Reality of an anemone.....

[hopperjl16]

So I’d really like to get an anemone for my clown fish. Until recently I only had the stock lights in my biocube 29, so I knew my tank couldn’t handle a hosting anemone. I now have the upgrade from steve’s leds, so supposedly these lights can handle anything. Is it realistic for me to get an anemone in a 29 gallon tank? I was thinking a bubble tip anemone. How much will it move around? I do worry about it moving somewhere where it either kills my other corals or the clown fish won’t go to it, defeating the purpose. I currently have a good sized magnetic rock on the back wall of my tank just waiting for me to put something on it and I wanted to put the anemone there (esp since that’s the area my clown stay). Thoughts?

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

I have a 29g biocube full of anemones. It's all nems so I didnt have to worry about coral but they will go wherever they want until they find a place they like. Once mine found places they liked they haven't moved. Unfortunately my black widow bta is on the back of the rock but if its happy I'm happy. As for the clownfish... it's a roll of the dice. Mine could care less about the nem 2 inches away while they host the corner of the tank... I keep hoping someday they will go in it but I'm not trying to force it. Anyway long story short, it can be done.

 

[Mical]

Couple of things about anemones - First make sure your tank is well established. Some say at least 6mos, I say at least a year or so, until params are stable. Anemones are unpredictable - wherever you would like it is not generally the place they will like it and they'll move. Also make sure you have good flow, they like a moderate amount of flow. Others here will add advice.

 

[hopperjl16]

Thanks! I’m 3 years in with this tank, so it’s been going awhile, but the LEDs from steves are brand new (only in for a week) so I’m slowly acclimating the tank. My clown fish love the powerhead of course.....not sure they’ll leave it ‍

 

[Mical]

Do you have pics of tank? More rock than magnetic rock on back? Mine like to be about midway up in the tank and generally in middle of tank. (Most of them - I have 7)

 

[hopperjl16]

The empty rock on the back was where I was thinking.

 

[Mical]

My guess is it would probably find it's way to the center rock formation for light and flow. Mine love flow

 

[rkpetersen]

Is it realistic for me to get an anemone in a 29 gallon tank?

You definitely can. I've seen tanks that size containing multiple large happy bta's.

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/biocubes-lets-see-them.644412/

Saw this post earlier. It's a great biocube with nems

 

[Chessmanmark]

I was worried too when I got my first BTA. For the most part it stayed in the same place, but then it started splitting regularly and crawling under the rockwork to appear in other parts of the tank. It didn’t happen often, but it is a possibility to consider.
I eventually threw a piece of plexiglas in the tank which kept them fairly contained for the most part.