natural sunlight

[72gallon]

I just bought an an Pink Tip Haitian Anemone from SWF. I also resently upgraded my 72 gallon tank from a 40 watt light to 160 watt light to support anemones...My tank is right next to a window that I keep the blinds closed all the time, but I was wondering that if I should open them a few hours a day? I understand that natural sunlight is the best but can cause alge problems...Any thoughts?

 

[jeepboy]

I've thought of using sunlight also, but worry that it would heat the tank too much.

 

[elpezgrande]

160 on a 72 is still pretty low light, barely 2 watts per gallon. You really should get more light if you can, but if you can't I would definitely use the sun since it's available. Because of the placement of my tank, my LTA gets "woken up" each morning by about an hour of sunlight before the tank lights come on and it seems to like it. I've also seen a thread or two on this board where people have tanks with anemones that get sunlight and report it as a positive thing also. The main thing is to keep an eye on the temperature so the tank doesn't get too hot like Jeepboy mentioned. Also, since your lighting level is not optimal for anemones, make sure it gets fed a few times a week. I feed my LTA 1 or 2 nickel sized chunks of shrimp or scallop that have been soaked in zoe and garlic twice a week.

 

[elpezgrande]

This was implied in my previous post, but since it is very important I thought it was worth another post. Don't forget to close the blinds

Depending on how much sunlight you get in that room, if you leave them open all day you might come home to a dead tank during the summer.

 

[72gallon]

elpezgrande
Thanks for the info...I might try just a few hours of natural sunlight a day with the light on as well...About feeding the Anemone. I have frozen cubes that I normally chop up and sprinkle in...should I cut one up an purposely feed it? I also use a frozen plankton type food that my local fish store has. It breaks up into very small food...the owner told me that it is good for live rock.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by 72gallon
I just bought an an Pink Tip Haitian Anemone from SWF. I also resently upgraded my 72 gallon tank from a 40 watt light to 160 watt light to support anemones...My tank is right next to a window that I keep the blinds closed all the time, but I was wondering that if I should open them a few hours a day? I understand that natural sunlight is the best but can cause alge problems...Any thoughts?

Gee what a new thought use sunlight.
The only reason we use artificial lights is so we can position the aquarium without regard to where the windows are. And we can see the livestock at night also.
Absolutely no problem with using sunlight in aquariums. I would make sure you have thriving plant growth as sunlight can cause a plant explosion. But then that can happen with artificialy lights anyway.
So if the water starts turning cloudy and especially green then just cut back on the sun light. You tank will thrive with naturall sunlight.

 

[elpezgrande]

As far as the feeding goes they will take almost anything, infact this morning my LTA swiped a few pellets that were meant for my shrimp. You can go with the food from the fish store, just make sure it gets some. I find it easier to use frozen seafood from the grocery store. I took a few uncooked shrimps and some small scallops, let them defrost and cut them up into chunks about the size of the anemone's mouth. I then soak them in Zoe and Garlic extract (beneficial vitamin and mineral supplements you can get from here or the LFS) in the refridgerator overnight then they go back in the freezer. I break off a chunk and defrost it at room temperature for about half an hour before dropping it on my anemone. Some people seem to think overfeeding anemones can be a problem, so I wouldn't do it more than 2 or 3 times a week.

 

[steel]

All i feed my mine is some shrimp when i feed my SF eel i put some shrimp in some ZOE and then chop it up and put it in the tank and drop it on the mouth and it closes up on it, next day its gone and it is open all they wayand looking really good so i feed mine about 3 time a week
Sun. Wed. Sat.
Travis