Stichodactyla gigantea questions

[cjtabares]

I have a few questions about Stichodactyla gigantea and if my setup would work.


I was thinking of switching my tank around from the run of the mill sps tank to an anemone and clown pair tank. I was thinking of just keeping a single Stichodactyla gigantea and my 2 ocellaris in my 45 gal cube (24"x24"x18"). The main reason I chose a S. gigantea was because I already have a pair of ocellaris. I was going to move my rock into my sumps and sell the few sps I have now. I guess I want to do something a little different then every other tank out there. I have a few questions
1. I am running bare bottom now but what would be the best substrate, I read mud/rocky? What would I use?
2. My tank is only 3 months old and I know everyone says to wait until the tank is a min of 6 months; it should be fine to keep what I have now until then right?
3. Will this tank even be big enough for a Stichodactyla gigantea?
4. I run a 36 diode LED fixture, 18 xp-e royal blue and 18 xp-g cool whites, I will be switching 6 of the whites for 3 Philips Rebel Cyan 3W and 3 Osram 660nm 3W Red. In your opinion will this be ok?
5. I am running 1 MP10w on nutrient export mode and plan on getting a 2nd, is this good for flow?
6. I also read they like water temps in the mid to high 80s do you agree with this?

Also this will be my first anemone. I have keep reef tanks for about 2 years and have had good succes with sps corals.


Thanks Chris

 

[Trex]

Honestly, a Gig is not a great choice for a first anemone -- they are one of the 2 most difficult anemones to keep (( along with a Mag )), also they are awful shippers, so finding a healthy one is difficult at best.

However, a couple of things -- in general they are rock dwelling anemones, so putting all your rocks in the sump wouldn't be the best thing. Therefore, you could stay bare bottom.
Your tank is borderline too small -- for the size of the anemone, and for overall water volume -- they amount of waste put out be a large anemone is shocking.
Gigs LOVE flow, so the MP10 might be enough.
Mid to high 80's would be too high.

Been keeping anemones (( mainly S. haddoni )) for 15+ years now, and find SPS so much easier to keep. Would suggest starting off with an E. quadricolor first (( it isn't a natural host for your clowns, but that doesn't mean they won't be hosted by one )), and get a feel for keeping an anemone before getting a Gig.

 

[shred5]

S. gigantea are hard to keep. A Stichodactyla haddoni would be much easier if you are looking for a carpet anemone but in that size tank it would catch your other fish if you planned anything more than clowns.
I cant comment on your lighting since I do not follow all the types of leds or all fixtures since there are so many.
Tank size should be fine if you have a sump and a good skimmer but it's to young.
I like to have sand they like to attach at the sand/rock interface and would feel better and less likely to move even though sand is not needed.
Those temps would be to high and don't know where you heard that.
Mp 10 might be enough but could be border line and may need more.

Trex pretty much nailed it.

 

[cjtabares]

I plan i having 2 MP10w on the tank. I was going to go with the S. gigantea because it is a natural host of Ocillaris would the S. Haddoni host the close safely? And i only planned to keep clowns. I kind of like the idea of the carpet anemones but I don't want to get one for it to be stressed or end up dieing. What would everyone recommend for a tank age before adding them? Is 6 months a good target?

 

[cjtabares]

Maybe E. quadricolor with a maroon? I have always wanted a maroon but never wanted to deal with the aggression. Could I do a pair of maroons and a few E. quadricolor?

 

[Trex]

An E. quad is a natural host for a maroon, so that would be a great combo -- just make sure that the anemone is at least 3 times the size of the clowns.

 

[cjtabares]

Yeah after being suggested the E. quadricolor I search what clowns hosted them and saw that it was the maroon. Like I said I have always wanted a maroon clown and figured this should make a good first anemone tank.

 

[WestOhooligan]

Todd knows his stuff. I recently had an unhappy experience with a gig and though I'm no expert in this hobby, I'm no noob. BTAs are relatively hardy and they were the first nems that I had real success with. I always wanted a maroon BTA biotope type tank though, good luck!