Anemones like "dirty" water?

[specialk]

Hey All ...

So have a small 20 gallon tank and just having it as an anemone and clown fish tank. Always wanted one right by my desk.

Never had luck with nems as they seemed to just shrink and die. Not sure if it is because I had primarily a sps dominant tank and my water was not right or what. But now that I am building one, I want to really dive into this ...

...I have heard the nems like "dirtier" water and parameters

I am wondering what everyone's water parameters are and what they do to keep them so dang happy and bubbly.

 

[D-Nak]

I don't think nems "like" dirtier water per se, it's more that they are able to tolerate it more. Some species -- such as S. gigantea -- come from areas where water can be turbid at times, particularly at low tides, but when the high tides come in, they are given access to clean water.

I have a dedicated anemone tank, and I rarely test water parameters. A large refugium is attached to the tank, as well as macro algae and sea grass in the tank itself, so that helps with excess nutrients. However, when I see my H. magnifica start to wander, I know that it's time for a water change (typically to reduce nitrates).

 

[specialk]

I don't think nems "like" dirtier water per se, it's more that they are able to tolerate it more. Some species -- such as S. gigantea -- come from areas where water can be turbid at times, particularly at low tides, but when the high tides come in, they are given access to clean water.

I have a dedicated anemone tank, and I rarely test water parameters. A large refugium is attached to the tank, as well as macro algae and sea grass in the tank itself, so that helps with excess nutrients. However, when I see my H. magnifica start to wander, I know that it's time for a water change (typically to reduce nitrates).

How often do you do water changes?

I am thinking with this small tank, bi weekly will be good (of course assuming I just stay on it and am consistent, and keep the consistent #s)

 

[D-Nak]

How often do you do water changes?

I am thinking with this small tank, bi weekly will be good (of course assuming I just stay on it and am consistent, and keep the consistent #s)

I am inconsistent with my water changes, but maybe every couple of months on average? It's a 100 gallon system.

With a smaller tank like yours, you may need to watch parameters more, and/or pay close attention to how often your nems move or seem "unhappy."

 

[NanoCrazed]

Similar here... have multiple nem tanks... actually, use to keep a 6G Fluval Edge with 11 BTAs with very little problem water wise...except the nems would get sucked into the HOB. So scrapped that and when with a 20G L with overflow... and slowly migrated to a bigger system since I was overflowing with nems.

Rarely changed water but you have to watch your system. Carbon helps a lot.

 

[KorD]

For some reason anemones and fish are all that I can keep alive... I have always had issues with corals of any kind.
my tank is a 30 gal with a few BTA’s , rock flowers, and other local anemones you can find in the gulf.

my tank is by far not the cleanest around and I have noticed they anemones look healthy and happy with what I am doing..
I dose iodine every couple weeks and a 10% water change ever 4 months.. the Rock flowers have spawned, the BTA’s are always fully inflated and split once since I started the tank. The clowns are growing and starting to lay eggs.
not sure if I’m doing just the right stuff or if I found the perfect method for my tank.
Not everyone’s tanks are the same.. research and dumb luck are the key!

 

[Super Fly]

perhaps mature tanks?...what r ur parameters, esp salinity. Not sure if this helps, but here's Melev talking about keeping anemone tank

 

[OrionN]

Hey All ...

So have a small 20 gallon tank and just having it as an anemone and clown fish tank. Always wanted one right by my desk.

Never had luck with nems as they seemed to just shrink and die. Not sure if it is because I had primarily a sps dominant tank and my water was not right or what. But now that I am building one, I want to really dive into this ...

...I have heard the nems like "dirtier" water and parameters

I am wondering what everyone's water parameters are and what they do to keep them so dang happy and bubbly.

Sorry, but your anemones did not died of too "clean water"