When can I get an anemone, also what kind?

[Philipgonzales3]

So I have a 50 gallon 24"x24"x20" with a sump, skimmer, heater, etc. I currently have 1 x MP10WQD and plan to add another soon.

For lighting I have 2x Sbreefer Sbox 16" Wifi extremes.

My tank has been wet for 70 days. The reason I want an anemone is because my clown fish currently host and sleep in my fake anemone every night and I feel that they feel protected in it. I'm on fake anemone number 2 as the first one deteriorated. The 2nd one will eventually do the same.

I'm moving at the beginning of March and hope I can get an anemone shortly after moving, if it is not too soon.

Here are my latest test (I do full tests every Thursday and certain tests more often). Phosphate was also 0 last I checked with API but I'm purchasing a Hanna ULR phosphate checker.



My tank is just going through the diatoms phase.



Would I be able to add an anemone in 2-3 weeks? Not sure on our exact move date yet. Or would it still be too soon?

Would some type of long tentacle anemone be OK? Any suggestions on specifically which kind. If possible I would like something they can get inside and sleep in like they do now.

Thank you for your time.

 

[justmee]

I think it's still too early for an anemone, I would wait at least 6-8 months minimum. Remember, saltwater hobby is all about patience... Not only will you waste your money, the biggest thing is you will also harm the animal.

 

[a4edwin]

Does that puffer nip on your fake men’s?

 

[Philipgonzales3]

I think it's still too early for an anemone, I would wait at least 6-8 months minimum. Remember, saltwater hobby is all about patience... Not only will you waste your money, the biggest thing is you will also harm the animal.

Ok, understandable. Any suggestions until then? The bad thing is that these fake anemones fall apart in about a month. Someone mentioned who knows what they leech into the water was they fall apart. I would like to think that since it's designed for aquariums that it's just silicone and nothing else but the fact that it falls apart is not a good sign.

I feel like I would be ripping out their home if I didn't replace it with something. Just keep replacing it with a fake one each month? I'm OK with this if this is the best option just trying to get opinions on what would be the best course.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Does that puffer nip on your fake men’s?

Not that I have seen. It nipped at my macro algea (branching coralline) but seems to have lost interest in that and is now nipping at the freshly introduced snail's.

 

[Katrina71]

I would wait a year.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Here's my stocking list by the way. Meant to add this at the beginning but forgot.

 

[Why-Me]

9-12 months

 

[Philipgonzales3]

I would wait a year.

Ok, understandable. Any suggestions until then? The bad thing is that these fake anemones fall apart in about a month. Someone mentioned who knows what they leech into the water was they fall apart. I would like to think that since it's designed for aquariums that it's just silicone and nothing else but the fact that it falls apart is not a good sign.

I feel like I would be ripping out their home if I didn't replace it with something. Just keep replacing it with a fake one each month? I'm OK with this if this is the best option just trying to get opinions on what would be the best course.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

9-12 months

Ok, understandable. Any suggestions until then? The bad thing is that these fake anemones fall apart in about a month. Someone mentioned who knows what they leech into the water was they fall apart. I would like to think that since it's designed for aquariums that it's just silicone and nothing else but the fact that it falls apart is not a good sign.

I feel like I would be ripping out their home if I didn't replace it with something. Just keep replacing it with a fake one each month? I'm OK with this if this is the best option just trying to get opinions on what would be the best course.

 

[Why-Me]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/whats-with-what.40954/

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Your clowns do not need a host. They'll get along just fine without one until your tank is ready for it. I wouldn't feel bad at all taking all that fake stuff out and letting them do their thing. They'll find a powerhead or a corner of the tank to hang out in without shedding a tear. Plus you won't have all that plastic for algae/dinos to grow on and the tank would look much more natural.

 

[Why-Me]

You really want to get a natural host for the clownfish not just any anemone you find. I linked some reading material for ya.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

You really want to get a natural host for the clownfish not just any anemone you find. I linked some reading material for ya.

Ok thanks. I will look it over. List looks a little long at first glance, I'll start to look it over and see which ones are readily available (I don't mean for now I mean in general) and hopefully whittle down the list for when I am ready.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Hi @Philipgonzales3. I will wait about a year and if you want to move soon I will wait to add anything until you moved and get everything stable again. Anemones are kind of sensitive to water fluctuations. You want to make sure your system mature enough to hold an anemone. I got one 2 month after cycling and didn't make it. Now after a year I got one that my clowns not even go close to it and is huge.

 

[Why-Me]

Not just what they may or may not leach into your water also if your fish do nip at them what's in your fish's stomach now? I'd just remove them until you can get a live anemone.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Your clowns do not need a host. They'll get along just fine without one until your tank is ready for it. I wouldn't feel bad at all taking all that fake stuff out and letting them do their thing. They'll find a powerhead or a corner of the tank to hang out in without shedding a tear. Plus you won't have all that plastic for algae/dinos to grow on and the tank would look much more natural.

Ok, I will toy with the idea of removing at least the decorations that fall apart. I'm not going to lie, I feel like they "need" it because they sleep in it every night. I understand I can be wrong, just saying how I feel, that that it is true or not as I know they don't actually need an anemone of any sort.

I don't mind the unnatural look, or cleaning off the decorations but I see your point.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Not just what they may or may not leach into your water also if your fish do nip at them what's in your fish's stomach now? I'd just remove them until you can get a live anemone.

Bummer you make some good points @Why-Me. I think I know the answer is no but there isn't like some plant or super easy coral that can take it's place for now? Maybe that resembkes an anemone or similar shape. I assume it's too early for mostly any coral but just thought I'd ask just in case I'm missing an obvious option.

 

[Why-Me]

If you do want decoration in there that is safe for the fishes and water etc. HERE is a link to resin cast items I found the link in a thread here on R2R when I saw a cool star wars themed tank covered in corals.

 

[rkpetersen]

In my opinion, you can start adding rock flower anemones now. They're not for hosting clowns but will tell you if your water is ok by how they do. If the RFAs do ok, you could consider adding a BTA at about 6 months in. I'd also suggest removing the artificial nems, the clowns really don't need them even if they seem to enjoy them. A BTA isn't a natural host for these percula clowns but they may take to it anyway. A long tentacle anemone could also work at that point. The carpet anemones and ritteri which are natural hosts are also generally much harder to keep successfully.