say that much of the lighting debate on anemone's is myth and that they can live almost totally on feedings alone. That doesn't get mentioned much on here, possibly because he is a moderator on a competing message board. But it sounds like he really knows what he is talking about. I believe he may have said the lighting would make it easier though. He also said that nearly everyone underfeed's their anemone's. All that said, I keep my anemone under metal halides mixed with pc actinics.
Waitin' for a flamin'.
I'm with hagfish. I was told when i bought my florida condi anemone that if i did not have a lot of lighting that feeding it meaty foods will do
BTW, I have read Ron Schimek (sp?) say that much of the lighting debate on anemone's is myth and that they can live almost totally on feedings alone. That doesn't get mentioned much on here, possibly because he is a moderator on a competing message board. But it sounds like he really knows what he is talking about. I believe he may have said the lighting would make it easier though. He also said that nearly everyone underfeed's their anemone's. All that said, I keep my anemone under metal halides mixed with pc actinics.
Waitin' for a flamin'.
I'm with hagfish. I was told when i bought my florida condi anemone that if i did not have a lot of lighting that feeding it meaty foods will do
murph145
Active Member
i think condis need the least lighting... i would say you could be fine with PC or VHO bulbs for sure but just try to get around 4 watts per gallon with a stable tank and you should be fine.... i would stay way from sebaes though they seem more delicate than lets say a condi or a long tentacle or bubble
bret61081
Member
I have a huge BTA and it is doing great in my take with the coralife 65Wx4s. I had a condi too till it moved and got sucked in the powerhead. but I've had my BTA since mid april and it has done great. Almost lost it during the hurricane but once I got it back in my tank after a few water cahnges its doing great again. I feed it 2-3 times a week...silversides and fresh shrimp...so IMO they can be kept with PCs as long as they aget plenty of light