New corals for a fun challenge.

[Tag&BagThatFrag]

Excuse me if this is in the wrong place as this is my first post, but I am hoping to experiment with my Fluval 13.5. I have previously had multiple colonies of zoanthids, an alveopora, a goniopora, mushrooms and several other things throughout the tanks previous life. The only real goals I have for this tank is to be able to have an anemone of some kind, and a GSP wall on the plastic false wall. Other than that I'm open for almost all suggestions. If you have any ideas please, tell me! I really want to have fun and challenge myself with this tank.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

What type of anemone are you thinking?

 

[NonstopSoda]

Gsp back walls are awesome! and quite easy too, gsp dont really care for light flow or pretty much anything so just glue a piece and im sure it will fill up quick . I love bubble tip anemones and theyre decently hardy and very pretty too!

 

[phillyb614]

Rock flower anemones are beautiful, easy to take care, don’t multiply like BTAs. Just saying.

 

[Tag&BagThatFrag]

What type of anemone are you thinking?

I'm thinking some type of BTA more than likely green, but I am still a bit undecided on what type of BTA since it's a completely new adventure for me.

 

[Tag&BagThatFrag]

Rock flower anemones are beautiful, easy to take care, don’t multiply like BTAs. Just saying.

I honestly haven't looked into rock flowers. I've heard that BTA are fairly hardy, how do rock flowers compare? I have heard stories of BTA splitting like crazy in tanks and that's my only worry about an anemone in such a small tank

 

[Tag&BagThatFrag]

Gsp back walls are awesome! and quite easy too, gsp dont really care for light flow or pretty much anything so just glue a piece and im sure it will fill up quick . I love bubble tip anemones and theyre decently hardy and very pretty too!

I have always wanted a gsp wall, they're very pretty. I just have honestly never given it a go for some reason. Any real tips other than glue and let grow lol

 

[eliaslikesfish]

go with a bubble tip (if you eventually get any clownfish) a rock flower anemone will not host clowns. you can always just get rock flower nems in addition if you’d like.

this is a pretty cool bubble tip and it’s somewhat large which has always proven to work best for me.

Nuclear Bubble Tip Anemone Large

Anemones, much like chalices and Favia coral, bring vibrant colors and unique patterns to reef aquariums. Thriving in moderate lighting and gentle to moderate water flow, these captivating creatures benefit from occasional feedings for optimal growth and coloration. Caring for them is rewarding...

aquasd.com

 

[eliaslikesfish]

also some pics to support why you should get a bubble tip

this pic you can see my gsp growing on the back wall as well lol

 

[NonstopSoda]

I honestly haven't looked into rock flowers. I've heard that BTA are fairly hardy, how do rock flowers compare? I have heard stories of BTA splitting like crazy in tanks and that's my only worry about an anemone in such a small tank

Rock flowers are crazy pretty and have more cool color morphs and they dont move around too much.

 

[NonstopSoda]

go with a bubble tip (if you eventually get any clownfish) a rock flower anemone will not host clowns. you can always just get rock flower nems in addition if you’d like.

this is a pretty cool bubble tip and it’s somewhat large which has always proven to work best for me.

Nuclear Bubble Tip Anemone Large

Anemones, much like chalices and Favia coral, bring vibrant colors and unique patterns to reef aquariums. Thriving in moderate lighting and gentle to moderate water flow, these captivating creatures benefit from occasional feedings for optimal growth and coloration. Caring for them is rewarding...

aquasd.com

I also agree that if you want clowns get the bubble tip they are absolutely wonderful

 

[Tag&BagThatFrag]

I do have a pair of Snow Storm clowns and it would be amazing to see them finally host to something. I can't help but wonder that since i plan to keep the tank simple and not super stocked, would i be able to have both a RFA and BTA in the same tank. I just would hate to see any type of aggression.

 

[Tag&BagThatFrag]

also some pics to support why you should get a bubble tip

this pic you can see my gsp growing on the back wall as well lol

I do have to say, that is the prettiest group of clowns I have seen! They look like they love life in their tank!

 

[phillyb614]

I honestly haven't looked into rock flowers. I've heard that BTA are fairly hardy, how do rock flowers compare? I have heard stories of BTA splitting like crazy in tanks and that's my only worry about an anemone in such a small tank

IMO, they are easier to handle than BTAs. Especially in a smaller tank. They will not travel as much as BTAs and do well in high and low PAR as well as high and low flow.

I have rainbow BTAs. I started out with 3. That turned into 10. I recently sold 6 of them, leaving me with 4. The next day, after selling the 6, I already had 2 more spilt. Don’t get me wrong, I love my BTAs, and I do not mind selling them or taking them to the LFS for store credit. But they can be quite a bit of work if they end up multiplying like mine do. Just some food for thought.

Also, this has been my experience. Yours cough completely different.

 

[phillyb614]

IMO, they are easier to handle than BTAs. Especially in a smaller tank. They will not travel as much as BTAs and do well in high and low PAR as well as high and low flow.

I have rainbow BTAs. I started out with 3. That turned into 10. I recently sold 6 of them, leaving me with 4. The next day, after selling the 6, I already had 2 more spilt. Don’t get me wrong, I love my BTAs, and I do not mind selling them or taking them to the LFS for store credit. But they can be quite a bit of work if they end up multiplying like mine do. Just some food for thought.

Also, this has been my experience. Yours cough completely different.

That being said, if your heart is set on clowns and getting them to host, then yes, a BTA would be the way to go.

 

[PastaReefs]

I honestly haven't looked into rock flowers. I've heard that BTA are fairly hardy, how do rock flowers compare? I have heard stories of BTA splitting like crazy in tanks and that's my only worry about an anemone in such a small tank

My rockflower nem got cut in half when i first got it the size of a quarter. Its about 3 inch's in diameter now and you wouldn't be able to tell it was cut in half if I didn't tell ya. The rockflower is very hardy also when they find a good spot they generally stay still. I bought a bubbletip at the same time and now have 5.

My advice on the GSP wall as I have the same tank and had the same plan, mount it lower on the wall gsp like to climb towards the light it takes forever to grow down away from the lights.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

I do have a pair of Snow Storm clowns and it would be amazing to see them finally host to something. I can't help but wonder that since i plan to keep the tank simple and not super stocked, would i be able to have both a RFA and BTA in the same tank. I just would hate to see any type of aggression.

absolutely! I would just add the BTA first, let him settle in and walk around a bit then place the rock nems wherever, much less likely to go wandering on you

 

[eliaslikesfish]

IMO, they are easier to handle than BTAs. Especially in a smaller tank. They will not travel as much as BTAs and do well in high and low PAR as well as high and low flow.

I have rainbow BTAs. I started out with 3. That turned into 10. I recently sold 6 of them, leaving me with 4. The next day, after selling the 6, I already had 2 more spilt. Don’t get me wrong, I love my BTAs, and I do not mind selling them or taking them to the LFS for store credit. But they can be quite a bit of work if they end up multiplying like mine do. Just some food for thought.

Also, this has been my experience. Yours cough completely different.

this is interesting to me, I’ve had mine for a year now and he has just gotten HUGE, started at 3 inches in diameter and is now almost 9 inches in diameter when open during the day, feed him a half a frozen shrimp every couple weeks but never any splits.

I’m sure I’ll wake up tomorrow to a split right? lol

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I honestly haven't looked into rock flowers. I've heard that BTA are fairly hardy, how do rock flowers compare? I have heard stories of BTA splitting like crazy in tanks and that's my only worry about an anemone in such a small tank

They do indeed! I have a rainbow BTA and was very proud of the fact that it grew very well, super happy, and then just over night not long ago, I woke up to 3 small babies! Luckily so far they are all staying put.

 

[Tag&BagThatFrag]

Okay so I've done a good amount of research over the night, I've found out pretty much that what everyone has told me is accurate (which honestly makes sense since you guys have knowledge lol). I guess I have yet another question for anemone lovers though now. When it comes to parameters I find a lot of conjecture as to what actual acceptable ranges of nutrients are. If anyone does have personal knowledge about this one too it would be fantastic. My only assumptions are that you would want to keep a clean and stable tank, other than that I honestly just feel like I'm at a loss.

Also other than the two snow storm clownfish the only livestock I'd want to add over time to the tank would be a cuc, a sand sifting goby (the smaller the better) and a small amount of sexy shrimp. I have stocked this fluval to it's absolute bio-load before and IMO I feel like this is a doable task. Specifically since I'm keeping the bioload fairly light this time around.