anemome behavior question

[philhawk]

i am new to the anemome keeping business and i have a pink-tipped and he is about the size two of my fists together. 30 gal tank i have a 50/50 bulb (only one tube) and have supplemented with coral-vite and iodine. tank temp is about 75 degrees.

what whould you consider normal behavior. mine seems to "inflate" and "deflate" on and off all day.

im running a visi jet skimmer and aqua clear 50. should i get more circulation?

im looking for any advice or tips. general salt water keeping tips would be great also!

thanks in advance.

[SaltMan]

Anemones need real intense lighting such has metal hilides or power compact arrays. In addition most need moderate to high flow rates. Only thing is, just like all corals you absulutly have to have an alternating current. Linear flows, like yours, are really bad for inverts and corals alike.


that being said you should deffinatly get some stronger lights; I'd say around 170w. And a smallish powerhead on a timer, something like a rio 200.

[philhawk]

any suggestions for brands for lights. considering im on a budget. and may not be able to get much untill middle of feb. would this be enough :30" Coralife Aqualight
Double Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture
(130W Total)

[SaltMan]

First here is a question for you, why do you have an anemone, or anything for that matter, in your tank without first reserching it to see if it can even live in your tank?

If you can't get better lights on there untill next month, return it. Or ask them to hold onto it for you untill you have the equipment to properlly care for it. Also, have you been feeding it?

[philhawk]

i have been feeding it silversides ever other day. the tank is next to a sunny side window and recieves plenty of natural light for now. i got it at petco and belive me its doing alot better than its brethern that are left there (who appear on the brink of death) i probably will get a new light soon and i do have a powerhead that i can use in the tank.

[philhawk]

http://www.aquariumguys.com/aqualightsalt6.html
does this look like it would be enough wattage for my current needs and possible future corals.

think its a good price?

[TankBuster]

Well, we have all had an impulse buy. Here is some info to get you up to speed on them.

http://www.centralpets.com/animals/fish/saltwater_inverts/swi1675.html

[philhawk]

thanks for the link. mine is actualy hosting a false clown now.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/dualsatellite4.html
here is another light i found. any ideas on the quality / price.

[Zoodiver]

I'd fix the flow issue prior to doing a light upgrade. I've kept pink tips in moderate lighting with good flow and they've done fine. It doesn't have to be a fancy set up. Just toss another power head that pivots continuously and see how it does.

[philhawk]

ill pick up a sweeping power head today if my paycheck allows and with the stores around here it seems that i have to order alot of things online.

[philhawk]

i still havent gotten an anwser to my question about their behavior. does your anemome seem to inflate and deflate at different times of day. like mine is out streched in the morning and then seems to retract a bit durring the day and strech out in the evening. and retract at night.

[philhawk]

p.s. my false clown is staying in the pink tip most of the day now! hurray.

[Zoodiver]

They will change sometimes. They should be open when the lights are on, and they'll close up when the lights go out.

[Max]

It's just filter feeding. I would spread my feedings out to about every three or four days and feed it phyto/zoo every couple of days. They do need a varied diet but they are also pretty easy to over feed. I'd say with the way you are feeding it that it's also having pretty frequent bowl movements and when and anem has one it just sort of shrivels up and voids the waste.
hth
Max
P.S.
what are your water params and how old is your tank?

[philhawk]

ill cut down the feeding for sure, i just installed a powersweep 214 to increase the moving water in tank. im not at the same location as the tank so i cant check right now but last time i checked the parameters they were all in the "safe" range (0 nitrites, 10ppm nitrates aproximatly)

the tank is about a month+ old now (for me) i did buy it used and it was set up and running when i got it. when i got the tank there was only one false clown and over the month i have added

2 blue legged hermit crabs
1 coral beauty
pink tipped anemome
2 false clowns (thats two total not two added)

[BlackAROWANA]

Hey just another peice of friendly advice. I would try feeding your anemone Some smaller food like mysid shrimp or something like that. I have had experience that when I feed my anemones silversids the usually end up throwing them back up later that night. So i made the switch. Plus I have read that in a couple other places.

[philhawk]

well he hasnt refused food exept some uncooked shrimp (i dont know why he didnt like it, ill just give that to my clown knife :)) i am spreading out the feeding and working on some more lighting

ill have to post a video of my clowns with the anemome becuase i know its not usually a host. but you would have to tell that to them becuase they are getting along quite well.