anemone

[sigma]

would it be possible to keep an anemone in anything less than 4 watts per gallon? If this measure is used to make sure the creatures on the bottom receive enough light, then would placing the anemone on the rock near mid to upper part of the tank recieve its required light, even if it is only like 3.25 watts per gallon or so?

I can't really shell out the cash of halides right now, but I would like to have an anemone if it would be possible. my 40 gallon is only 24" wide, so the max lighting I could find for it in pc was 2x65w.

 

[impur]

Probably not. They require good lighting and won't stay where you want them to. How long has your tank been running? I wouldn't suggest any anenome for a tank less than 1 yr old.

 

[Navarre]

Impur is right. They require specialist care and are not easy to keep.
Im not sure why you want an anemone as you never posted your reasons. Most people want them purely because they have clownfish and feel that its a "must" for the fish to be happy. This is not true and a clownfish will take other things as a host. My maroon clown loves to spend time in my Sarcophyton and Gonopora.

 

[Max]

iv seen ones at the store host pipes... will they feed the pipes thinking its an anemone?

 

[impur]

My clown hosts a pill bottle i DIY'd to serve as a snail guard on my float swith for the auto topoff. Go figure.

 

[Yano]

My clown hosts a pill bottle i DIY'd to serve as a snail guard on my float swith for the auto topoff. Go figure.

LOL, thats great. Do you have any pics?

 

[impur]

Not now, i'll take some this weekend and put em up. Funny stuff.

 

[Reefer 4:19:59]

Depends on what anemone. Aiptasia can live in the dark. Desirable anemones maybe. What are the tank parameters & other inhabitants?
Short answer - yes, an anemone can live happily & healthily without MH. They can be happy in a 7 gal bow front with no protien skimmer and ~24 watts of CF and low flow refuge only, no filter. Oh and minimal, very minimal water changes - less than 10% a month IF you choose wisely.

 

[sigma]

40 gallon, eheim canister and aquaclear 70, two powerheads, waiting for my coralife lunar aqualight 2x65w p.c.'s and a 20w flourescent i already had. im still stuck on what skimmer to buy, but I have a little bit of time. Aquac remora im leaning towards, cpr bakpak is a close second, and then maybe a red sea prizm. would this lighting be enough for any nice anemones or leather corals, etc?

 

[Navarre]

I would be a bit hesitant with anemones but i would think your lights will be fine for leather corals etc. How deep is the tank ? (top to bottom)

 

[impur]

Just to let ya know, the anenome will move all around the tank stinging corals until it finds a suitable spot. And even after that it may continue to roam around killing your other corals. Just need to be careful

 

[sigma]

its about 24" deep. its an odd shaped tank, 25"l x 18"w x 24"d. Thats why lighting it with anythign other then m.h. lights has been hard. its hard to find anything that can light a 40 gallon tank thats 24" long, unless I spend as much on 4x55w power compacts that I can on a M.H.

 

[Navarre]

Impur is right. If an anemone is not happy with its environment (lighting is one of htem) then it will go lok for it. Anything in its path will be stung. Corals cant get out of the way and usually cmoe off 2nd best.

 

[Reefer 4:19:59]

How old is the aquarium? If less than a year, wait.
With PC you can have anemones BUT you will have to choose wisely. Do you just want any anemone or is there a specific one you want? I would not try WC [wild caught] without HID/MH.
What else is or do you want to have in the tank? That may be more limiting than your choice of light. What substrate? Turnover rate?
Protien skimmer - again, how old is tank & how heavy do you feed, sandbed depth & type, load - animals of any kind - and what support do yu have? filtration & refugium for example, how large? If new - less than 6 months, light or minimal load & cured rock with good substrate you do not need a skimmer yet. You might - this is heresy, I know - never need a skimmer depending on your husbandry methods. I have never run a protien skimmer for more than a week or 2 in ~ 30 years of off & on marine aquariums. Yes The Aquariums & inhabitants lasted more than 2 years.
Yes you can have healthy happy anemone which are desirable rather than just aiptasia in that tank with those lights but have to know parameters, salinity/SG, temp are nec info too to be able to give good & correct as to which aneomones may be best choice esp for inexperienced.
As you are i the states have yu checked out Dr Mac? I have not ordered from him yet but am planning to this month. Have heard good to very good things about the stock. He has BTA - Bubble Tip Anemone - which are tank "born" & raised under PCs as well as wild caught & clowns paired up with some - some WC some captive bred & reared.