Haddoni In The Rocks

[jbacker7]

Hi Everyone,

A little background about the tank: 75 gallon display, ~ 3" sand bed, lots of xenia, snails, pincushion urchin, 4 saddleback clowns, haddoni carpet anemone.

I've had my haddoni carpet anemone for about 7 months now.

Everything is going great; it seems to be very healthy and my 4 saddleback clowns live harmoniously with it.

One thing that puzzles me is that a couple of months ago he moved from the sand up into the rockwork. It's not really a big deal, but I am trying to figure out what factors may have influenced its move. Ideally I would like it in the middle of the sand bed where it can stretch out and hopefully grow to 18" - 24" in diameter.

Here's a link to a photo of the tank for reference. I can't figure out how to get a photo into the post:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LjZoihuXv8NG75Ta6

The MP 40 is not running currently. Just to try to cut down on flow. The overflow is in the top left corner and the return blows in from the top right. Based on all the feather dusters on the left side of the tank I would guess that there is a lot of particulate that flows by on that side. Maybe that has something to do with where the anemone chose to set up shop. The big piece of rock in the middle of the sand bed is just there because the anemone and clowns dug under it and were creating issues with it at the left pile where the anemone is now. I just set it in the center of the tank to get it out of their way.

Any input is appreciated; I really want to create the best home for the anemone with this tank.

Thank you

 

[OrionN]

The amount of sand you have is minimal. IMO it is the same as no sand at all. Haddoni do better with several inches, 3+, sand bed. As is, it is essentially the same as bare bottom.
Haddoni does not need a lot of flow, but a lot of light and deeper sand bed. Without the sand, they just make do with whatever condition and continue to move around.
Consider use a barrier or container of some sort to create and deeper sand bed and you Haddoni will stay put.
Best of luck.

 

[OrionN]

Be careful with those Saddleback clowns. Mine has the habit of dug in and go into the anemone through the mouth. They then proceed to eat the inner of the anemone and kill it.
I keep pair of Black Saddleback before and that was what happened. No more saddle for me, even if I keep a few Haddoni.

 

[386reeftrader]

My haddoni like to be in the rocks near the bottom but never just in the sand. It stays on the rocks for the past 3yrs I’ve had it. I’ve moved it to the sand once or twice but always crawled back up the rock work a little

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I had a green that stayed in the rocks, a blue simultaneously resided in the sandbad.

 

[jbacker7]

The amount of sand you have is minimal. IMO it is the same as no sand at all. Haddoni do better with several inches, 3+, sand bed. As is, it is essentially the same as bare bottom.
Haddoni does not need a lot of flow, but a lot of light and deeper sand bed. Without the sand, they just make do with whatever condition and continue to move around.
Consider use a barrier or container of some sort to create and deeper sand bed and you Haddoni will stay put.
Best of luck.

Thank you, that is helpful. I have some ideas. I wondered if that's why it didn't move behind the rocks, for better anchorage.

I need to move this aquarium to make way for another this winter. I think at that time I may increase the depth of the sand bed.