Are anemones big phosphates and nitrates consumers?

[Ardeus]

I have an anemone dominated tank and I feed heavily and my nitrates and phosphates are always really low.

I remember reading somewhere that they are big consumers of phosphates. Have tou guys heard anything about this? What are your experiences?

 

[Coralreefer1]

Anemones are not filter feeders in the way that sponges, Tridacna Clams and Tunicates are, so no they do not consume nitrates and phosphates. They are producers of them however as a result of being giant waste producers. Moreover, elevated levels of phosphates and nitrates are detrimental to anemones.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

My bta did terrible when my nitrates were over 40ppm. IME they do the best with low nitrates. Phosphates don't seem to benefit or harm them.

 

[Ardeus]

Anemones are not filter feeders in the way that sponges, Tridacna Clams and Tunicates are, so no they do not consume nitrates and phosphates. They are producers of them however as a result of being giant waste producers. Moreover, elevated levels of phosphates and nitrates are detrimental to anemones.

My nitrate and phosphates tests were old so I got new ones, because I was failing to get a reading above 0. I don't feed the anemones directly, they get whatever I feed the fish and I was looking for an explanation for the low levels of nutrients.

I was thinking that beyond eating, they could be absorbing phosphates and nitrates directly from the water as corals do.

There's around 30 BTA's give or take, a magnifica and various corals.

 

[Romulax]

Don't anemones need nitrate and phosphate to keep a healthy amount of zooxanthellae?