What type of Anemone to get?

booth2010 · Jan 16, 2014

I will be starting to cycle a 30 gal with a 10 gal sump soon. In it I will be moving over a torch, 2 mushrooms, a fancy ocellaris clown, a cheap little 5$ blue and yellow damsel, a star (dont rememebr the name but it should stay small and is red with what look like spikes on it). I am wanting to stock the tank with Zoanthids too, so my question is what Anemone (carpet prefferably) would suit a 30 gal best? I woud love for it to be semi-nice since I also want a lot of Zoas. Im willing to not get the anemone if there is no good option but I would love one that will host the clown. (Also perferrably under the 100$ would be great)

Mufasa31 · Jan 16, 2014

I'm not an expert buy my research told me carpets are fast growers and difficult to maintain.

I keep Bubble Tips (rose and rainbow) with no problems. Clown host both of them. Once they find a place they like, they don't move much.

oscarinw · Jan 16, 2014

There seems to be a consensus on the Entacmaea quadricolor (Best known as Bubble Tip anemone) being one of the easiest to keep. there are certainly some nice color variations with the Rose Bubble Tip being a good bang for the buck. Keep in mind that the BTA is a known roamer and there's a chance it will walk into a powerhead so it's important to keep a close eye until it chooses it's final parking site. A liquefied anemone can kick your tank's a$s in no time.

Trex · Jan 16, 2014

IMO/E, any of the hosting "carpet" (( my experiences are with S. haddoni, 20+ years with them )), anemones will get too big for a 30 gallon tank, and present water quality issues -- they produce a large amount of waste.

Do you plan on having your zoas on the rocks, or on the sandbed? Will help determine if you should get a rock dwelling, or sandbed dwelling anemone.