im just starting my first nano tanks and my original plan, like many, was to get a pair of clowns and an Anenome. After researching I have found that anenomes move and can destroy other corals. It is a 20g tank with only 8 lbs of live rock. I’m worried that the Nem will Love and inevitably damage others in the tank because of the small tank. Is a Nem a must with Clowns or can you get away without it. I would like to add other branching corals such as hammers or frogspawn, which I think would be a good substitute for the Nem. Thoughts?
Thoughts on Anenomes?
- Thread starter PhatPat
- Start date
- Tagged users None
ThunderGoose
Well-Known Member
Clowns will interact with hammers and frogspawn, the don't NEED a nem. I have a BTA and she would definitely be too big for a 20 that also had corals. She splits a few times a year, too!
20g is small for an anemone but there are plenty people out there keeping them in nanos. They do best in more mature tanks I think.
I would recommend looking at smaller species if you insisted though, and make sure to protect your powerheads to make sure the anemone doesn't get shredded.
As above comments say have a look at hammers, torches and frogspawn - sometimes you can get those hosting a clownfish.
I would recommend looking at smaller species if you insisted though, and make sure to protect your powerheads to make sure the anemone doesn't get shredded.
As above comments say have a look at hammers, torches and frogspawn - sometimes you can get those hosting a clownfish.
Reab
Well-Known Member
My clowns prefer torches. The only issue with a nem is having it find a spot, but once it has, typically they wont move unless something changes. 20g is not too small for a nem just plan around it. Don't think "I'll just place it here" because then it will move.
Fudsey
Jack of all trades, Master of none ;-)
Reef Squad
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Photo of the Month
Hospitality Award
NHFS Member
My Tank Thread
My clowns (tank raised) have no interest in any of my anemonies, torch, frogspawn or hammer. They like the corner of my tank the best......
Sailingeric
Valuable Member
My two clowns host behind the HOB overflow box. Mine are so derfy
mtnbikeracer76
Community Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2019
- Messages
- 38
- Reaction score
- 142
This thread has me rethinking about a nem. Going to look more closely at a hammer or a torch.
SDM
Community Member
I just got 2 anemones a few weeks ago, I have lots of hammers, and a few torch. My clowns never went to them. 2 minutes after I put the anemones in the tank my clowns were all over them. I placed one in front as I love the color of it. It decided to move and was climbing over my clam, after my clam is my hammers. I slowly peeled it off the rock and sat it up higher on the rocks. The next morning it was all the way up on the glass just below water level. I needed to do water change so I peeled it off the glass (pain in the butt to get off without hurting it). I sat it in the substrate it moved again about 10" climbed up the side of a rock and has been in that spot ever since. The other one I sat in the back of the tank as its a little bigger. It walked all around that rock and hasn't moved since then.
jgvergo
Valuable Member
How long have you had them? It can take a while.My clowns (tank raised) have no interest in any of my anemonies, torch, frogspawn or hammer. They like the corner of my tank the best......
In that size tank frogspawn or hammer would be a better alternative.
Torch's can work too, but know they do sometimes leave black dot sting marks on clowns, and they also have long sweepers that can sting other corals
Torch's can work too, but know they do sometimes leave black dot sting marks on clowns, and they also have long sweepers that can sting other corals
Fudsey
Jack of all trades, Master of none ;-)
Reef Squad
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Photo of the Month
Hospitality Award
NHFS Member
My Tank Thread
5-6 months for euphelia 3 for nems.
My clowns (tank raised) have no interest in any of my anemonies, torch, frogspawn or hammer. They like the corner of my tank the best......
Tank raised should make no difference, it's more about what is a natural match as in wild.
I'd guess yours are occs or percs, and so if you gave them a mag, gig, or natural match anemone hosting would most likely be immediately, anything else usually takes more time to recognize.
Fudsey
Jack of all trades, Master of none ;-)
Reef Squad
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Photo of the Month
Hospitality Award
NHFS Member
My Tank Thread
I agree
