Thinking about getting an anemone, help...

Ok so my tank has been up and running for awhile now, roughly since last oct. I recently upgraded to a 65g, about 2months or so ago. I was thinking about getting an anemone. I know the basics, stable good params and lots of light. But I need some of the particulars, the anemone "proofing" a tank if you will. Are there any speacial things I need to do in order to have a happy anemone? Also since this will be my first one, which is a good species to get? I'm asking a lot of questions I know, I just know that if these creatures die in a tank its like a nuclear bomb going off in there, everything dies. Thanks for the help.

 

its good to wait at least 10 months before getting a nem, to make sure the tank is established. i would get a bta or lta once you are ready. also cover the powerheads and thats about it.

 

Well my 29g was 6 months old when I moved everything into my 65g. My 65g has been running for about 2 months. I understand the more mature a tank is the more stable it is. How do I go about covering my powerheads?

 

if it were my tank i would wait a couple more months.. but a nem needs good water, stable conditions, and good lighting... some like alot of light and some prefer less light.. even if its the same species, dif nems like dif things...but as long as u have good strong lighting then it will be fine..the nem will move where it wants..

 

I think you will be fine nightster.

A LTA will stay closer to the sand bed, it should foot right at the base of a rock.

A BTA will likely foot in a crevice higher in the rock work, so you have to be careful about them wondering into corals.

Power heads you can simply cover with some nylon from knee high stockings.

 

Clever with the stocking idea, do I just use a rubber band to hold it on?

 

or you could just get a block of foam

 

using a rubber band to secure the stocking will work fine. Less bulky and looks cleaner IMO.

 

I keep several BTA's (for a future project) but INTRODUCTION - karensroseanemones.net will have all the answers you are looking for. She lays it all out.

 

My first and current nem was an RBTA/GBTA, I would recommend them as one of the more easier ones to care for. In all I have had that and a GBTA. My RBTA has split twice so I have 3 in my new tank currently. Weirdly, my GBTA eventually withered away because when my RBTA split, they overtook its light and the GBTA just gave up.

Few quick pointers I learned for the nems:

- screen off your powerheads or intakes if you have any so they don't get sucked in. I used gutter guard (mesh) & zipties

- nems will go wherever they want, keep a watchful eye on them when you first put them in, as so they don't sting any corals, etc. as they find a place they like. If they end up footing behind the rocks, unfortunately you shouldn't mess with them to try and move them, you risk tearing their foot/mouth and injuring/killing them.

- a trick that some say works is if they are in a spot you like, feed them a little frozen shrimp and they may stay there, it worked for both mine.

- if you target feed them, don't overfeed them, maybe once a week or so, if you have sufficient light/flow that will be the most important thing in making them happiest.

- If you do target feed them they may expel waste (poop ) so don't freak out if you see a shriveled nem one day that has stringly goop coming out of it, it is normal but may mean you're feeding a bit too much too.

- when choosing a nem, make sure it's healthy, its foot is fully intact and its mouth looks good.

I've attached some pics of the Gutter guard I used and how I put it on my powerheads, also of my current tank with the 3 RBTA's. Hope this helps a little.