The Anemone Playground

[KathyC]

Back in September I was lucky enough to win a complete Marineland 45G Tank/Stand/Sump/Skimmer/Lighting Cube set-up at the MACNA Raffle... wheeee :spin:

It was a bit stressful as prizes had to be taken out of the venue the same day..uh-oh, that stand wasn't going to fit in my little Pontiac..considering the other bazillion things I bought there...lol We managed to cram the tank and sump into the back seat and Joe Yaillio (Atlantis Marine World) was kind enough to take the stand back to NY in his truck for me. (thanks Joe!)

At the very end of the show I scored some rocks from Marco Rocks and the following day I put them into an old 20G FW set up to cure that I had laying around.

The stand & stand has stood 2 feet behind my chair in my home office (annoying the living crap out of me) since early October. Four tanks in a 12 x 12 office (my 120, 33g, my 12g nano and now this 45G tank) isn't pretty, nor is the humidity level. :tired:

This past Saturday I finally got around to taking down my 33G Oceanic and upgrading to the new Marineland tank...yippee!!
I prepped by gathering a bunch of heaters, powerheads, an airpump (for the tank the fish would be housed in during the change), a cover for the temporary fish home (...I have a Hawkfish, known to be jumpers), 4 big totes (moving anenomes, they needed the space so as not to tear any tissue), some muscle to move the tanks themselves (my son), and a bunch of new water.

Speaking of water...this tank (and now my others as well) will be run exclusively using the new ESV Salt. I spoke with Bob Stark of ESV and understand that the ESV salt is especially user friendly to anenomes due to the mixture of elements in the salt - specifically the bromide. Not that it isn't great for all corals, but it will be interesting to see how my group fares

I wanted to use mostly the new marco rocks but had to move over the rocks the anenomes were attached to, so the pics from the first day are a little odd as two, that weren't attached to rocks, got cozy with the tuperware they were moved in. All anenomes were kept fully submerged during the moves into & out of the tanks.

..it was a long day and I'm still not fully done, but the tank is running for the most part. I still have to hook back up my ATO, Aqua Controller, GFO reactor, and a bunch of other stuff I will mention below.

Since I worked alone I didn't stop to take pics..just the ones after I got it into place & filled...

My computer is being a bit quirky lately so I will post the pics in the next post..

 

[ECFENCING]

looking forward to the pics....I too am looking to make the switch to ESV..Good luck with the tank

 

[KathyC]

There are 4 receptacles behind the tank, each (2) with its own 20 amp circuit breakers So plently of places to plug in the goodies.

The FTS (that dark rock left front is out of there now...was waiting for the anenome to walk off of it)

Right side pic

Left side

Sump.
I used the 'stock' set up that Marineland had running at MACNA, including their skimmer & pump (hey! they were FREE!). This sump is more of a wet/dry, but no balls...so to speak
I was getting a bit of bubbles from the skimmer (breaking in I imagine), so I added the blue filter material you see there. I did add 1 of the 2 bio-wheels (it is under the dark cartridge container). The cartridge itself has one of the filter pads that contain carbon in it, can't hurt I figure as long as I stay on top of cleaning it and considering I have way less rock in this tank that the previous one. The containers has enough space for media cartridges and I am considering putting the carbospen into filter bags in them rather than adding a second reactor.
This week I will add my GFO reactor.

I DO still have my huge Dual Beckett skimmer and won't hesitate to add it back onto this tank if the Marineland skimmer doesn't keep up with the bio-load. The holes you see in the wall in the first pic are where the piping goes through to the skimmer - it is gigantic- and still sits behind that wall, so easy enough to hook back up if I need to.

I would like to add a remote fuge to grow pods, probably something small in front of the sump, or to the left. The ATO system is also behind the wall (that would be inside a walk in closet). I also have to hook up the light under there.

Right side today - the bleached anenome split while I was off watching the Super Bowl last night.
There are 3 RBTA's in the tank. Originally it was one I grew from a 3" baby a couple of years ago. It reached a maximum size of about 16" across and split into 3. The one on the left side of the tank had hidden in the back of the prior 33g tank for a long time and only come out about 2 months ago where it colored up nicely.
This one (below) that just split then went into hiding (about 2 months ago), so yes it is currently more pink than red and I can't get it to tell me why it was hiding... So I'm not sure if it split due to stress or for normal reproductive purposes, but so far it hasn't moved to a new location since the tank switch. Go figure.

More to come - thanks for looking!

 

[prattreef]

Looks great K. Is the original RBTA from me?

 

[noodleman]

so thats where all the bta's been hiding, looks great kathy :teeth:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KathyC]

Looks great K. Is the original RBTA from me?

Thanks Randy..unfortunately not one of yours ..it was a gift from the fellow who built my sumps way back when.

so thats where all the bta's been hiding, looks great kathy :teeth:

Thanks Alvin :hug: They are all hanging out toward the back of the tank currently, looks like a FOWLR right now..lol

 

[E.intheC]

Great setup Kathy. Beautiful 'nems. I almost went this way with my cube but didn't want to have nightmares of floating anemones ruining my tank by getting caught in powerheads (Don't ask.. happened before). I guess that would be the opposite of a Fairyland Tank. :biglaugh: (And I'm sure it won't happen with yours, just a somewhat irrational fear I have )

That's an odd looking sump. How do you like it so far?

 

[KathyC]

Great setup Kathy. Beautiful 'nems. I almost went this way with my cube but didn't want to have nightmares of floating anemones ruining my tank by getting caught in powerheads (Don't ask.. happened before). I guess that would be the opposite of a Fairyland Tank. :biglaugh: (And I'm sure it won't happen with yours, just a somewhat irrational fear I have )

That's an odd looking sump. How do you like it so far?

Hey Eric..thanks I worry about that too. I don't plan to add other corals to this tank..just anenomes, so at least they can only murder themselves. I will be keeping the foam on the Vortech (more about that later) and hopefully they won't wander much..fingers crossed!

It sure is..here's a better view of it
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21182

Can't say I am in love with it, but it hooks up soooo easy Might be okay with some mods to it and do want to add a remote fuge. At least there is space in the stand so I can do that.

Looking forward to see what you do with yours too!!

 

[DrCooper]

Tang in 45? dont let the tang police see it

 

[KathyC]

Tang in 45? dont let the tang police see it

Yep..

He's a big fat happy looking Yellow Tang. I don't condone keeping these in a tank this size. He has never lived in a tank this large actually. He is also bigger than my Purple Tang (in my 120)..and I obviously can't put him in there.

Before Aaron moved back to Australia I bought his pair of clowns and this guy was the LAST fish left in his tank (I think that was a 42g bow)..he needed to go somewhere, so I caved. He's been with me for about 2 years now and if someday I upgrade the 120..he'll be the first one moved.

btw - the stock list for this tank is...
said Yellow Tang
Percula Clown Pair
Coral Beauty
Coral Hawkfish
Banded Coral Shrimp
1 big old Turbo snail...need to add more of a CUC

Corals:
the now 4 RBTA's
Purple anenome
GBTA - that hasn't been happy for the last month or so (he is the blob in the middle of the branch between the 2 rock formations)
soon adding a Green/w Orange tip anenome & a pink/white one that are currently in my 120 (pics after I move them)

 

[KathyC]

The stuff I left off..

I do have a new Vortech MP10 (thanks Jim & Russ!!) for the tank. I will add it to the tank tonight on a very low setting as the anenomes are still trying to find optimum spots to tuck their feet. The current flow from the return is keeping the water movement sufficient for now.

Lighting...
The tank included the Marineland Pro-Series HQI/T5/Moonlight 24" fixture. I have posted about how much this fixture impresses me on other threads here on MR.
The MH light (150W) has been on now for a little over an hour and the fixture is merely warm to the touch. They did a great job with the cooling system in this fixture. It also has 4 T5 bulbs (actinic) and a pair of Moonlights.
I like the fact that the system has a single power cord!
It also is programmed using a digital timer (on the top of the fixture) allowing you to easily set it up without having to run it off my Aquacontroller.

As it sits on legs about 5" above the water, I have added 2 layers of mesh screening on top of my screen tank cover since that one anenome is somewhat bleached and this lighting, while equal wattage, is a new bulb and closer to the corals. The light on the tank I took down was about 10" over the water.

I will be building a canopy for the tank in the next couple of weeks just for asthetics. I will post pics of the build.


I am also considering breaking down my 12g nano and moving my Yellow Headed Jawfish into this tank. I hesitate because I also have a small goby (Gobiosoma evelynea) in there and am afraid that he will end up as lunch for my Hawkfish in this tank, or a snack for my Coris gaimard if I put him in my 120.

Again..thanks for looking!

 

[dubs]

those anenome have nice colors ... nice tank by the way

 

[georgelc86]

Looking good KC!

 

[aznt1217]

Nice tank.... and geez that Tang is OBESE lol

 

[Zuska]

wow nice set up Cant wait to see more of the tank being stocked up with those rbta

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

That tang would look good in my tank,LOL

 

[ctxmonitor]

Great tank! Looks like a great start of another great tank.

 

[Awibrandy]

Kat, sorry took me so long to check it out! Been up to my eyeballs with stuff. I gather you are going for the cave in the middle of the island theme. I like it, even more so that you took out the black rock.
Your anemonies look great in there. Makes me sad that I'm getting rid of my anemone tank.;( Fish as always look fat, and happy.

 

[daaznmofo]

nice setup.
do you still have the purple anemone?