Gigantea questions and tips

[Jekyl]

Thinking about getting a show size blue gigantea for my tank. Tank is about 2 years old 90 gallon and I keep up on parameters. My concerns are having crushed coral for substrate, not sure if it matters. Other than that I would like to hear others experiences and tips to ensure I can keep this animal before doing any harm. Just overall trying to do my homework.

Edit: 2 kessil a360we for lighting

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive had two large carpets on top of crushed coral with no issues. 2nd pic shows crushed coral

 

[Jekyl]

Any care tips or things you've learned along the way?

 

[James M]

Best thing to do is find a healthy gig to buy.
I would buy from @galactic_coral or @Nemguy123 .

 

[Anthony Scholfield]

I’d also recommend blue Kai aquatics for a gig purchase. Ive purchased from nemguy123 and blue Kai aquatics. I have the trifecta and find gigs attach to the rock so your sand shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[Taylor t]

I agree, find an established anemone to buy. It will be easiest to acclimate. Sounds like you’ve got one in sight.

look at where they come from, not opinions.

They come from tidal areas, high flow and white light.

Here’s mine. I just moved them 2 months ago. Most of them when acclimated, and HAPPY, can get 6” long tents. They do best with white lights, around 2000 par will make them happiest. Good luck lol. Most fixtures can’t produce this. You will need supplemental light to give gigs what they want, IF, you try to give them best health. They can live with less, but won’t be glory living. That’s why it’s hard to see any in their glory. Orion N has a green that’s getting what it needs. Hard to find. Orion has 5K light added to that green he shows. Minh has it figured out. They get long tents when truly happy. Most of mine have had tents that long, but is possible to keep them with blue lights, but tent length shows they get what they need. Mine are short tents in these pics, they don’t get what they need to thrive, only what they need to live. Look at blue light pics, it’s only what they get to survive, not to thrive. To keep them long term and thrive, they need white light and high flow. There’s a difference between surviving and thriving.

My KH is around 7-8. I struggle to get it above 8 right now. They do best at 10 in my system, it gives me room for error. If I get to keep KH at 10 for a long time, with flow and light, the tents get very long. KH to my eyes, is most critical, the fastest parameter to affect them. Here’s mine today.

 

[Taylor t]

My KH is about 8.

 

[Taylor t]

They like rock foot attached the best. Substrate doesn’t matter.

 

[Jekyl]

I agree, find an established anemone to buy. It will be easiest to acclimate. Sounds like you’ve got one in sight.

look at where they come from, not opinions.

They come from tidal areas, high flow and white light.

Here’s mine. I just moved them 2 months ago. Most of them when acclimated, and HAPPY, can get 6” long tents. They do best with white lights, around 2000 par will make them happiest. Good luck lol. Most fixtures can’t produce this. You will need supplemental light to give gigs what they want, IF, you try to give them best health. They can live with less, but won’t be glory living. That’s why it’s hard to see any in their glory. Orion N has a green that’s getting what it needs. Hard to find. Orion has 5K light added to that green he shows. Minh has it figured out. They get long tents when truly happy. Most of mine have had tents that long, but is possible to keep them with blue lights, but tent length shows they get what they need. Mine are short tents in these pics, they don’t get what they need to thrive, only what they need to live. Look at blue light pics, it’s only what they get to survive, not to thrive. To keep them long term and thrive, they need white light and high flow. There’s a difference between surviving and thriving.

My KH is around 7-8. I struggle to get it above 8 right now. They do best at 10 in my system, it gives me room for error. If I get to keep KH at 10 for a long time, with flow and light, the tents get very long. KH to my eyes, is most critical, the fastest parameter to affect them. Here’s mine today.

Thank you for all of this. Sounds like getting one with just my kessils won't be the best environment. I will hold off until I can add some T5 to the system. I don't want to get things that I can't give the best environment to.

 

[Taylor t]

I don’t want to discourage you from getting one. But if you do, get prepared to HAMMER it with light. It will thank you. You will see rewards with high, white light. If everything else is in check.

 

[Jekyl]

I don’t want to discourage you from getting one. But if you do, get prepared to HAMMER it with light. It will thank you. You will see rewards with high, white light. If everything else is in check.

Nah, not going to force it. I pushed my luck with anemone when my tank first was running. Not going to do something like that again. I'll get there. I don't mind being patient.

 

[gig 'em]

I think everything Taylor t said is right on. They like a ton of light and good variable flow. If they're shaded they start to wither away. Make sure you have room for it, they can get HUGE!

 

[OrionN]

You got advices from the best Gig keepers here in this thread. I don’t really have much to add. Good luck. For me they are the most rewarding animal to keep. I like Gigantea and Magnifica the best.