Name that anemone!!

[cheeks69]

Just an FYI you'll get a much better price on dry goods on-line. What are the dimensions of the tank and what are you planning to keep AFA corals ? The livestock you plan to keep will dictate how much light you'll need.

[rebekwl]

We decided not to really start a reef until we are able to have a bigger tank to keep it in. I would like to have a few low maintenance corals here and there in my tank, but nothing spectacular for now.

As far as tank dimensions, I know it's 48" long, I'm really not sure about the rest though. I'll have to get back to you on that...

[cheeks69]

Well it's up to you but IMHO it's best to buy once and get a good quality piece of equipment that can be used when you upgrade. If you get a 48" hood it can be used on your 55 gal or future upgrades such as the standard 75gal, 90 gal and even 120 gal. You can also make your own canopy and get retro-fit lighting kits for considerably less.

[rebekwl]

I will have to talk to my husband and see what he thinks. We were considering buying a new lighting system this weekend, but I think he just wants to try to get brighter bulbs for our PCs right now. My LFS has a lighting system that he recommended for only $85, and another for like $120I'm not sure of the type of bulbs or anything though. If we were to just go and buy new bulbs for now what would you recomend as far as wattage? My main concern for now is making sure the anemone has enough light to survive. Good to know that a 48: hood a\can be used for various tank sizes. I do understand what you are saying as far as only buying something once, we are thinking about keeping the tank we currently have as well though, because I want a reef and my husband wants aggressive fish like puffers, that will eat the coral. That is an expensive project that will have to wait though!!

[lcstorc]

Since you are keeping one of the very most light demanding life forms in your tank you really need intense lighting on your tank. PC lights are just not enough. What you have now are regular flourescents not even PCs. The lights he is trying to sell you are likely PC lights and would likely be fine for fish and soft corals. They will not be fine however for an anemone. You will need to look at either T5 lighting or Metal Halides if you want to keep the anemone which you said you are going to.
Please do some research on the light requirements of anemones before purchasing your new light. I would hate for you to go spend more money on a light that is still not enough for the animal.

[rDr4g0n]

yes, you need to do a LOT of research.

basically there are 2 kinds of tanks. Fish only tanks, and reef tanks. the 2 types have different requirements.

fish only tanks are tanks primarily for fish. that doesnt mean you cant have a coral or anemone in there. the problem is that many of the coolest fish will eat or pick at corals. a 55 gallon isnt really big enough for a fish only tank, because most of the pretty fish get very large and are also aggressive towards other fish, thus you need a large tank for growth and the reduce the posibility of fights. in a fish only tank, (for the most part) lighting is not important. regular output flourescents, like the ones you probably have (usually about 20watts per bulb) is fine for the fish. they dont care much about the light. also, its not necessary to have "perfect" water. nitrates in small amoutns can kill corals, but wont bother fish much. of course youd WANT the water to be nitrate free, but the point is, fish only isnt as demanding as reef tanks.

a reef tank is all about corals. of course reef tanks have a few fish, usually smaller fish that wont pick on the corals. there are LOTS of factors to consider in reef tanks such as temperature, water quality, good and bad minerals, lighting and ensureing coral compatibility. also there is lots of equipment that you may need to get for a reef tank. a 55 gallon is a good size for a coral tank. the problem with reef tanks, is that they are deceptively expensive lol youll always tell yourself "oh ill just spend another $30 and that will be it."

the point is, you should really do a LOT of reading before you buy even one more thing for your tank. what ive posted above is a HUGE generalization to which there exists many exceptions, so it may take a bit to absorb all teh knowledge.

anyway, first things first: pick your tank type. corals or fishies?

[rebekwl]

I deffinitely will be doing alot of research!! We really want to have some pretty cool fish in the tank we currently have, but like you said, it's only 55 gal, so we can't get any fish that require alot of room to roam. We cannot get any fish that aren't reef safe, because they will probably try to eat the anemone. That is currently the only thing we have living in the tank (besides the newly added CUC) so everything is pretty much revolving around that.

I have been researching and trying to make sure that all of the fish on my list are reef safe. I do want to have some soft corals here and there, but I don't think we are ready to start a full blown reef yet. I really would LOVE to go out and buy all the lights and everything so that I could start one, but we are "saving $" right now so that unfortunately isn't an option.

We did buy some new bulbs for the fixtures that we currently have. We got 2of the blue lights (can't remember what they are called) and 2 18,000k. I put one of each right above the anemone and he perked right up (even after his unfortunate encounter with the power head). I thought he was a gonner for sure, but he seems to be a trooper. He's going strong, severed tenticles and all. The only thing that I don't understand is that every time I feed him, he swollows it, then rolls it up into a little ball, then spits it back out, usually overnight so i'm not sure how long he has it in ihis stomach. Why would he spit it out? He has done this with fresh shrimp cut into little pieces, brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp. I also have some krill, but I'm not sure if I should try to feed it today because I just did yesterday (mysis that he rolled up and spit out). This confuses me to no end. I've heard of them spitting out big chunks of food that they can't digest, but every single thing I feed it?? This is a bad sign isn't it? Come on, I'm ready for it.

So if all of my fish are reef safe, and I ahve a few soft corals here and there, is that considered a reef tank, or a FOWLR? Could I have some soft corals in there without going all out with the lights and all, or would they be ok with what I have? I will deffinitely not buy any unless you guys tell me they will be happy in there!! Also, what types of extra chemicals to you have to have with corals? I already add iodine for the anemone, anything else i need? I am not ready to run out and start buying corals right away, just wondering what I will need when and if I decide to. Thanks so much for all of your help!!!

Oh, I also remember seeing metal halide lights that are not necessarily for fish tanks. Could I use one of these and just place it right above the anemone for a certain # of hours each day? Just a thought...

[cheeks69]

This confuses me to no end. I've heard of them spitting out big chunks of food that they can't digest, but every single thing I feed it??

I would stop trying to feed it for a few days and let it find a comfortable spot and then try again.

So if all of my fish are reef safe, and I ahve a few soft corals here and there, is that considered a reef tank, or a FOWLR?

It's a reef.

I already add iodine for the anemone, anything else i need?

Iodine can be very toxic if overdosed and there's no test kit that can accurately measure it. I would do regular water changes to replenish the elements intead of dosing impropely and killing your inverts.

[rDr4g0n]

im glad youre doing more research into keeping your tank! karma for you

[kimm]

I used to have a Condy Anemone. Until it tried eating my clearner shrimp!
Anyhow, mine was bright white also and turned tan and grew quite quickly. I was feeding it everyday mysis and another mix frozen food. Now my tank is only a 40G, so it handled the 2X96 watts of PC lighting great. If only it would have stay put and stopped trying to eat my shrimp...

[rebekwl]

Well, the anemone was not looking good this morning. It shrunk down yesterday and I thought it was normal because it does this now and then. This morning it had inflated a bit, but it's mouth was slightly open. We will see how it is when I get home. It has not eaten for a while. Everytime I feed it, it will eat the food, but then spit it out by morning. I'm afraid that it has not had proper nutrition, combined with improper lighting = possible demise. I will try to feed it this evening and see if it will actually keep the food instead of spitting it back out. It has been doing great, even after getting stuck in the powerhead the other day, poor thing, I'm a murderer!! How long should I wait to remove it if it does not improve? I want to give it the best chance to live, but also do not want it to pollute my tank. What should I do???

Everyone that warned me can now chime in with the "I told you so's".

[rebekwl]

Ok, disregard that last post. I came home this evening and (other than it's still healing tenticles) the anemone looks WONDERFUL! I just fed it a piece of krill and a tiny bit of mysis shrimp, and am hoping that he won't spit it out. He might make it afterall!!!

[cheeks69]

You'll know when it's time to remove it as the smell is unforgetable and it'll begin to disintegrate.

[rebekwl]

Originally Posted by kimm

I used to have a Condy Anemone. Until it tried eating my clearner shrimp!
Anyhow, mine was bright white also and turned tan and grew quite quickly. I was feeding it everyday mysis and another mix frozen food. Now my tank is only a 40G, so it handled the 2X96 watts of PC lighting great. If only it would have stay put and stopped trying to eat my shrimp...

Aw, poor shrimpies!! Looks like I shouldn't try getting any of them any time soon! My looks like it's on the verge of turning tan too. I guess we will see!! I have been trying to feed this thing any and everything, and it finally kept down the mysis and krill I fed it last night. I am going to try feeding every 3 days and see how that goes. Mine has perked up and is loving life since I added acentic blue lights as well as some 18,000k bulbs to my tank...

[rebekwl]

Originally Posted by cheeks69

You'll know when it's time to remove it as the smell is unforgetable and it'll begin to disintegrate.

I have heard about the dreaded smell of a dead anemone. I really hope I never have to witness that!!! Thanks!!