Stocking advice, Anemones?

[Yahtzee170]

Looking for some ideas to finish stocking this tank. I was originally thinking a bubble tip anemone tank. I recently tried adding one from my LFS which looked great for the first 5 or so days, but then seemed to struggle and after a few weeks didn't make it. The shop said they were pretty easy to care for, but maybe were just trying to make a sale quick. Details on the tank, and some parameters are below. I'm stumped as to what went wrong and would appreciate any feedback. Also open to fish, invert, coral or whatever suggestions.

Tank: Red Sea Reefer 170 (34 gallon display) running since 7/21
Lighting: AI Hydra 26HD
Wavemakers: 2x AI Nero 3 (currently both around 30%)

Fish: 2 maroon clownfish (the one in the picture is around 3", other is maybe 1.5")
1 neon dottyback
Inverts: 3 hermits
10 trochus snails (these guys are awesome, but every few days I have to flip one back over)
1 smooth turbo snail

Maintenance: weekly 5 gallon water change and testing salinity, alk, ca, no3, po4
dosing nitrate and phosphate if undetectable, for the past ~1 month I haven't had to

Parameters:

 

[HereFishyFishy3]

What are your nitrite and ammonia levels? Did you see any fish/inverts pestering it?

 

[Yahtzee170]

What are your nitrite and ammonia levels? Did you see any fish/inverts pestering it?

Hey thanks for responding. Back in July both nitrites and ammonia tested at 0 ppm after cycling (I added ammonia, then added fish a couple week after). My API test kit expired and so I don't have a way to test these at the moment.

Given the fish are all fine, and coralline seems to be doing well do you think it's worth checking?

I didn't see anything really bothering it. Occasionally a snail would go by and it might close up a little while that happened, but that was it.

 

[Yahtzee170]

I forgot, I also sent out an ICP test around that the time I had the anemone. Here it is if this is helpful. I believe I collected this at the same time as the November 1 tests above.

 

[Jekyl]

So your tank is about 4 or 5 months old? Your best bet would be to wait another 3-6 months for an anemone. They prefer a mature system, stable parameters and strong lighting. When you do decide to make a purchase, find one from a local reefer. The prices will be cheaper and the health much better.

 

[HereFishyFishy3]

I would wait and in the mean time add some beginning corals like duncans, blastos and other easy corals that won’t take over rocks. In this case if you still want to go the anemone route you can easily remove them and trade them for store credit. I found it more beneficial to do less frequent water changes. With most corals it’s better to have stable parameters instead of chasing numbers. If you only have a couple fish I would let everything settle and then make water changes every month. I have a mixed reef biocube 16 with two clowns and only do water changes every 2-3 months.

 

[Yahtzee170]

Thanks for the advice. I'll hold off another 3 months or so before trying anemones again. I worry some about introducing pests with coral.

In the mean time, any thoughts on another fish? or inverts?

I'm planning on adding 6 nassarius snails (the first batch that came with clean up crew didn't survive shipping). Maybe some sort of cleaner shrimp? I wouldn't mind 1-2 more fish, but I'm a little concerned over aggression. Everyone gets along well now, but I've seen the dottyback can be kind of a jerk.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Waiting another 3 months to add an anemone isn't needed, especially if you're seeing coralline growth. That's a good sign that your system is stable, and thats what an anemone needs. I would definitely suggest purchasing one from a local reefer over getting another one from your LFS, it'll be happier in an aquarium because that's all it's known. LFS seem to just purchase cheap wild-caught green BTAs and they don't fare so well.

 

[Jekyl]

Thanks for the advice. I'll hold off another 3 months or so before trying anemones again. I worry some about introducing pests with coral.

In the mean time, any thoughts on another fish? or inverts?

I'm planning on adding 6 nassarius snails (the first batch that came with clean up crew didn't survive shipping). Maybe some sort of cleaner shrimp? I wouldn't mind 1-2 more fish, but I'm a little concerned over aggression. Everyone gets along well now, but I've seen the dottyback can be kind of a jerk.

Go to reefcleaners.org and get the cleaner package for around a 20g tank.