Will this support an anemone?

brandino83

New Member
Will my light support an anemone? I have 4 (54W) bulbs with individual reflectors?
If so what types? My tank is getting close to it's 1st B-Day and thought I would do some research to see if I could have one.
Oh-yeah it's a 55 gallon with 2 clowns 60 LBS of LR, and 60LBS of LS
THANKS!!
 

spanko

Active Member
Probably need more info. Is the 54 watts for each bulb? Are they T5's or PC's? How big is the tank they ar over? How long are th bulbs - tank?
 

brandino83

New Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2477203
Probably need more info. Is the 54 watts for each bulb? Are they T5's or PC's? How big is the tank they ar over? How long are th bulbs - tank?
Sorry, I should have been more specific. 54watts for each bulb, they are t5's, the tank is 48 in. long...It's a retrofitted light. 2 of the bulbs i know for sure are TRU 54w 10,000 (if that makes any sense) and i'm almost positive the other 2 are Gie[something] I cant remember how it's spelled they say 54W.
 

spanko

Active Member
Probably could keep a nem. If it were me I would look for a RBTA or a GBTA. Maybe others will chime in here though.
 

perfectdark

Active Member
Geissman? I am assuming you are referring too...but yes if they are t-5's HO with individual reflectors on a std 55 gal tank you will be fine with an anemone. But not all types, some require even higher light than you have so like what was stated a BTA is probably your best bet.
 

brandino83

New Member
Cool! My LFS told me I could keep a GBT, but I take everything they tell me with a grain of salt and come home and research everything first.
If I couldn't have a BT, could i have a Tube Anemone - I was thinking either lavander or green. My fiancee would love the Lavander.
 

spanko

Active Member
Here are some excerpts from an article by Robert Toonen entitled Aquarium Invertabrates. Google for th efull article, Interesting reading. The following is only a taste please go read the entire article. Tube anemones are not anemones by the way.
Tube anemones can be an interesting and very attractive addition to a reef tank if the proper conditions exist. However, that last part 'if proper conditions exist' is critical, and more often than not, the conditions preferred by tube anemones are not those maintained in our home aquaria.
These animals live with their tubes buried deeply in fine sands and muds. If you have a bare-bottom tank, or one with either a thin bed or coarse (rice-grain size or greater) gravel, these animals will not be able to find a spot that suits them and will most likely perish in short order in your aquarium. In the wild, the burrows of large animals can extend a couple of meters, so a sandbed that is only a couple of inches deep is just not going to cut it for these animals. In cases where I am worried about the depth of the sandbed for a tube anemone, I make an artificial burrow for them. Simply cut a section of PVC pipe into which you can stick the animal's tube and fill the pipe around the tube with sand.
Finally, because they are nocturnal, they are obviously not photosynthetic, so they do not care about the lighting in your tank. Given that, they will also prefer an area that is shaded from direct light and they do not tend to thrive in areas of intense flow.
 

brandino83

New Member
Originally Posted by PerfectDark
http:///forum/post/2477247
Geissman? I am assuming you are referring too...but yes if they are t-5's HO with individual reflectors on a std 55 gal tank you will be fine with an anemone. But not all types, some require even higher light than you have so like what was stated a BTA is probably your best bet.

Yeah! Those are the ones....should I change all 4 bulbs to Geissman?
 

brandino83

New Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2477260
Here are some excerpts from an article by Robert Toonen entitled Aquarium Invertabrates. Google for th efull article, Interesting reading. The following is only a taste please go read the entire article. Tube anemones are not anemones by the way.
Tube anemones can be an interesting and very attractive addition to a reef tank if the proper conditions exist. However, that last part 'if proper conditions exist' is critical, and more often than not, the conditions preferred by tube anemones are not those maintained in our home aquaria.
These animals live with their tubes buried deeply in fine sands and muds. If you have a bare-bottom tank, or one with either a thin bed or coarse (rice-grain size or greater) gravel, these animals will not be able to find a spot that suits them and will most likely perish in short order in your aquarium. In the wild, the burrows of large animals can extend a couple of meters, so a sandbed that is only a couple of inches deep is just not going to cut it for these animals. In cases where I am worried about the depth of the sandbed for a tube anemone, I make an artificial burrow for them. Simply cut a section of PVC pipe into which you can stick the animal's tube and fill the pipe around the tube with sand.
Finally, because they are nocturnal, they are obviously not photosynthetic, so they do not care about the lighting in your tank. Given that, they will also prefer an area that is shaded from direct light and they do not tend to thrive in areas of intense flow.
Fantastic article!!! I think I'll be staying away from that Anemone. Or well non-anemone! lol I think I'll research GBT for a couple of weeks before making major dive
 

brandino83

New Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2477234
Probably could keep a nem. If it were me I would look for a RBTA or a GBTA. Maybe others will chime in here though.
I think I'll look at getting a GBT...
I have some coral already in my tank (mushrooms, Zoas...just softies) could the nem harm any of them?
 

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by Brandino83
http:///forum/post/2477671
I think I'll look at getting a GBT...
I have some coral already in my tank (mushrooms, Zoas...just softies) could the nem harm any of them?
Yes most definatly. General rule to accept before buying an anemone is, An anemone of any species is not to be considered reef safe. However a lot of people roll the dice and try it anyway.
 
Originally Posted by PerfectDark
http:///forum/post/2478072
Yes most definatly. General rule to accept before buying an anemone is, An anemone of any species is not to be considered reef safe. However a lot of people roll the dice and try it anyway.

wow..sounds like he should just set up a whole seperate tank...
 

perfectdark

Active Member
The misconception seems to be that because we see these animals co-existing on coral reefs as pictures depict them that they are safe in our aquariums. This is not true, for the simple fact that they are mobile, and their environment is restrained by glass walls. So they tend to trample, suffocate and sting nearby corals when attempting to find a location suitable for them. Its just a precaution to any potential anemone owners, so that they are not suprised should this happen. Anemones are not reef safe and should be kept with caution. However it is done quite frequently and many times without issues.
 

spanko

Active Member
You know a whole separate tank is not a bad idea. You could do a pile of rock in the middle and fanning out a bit with nothing around it but sand all around the edges, maybe some shaving brush plants or other non invasive type macro algae and a couple of clowns. I bet you could get the BTA to anchor in a spot where he did very little moving then and could put some Zoas and Shrooms around the edges of the rockwork. A sort of sand flat biotipe. could look real nice.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
I was lucky when I got mine that when it moved around, it didn't damage any coral. Well it did brush by my green polyps and damaged that side a little, but that was it. Now it's found a good spot and it's been there for over a month.
I say if you want an anemone, go for it. Just be aware of the dangers and if you see it moving in a direction, move any corals in its path out of the way. The anemone won't move constantly. Initially it will look for a shaded spot and will stay there until it gets used to your lights. Then it will move once more to a brigther area. After that it should stay put as long as you don't change your flow or lights.
 
I think im interested in having an anemone....theres quite a few at my LFS, but plan to research for a few weeks before jumping in and buying. How long does it usually take anemones to finally find their home?
 
R

rcreations

Guest
Mine stayed in the shade for about 2 weeks, then it came out and found its spot.
 

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by amyandbrandon2
http:///forum/post/2478752
I think im interested in having an anemone....theres quite a few at my LFS, but plan to research for a few weeks before jumping in and buying. How long does it usually take anemones to finally find their home?
Depends on what kind of anemone and what type of lighting you have. It can take as little as an hour to as long as a couple of weeks or longer, there is no set time.
 

scopus tang

Active Member
Nor do they always work it out for themselves - I know of at least two people here on the board who had anemonies crawl off or get sucked or blown off under a entire island of LR and refuse to come back out into the light. Ultimate result = dead anemonie. I know someone who has tried at least 8 times to get anemonies to take hold within a very stable, aged system without any success yet. Personally I've found that individual tanks are a great way to keep these critters, and if you are only keeping one, it doesn't even have to be a large tank.
 
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