corals and anemones - both in one tank

[teevee]

i will be setting up a 150 gal in the next few weeks, and i plan to keep both corals and an anemone (BTA i expect). i have seen this done very succesfully in the past. my question is this: an anemone does better when added to an established tank. but when added to a tank, it has a tendency to move around until it finds a place it likes. if there are already corals in the tank, it may sting and kill them. so do i wait about two months before i add any inverts, and at that time add the anemone a few weeks before any corals, or do i add the anemone anytime after the corals, or do i basically add a few corals, going easy on the setup, until i add the anemone, at which time i go ahead and go nuts with the corals.

thought and experiences would be appreciated.

and before someone asks, the system will be running a 50 gal sump with refugium, berlin skimmer, DIY calcium reactor (a design succesfully used by several other locals), 4 maxijet 1200gph powerheads, 4" DSB, and dual 400w 10k MH lights.

 

[npaden]

I would personally say to only add an anenome to an established tank. I think it is also important to be an experienced reef keeper before adding an anenome. Lastly I would suggest trying to get a captively cloned BTA.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[reefNewbie]

to sum up, you cant get an anemone untill your title underneath your user name says "experienced anemone".

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[teevee]

naturally i wouldn't be running out and throwing an anemone in. i've already spent quite a while researching the hobby as a whole, asking questions on the boards, attending meetings of two local reefing clubs, spending time at local reefers houses. my system is essentially the design of three people, myself and two other hobbyists who have years of experience. i'm hoping with some careful research, i will fairly soon be at a level where i can make an attempt with an anemone. we'll see how it goes.

 

[JonF1]

NO ANEMONE FOR YOU!!! ... just kidding. I have both in my 150g with similar parameters. Added my anemone after 1 year or so and its doing great. It just started moving around. Guess you just have to be willing to risk it. Mine walked about 1/4 the way across the tank and is now underneath an overhang decinding where to go next. Has been there for 3 days. I've just cleared all corals out of his path and hope for the best. I've given him about a foot in every direction. He doesnt seem to move more quickly than that. He's a 12" fully expanded bta. So far so good. FWIW he must have travelled over a polyp colony on the way to where he is now and did not harm them. When I origianlly aclimated the anemone I placed him on a rock and put the rock in the middle of the sand and he clung to that rock for about a year until his recent exodus. At first he clung to the back and then i turned it around - he seemed content with the pair of maroons i had hosting in him there. i removed the maroons as they got too big and that's what seems to ahve motivated him to move around. would suggest keeping a bta with a maroon - much happier. i just got a tiny little maroon to replace my big ones and anemone already doing much b etter.

 

[EmilyB]

Hi Teev,

I know you have done a lot of homework.

I'd add the anemone first...of course not until the tank is very well aged...

My BTA's don't move....but did at first. The LTA is still a better reef choice IMO.

 

[koehler]

Hmm, I've got 3 anenome's in my 29g. Had one up until about 4 months ago. It split. Then while stupidly doing light deprivation (anti-algae) therapy, it disappeared.

Seriously, I thought it had been eaten, or maybe sucked into a powerjet.
After a week and a half, I found it, the size of apencil eraser, underneath a mushroom.

That was a good 2-3 months ago.

Just started feeding it silversides, and the original one split again a month ago. So now the little one (smaller than a dime) is growing arms again.


Sorry, off-topic. So far, I don't think they've harmed anything in my tank, polyps, mushrooms, a ocelleris clown, 5 damsels ( temporary ).

I read though that they really prefer rocks that have crevices into which they can wedge their foot. Both of my larger ones are on one particular rock that has some fairly deep crevices, so I guess it might be true.


And, I wish I'd know Damsels weren't just pretty fish, but territorial little buggers.... Gotta get that work aquarium set up fast now.

 

[reefann]

If you have experience add the anenome first and you know the tank is stable. If no previous experience with them add them later just keep its path clear.
jj
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[Anonymous]

i am not an "experienced" anemone keeper, but have had a reef tank for over five years now, so most of the real stupid mistakes are hopefully behind me, yet probably a long way to go

i just added a BTA last week to my tank fully stocked with corals. so far so good. it just moved once since putting it in and seems happy.

i arranged my tank around the new anemone once i was fairly sure it was done moving. it just so happened to be a good time to do such a thing.

good job researching and good luck!

 

[beerbaron]

i believe i was in your shoes a few years ago. i had done a ton of reasearch before begginning the purchases. but nothing can replace experience. imo you should wait, no matter how much you think you are prepared.

or do i basically add a few corals, going easy on the setup, until i add the anemone, at which time i go ahead and go nuts with the corals.

this is what i would do. get used to the setup and keeping more moderate species befor you go all out. it is easy to move a few corals for an anem.

good luck HTH
BB