Anemones being hard to keep? Why aren't mine

[nilestr]

I have three anemones in my 29 gallon tank. I have no skimmer, just two powerheads 201s, a big penguin hang on the back, 60 lbs LR, and 20 lbs LS. My lighting is truly pitiful (two normal freshwater hoods for 20gal tanks) All three anemones are doing great and have been doing great since I got them 8 months ago. I feed them about 1-2 times a week with chunks of frozen shrimp.

Everyone says you need lots of light too? I tried to use a nicer compact Florescent with two 65 watt bulbs and they just shrunk and hid themselves under the rock ledges all day. When I went back to the crappy lights they all came out and blew back up again. This just seems so backwards from everything I read. What is the deal???

Water Params are always Ammonia - 0, Nitrite - 0, Nitrate 0-5. Also I don't do water changes ever. Just top it off with more DI water.

I don't want to come across as bragging. I really am curious why my tank seems so backwards from everyone else's.

 

[Dewman]

What kind of anemones do you have?
Condy's don't require tons of light, some other atlantic anemones don't either. It just all depends on how much xooanthellae(sp?) they contain.

I'm not sure whether this one requires tons of light or not, but I provide it with plenty... I got it on some Florida cultured live rock.. I believe it is a rock anemone. Haven't had a chance to identify it yet...

Anyone want to take a stab?

I thought it was Phymanthus crucifer, but I've never seen one this color..
I have another one just like it with white bubbly tenticles and white pin stripes.

 

[EmilyB]

Pics nilstir? Let's see how they compare to anemones kept under good light.

I've given up on your "not available pics" Dewman.... :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Dewman

i've had a few anemones like that from when 'wild'florida rock was still available (legally)-and i belive that what you have is what's commonly reffered to as the 'rock' or 'flower' anemones.i think there is a wide variation of color pattern in that 'family', and that color is not necessarily a criteria for species determination.i've seen them ranging from intensely patterned green/white 'zebra' stripes-to shades of 3 diff. colors,to pale off yellow, and gray and white.

there was also slight variation in the tentacle grouping-some had more tentacles on the oral disc than others, some only had them on the outer edge, and some had 'warty' tentacles as well.

 

[Anonymous]

here's a bad pic(to the left of the overflow) of my green and white

 

[wombat1]

Considering that some anemones can live centuries in the wild, 8 months is not exactly a long time. I kept a sebae anemone (big mistake, as I later found out) for a year and a half before it finally died. It sounds like you might have condys. Mine responded to brighter light by shrinking, it's a typical response when light shocked.

 

[nilestr]

I think that two of them are Flower Anemones. That might explain why they are easier to keep. The other one is about 6 inches long and 8 inches wide when extended. It is bright pink/purple with long tentacles.

 

[chromeweasel]

I don't think currect aquariests are quite as negative about keeping anemones as they were just a year or two ago. Too many people have been keeping anemones with success lately. You sound like you've been lucky, but you obviously have pristine water and you feed real food to your anemones. In my experience that's more important that light.

I've had luck with bubbletips and I find that they don't want as much light as people have suggested on these boards. I have more light than you do: about 140 watts PCs on a 45 gallon. But my bubbletips actively seek out shelter from the light. I've put them high in the tank and they have consistanly moved lower and settled under ledges where they get considerable shade.

I've only kept bubbletips, but in my experience they are more hardy than many corals and much less demading. The one thing I've noticed is how big a difference feeding makes. My first BTA hung around for a month or two and seemed just OK until I got it eating fresh scallops. Once it accepted them it really took off, doubling in size within the next few months. I'd say that's the key. I'd bet I could keep all my BTAs with half the light I have now as long as I fed them regularly.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

I think that two of them are Flower Anemones. That might explain why they are easier to keep. The other one is about 6 inches long and 8 inches wide when extended. It is bright pink/purple with long tentacles.

I think you don't have any host anemone. You have an Atlantic anemone and several of the 'flower anemone'. These are not very demanding in requirement.
Minh Nguyen

 

[Anonymous]

Glad you posted about your Anemones. I am highly considering a BTA or a Condy. My 29 has a 55w compact. Interesting about the water change. I have not done one in two months now and I still have 0 nitrates. I hesitate to say this but I have been topping off with my Well Water without any problems. Just keep forgettin to pick up some distilled water. LOL My purple coraline is spreading very quickly from rock to rock. I do have a couple stalks left of Aiptasia still in the tank. My peppermint shrimp seem to be holding it down to an acceptable level. I must admit I like those two stalks that remain. One of them is about an inch long and maybe a half inch in diameter. Have Fun!

 

[Dewman]

Bang Bang,
Try to steer clear of the Condy if possible. Take it from me.
They get huge. Mine started off in my 29 and when I moved him to my 75, the disk was almost 8 inches across and the tenticles were over a foot. I cannot have anything withing reach of him.
The only Clown I have ever heard sucessfully host in one, is the Clarkii and I was lucky enough to find one. He is pretty big though.
I am about to get rid of both of them though. I want more flower anemones. They don't move around as much.

Here's a pic of my condy... sorry to everyone who still can't see it.

here's the link for everyone else...
http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-disp ... 16&size=md

 

[ReefLion]

I can't get the photo even through the link. Just an FYI.

Tim

 

[Dewman]

Maybe this way it will work...

 

[nilestr]

Those two types of anemones are exactly what I have. So you're saying the purple kind gets real huge? I guess I will stop feeding him everyday because it is starting to grow real fast. I don't want it that big until I can transfer it into my newly set up and cycling 90 gal.

 

[Desolas]

I had a condy for a time, not only do they get large, but sometimes when they get large they like to wander around causing reckless havoc. I had one in my 75 gallon, it was situated on the right side of the tank, within a day it had moved all the way to the left side, hosing every coral on the way. I'd never seen so much damage done to Xenia without the use of scissors.

It is good yours are doing well, keep it up. Hopefully you continue to have success. Considering the length they live however, I don't think you can really start bragging until you've gone 5+ years.

 

[Newts]

I hesitate to say this but I have been topping off with my Well Water without any problems.

Bangbang I live probably only a few miles from you and my water has so mutch iron and other minerals in it that I am leary to put it in my reef.I can even smell sulfer if we go a way for a day or two if the water isn't used for a short time.And thats after it goes through the water softner.Though the iron is probably good for macro algea growth.Be careful using it.