Is my tank ready for an anemone?

[frankin09]

My tank first got set up August 22,2021. My tank has almost been running for a year. I have 2 clowns and I would want them to host it. But I have a blenny as well and six line. I have a 35 tall tank. My parameters are Ph:8.0 Nitrate:5 Alk:7.5. I don’t have tests for Mg and Ca. I have a colony of candy cane coral, a hammer and 3 Zoas. None of my rock is glued down. Would you say my tank is ready for one?

 

[blaxsun]

Probably. Get a cheap one and make sure you acclimate it properly.

Have you augmented the flow in your tank with a powerhead of some type? Something like a Sicce Voyager Nano 1000 (etc.) I would also get test kits for phosphates, calcium and magnesium since you've started down the coral path.

 

[frankin09]

Probably. Get a cheap one and make sure you acclimate it properly.

Have you augmented the flow in your tank with a powerhead of some type? Something like a Sicce Voyager Nano 1000 (etc.) I would also get test kits for phosphates, calcium and magnesium since you've started down the coral path.

Yes I have a power head at the top and small uv. Which anemone would you recommend?

 

[blaxsun]

Well, you have several choices: long tube anemones, bubbletip anemones, long tentacle anemones, rock flower anemones, etc. Is this for a clownfish?

 

[frankin09]

Well, you have several choices: long tube anemones, bubbletip anemones, long tentacle anemones, rock flower anemones, etc. Is this for a clownfish?

Yes for a pair.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Mini maxi are nice...
Probably want a green or red bubble tip or long tentacle anemones

 

[terraincognita]

Yes for a pair.

BTA is gonna be your best bet I think in terms of hardiness and compatibility with clown hosting.

With that said, your clowns may also take a long time until they actually go to live in the Nem. So don't expect instant inclination from them to go inside the anemone.

Maxi-Mini's as monkey said are also nice beginner nems, super hardy and easy to take care of, closer to an Rock Flower Anemone though than something that will host clowns. Clowns will not try to live in a Maxi-Mini.

You could always however start with a Maxi-Mini or Rock Flower Anemone to see if it survives and thrives, if it does you should be okay with a BTA as well, but I'd say Maxi's and RFA's are more forgiving than BTA for sure.

If you've kept that HAmmer alive for more than 2 months, I'd say also should be okay (b',')b good luck.

 

[MaxTremors]

I would recommend waiting a while longer. Your tank isn’t almost a year old, it’s seven months old. I would definitely recommend getting the rest of the test kits you need before getting an anemone. Phosphate (make sure the resolution goes all the way down to 0.01, Red Sea Pro, Tropic Marin Pro, or Hanna ULR Phosphate), Magnesium (Salifert or Redsea), and Calcium (Salifert or Redsea). You should make sure your parameters are stable over a month or so (test twice weekly and log the results), and if everything is stable, then go for it. I think the suggestion to get a cheap one and if it doesn’t survive, ‘oh well’, is irresponsible. Get the appropriate test kits and ensure your tank is ready, don’t wing it with living animals.