[Craig Lambert]

I have had an RBTA for 8 months now. It moved the second day it was in the tank (about 6 inches from where I put it), and it has not moved since. My tank was setup with fully cured live rock that I received overnight. It had cured for nearly 4 months in various tanks of my supplier so I experienced no real cycle. It was minor, and ended in 4 days. I think your situation is similar in that your tank is really just a transfer rather than uncured live rock that can take months before its ready for your inhabitants. If I was getting any other type of anemone, I would have waited longer. My idea was to let the anemone find the location he was going to be happy with before I began adding corals. (Didn't want to lose any to a roaming RBTA).

The common wisdom is to wait a year for anenome introduction, but I personally believe this to be one of those ideas that when repeated often enough is eventually taken as fact. If your tank is stable. (Small temp, pH, Alk, and Calcium swings) then it should be ready for an RBTA. These are the hardiest of the anemones when properly selected. My tank was setup for about 3 1/2 months when I added one, and he has done very well. My true perculas hosted to it after about a week. Make sure you get a very healthy one. A good source for a healthy RBTA imo is the "divers den" at liveaquaria.com. They cost alot more, but mine is so beautiful and healthy that I don't regret spending the extra money.

I would really think twice about Maroon clowns though. I was innitially going to get a pair of them, but more often than not they are a very nasty fish. I have read a number of posts from people who got rid of them. If you still feel it's what you want to do, then I'd say go ahead, but just be aware of the nature of these guys.