Help me find the perfect anemone!

[Hooz]

I have an SPS tank that has been running for a year now. It's more than well seasoned, water quality is great, lighting and flow are dialed in.

The thing is, I have another tank that I'd like to break down that has a very mature Mocha Storm Clown in it that I've had for 6 years. She loves her anemones (currently assorted BTAs). I'd like to put her into the SPS tank, but I'd like to give her an anemone to call her own. I will NOT add BTAs to this tank! I refuse to subject myself to that madness!

The tank is a decent size 65g tank, but it's not huge by any means. I was originally thinking an LTA because it could handle the light, stay towards the bottom of the tank (I have a nice sandbed with some rubble), but I'm worried that it might get HUGE and take up too much real-estate. The larger carpets are out for the same reason. Too big.

Is an LTA my best option, or is there another option I'm not thinking of? Is there a type of carpet that offers some color but stays smaller? I am well versed in BTAs and RFAs, and I've kept LTAs and Sebaes in the past, but I've always steered clear of carpets because I haven't had the space for one (assuming they all get huge eventually).

 

[StartingATank]

Maybe a mignifica?

 

[n1ng]

If BTA is out. I would consider carpets over Mags. I have a couple of Mags in my 3ft and they take up a lot of space. More importantly mine settle on top of rockwork. As a result they take up sps real estate.

Carpets (although I have not had one) seem to be fine settling on the bottom of the tank.

As for size my Mags don't grow crazy fast of they are not directly fed.

 

[Vitabella]

I would steer clear of H. Magnifica and any carpets due to your tank size. I would look into Malu anemones. They will stay on the smaller size and are not as common. You can place a shallow dish with sand if you run a bare bottom and build rocks around so it’s aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Hooz]

I initially ruled out Sebae anemones (H. Crispa) because they're kind of "bleh" looking. Otherwise, they actually fit the bill pretty much every other way (foot in the sand, PAR and flow tolerance, size, etc). Now I'm seeing a few color morphs that actually look pretty nice. I guess that might be the move after all.

I'll do some more reading.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@OrionN

 

[Vitabella]

I initially ruled out Sebae anemones (H. Crispa) because they're kind of "bleh" looking. Otherwise, they actually fit the bill pretty much every other way (foot in the sand, PAR and flow tolerance, size, etc). Now I'm seeing a few color morphs that actually look pretty nice. I guess that might be the move after all.

I'll do some more reading.

Let me know if you need help. Good are you local to Northern Ohio?

 

[Hooz]

I initially ruled out Sebae anemones (H. Crispa) because they're kind of "bleh" looking. Otherwise, they actually fit the bill pretty much every other way (foot in the sand, PAR and flow tolerance, size, etc). Now I'm seeing a few color morphs that actually look pretty nice. I guess that might be the move after all.

I'll do some more reading.

Let me know if you need help. Good are you local to Northern Ohio?

I'm East-Central Ohio. About 35 minutes due East of Columbus.

 

[RichReef]

I have been keeping anemones for a long time. All have their ups and downs.

Every MAG moves up to the top of the tank. The amount of light they want, not require, will burn any SPS.
Bubbles just split too much.
Seabae are fish killers. Very sticky. Some are attractive if you can find one but most are blah.
Carpets are unpredictable on the shape they will take when they grow and before you know it they are up against the glass.

My go to now is the LTA. It's actually in my profile pic right now. That clown is 3 inches so don't be fooled. It's big. They are hearty. This one was even sucked into a MP40 of a friend and I went and picked it up. Full recovery. The challenge with them is getting them to stay in place. I built a wall out of rubble with considerate weight and attached it to a base rock with a cave. They can and will lift a rock. The LTA has been in that structure for over 2 years now and it's the size of a basketball. It is easily my favorite. Contrary to popular belief they do not need a deep sand bed. They just need something to make them feel safe and will always attach to the glass. For some reason they don't like attaching to rocks. If you find one in a LFS they will almost always find a crevice in the rock formation to scoot in to. But my rock formation was specifically built for this LTA.

I've easily housed over 50 anemones of different species. The LTA is the only one I would keep unless it was a dedicated tank.

 

[SixlineRyan]

I have been keeping anemones for a long time. All have their ups and downs.

Every MAG moves up to the top of the tank. The amount of light they want, not require, will burn any SPS.
Bubbles just split too much.
Seabae are fish killers. Very sticky. Some are attractive if you can find one but most are blah.
Carpets are unpredictable on the shape they will take when they grow and before you know it they are up against the glass.

My go to now is the LTA. It's actually in my profile pic right now. That clown is 3 inches so don't be fooled. It's big. They are hearty. This one was even sucked into a MP40 of a friend and I went and picked it up. Full recovery. The challenge with them is getting them to stay in place. I built a wall out of rubble with considerate weight and attached it to a base rock with a cave. They can and will lift a rock. The LTA has been in that structure for over 2 years now and it's the size of a basketball. It is easily my favorite. Contrary to popular belief they do not need a deep sand bed. They just need something to make them feel safe and will always attach to the glass. For some reason they don't like attaching to rocks. If you find one in a LFS they will almost always find a crevice in the rock formation to scoot in to. But my rock formation was specifically built for this LTA.

I've easily housed over 50 anemones of different species. The LTA is the only one I would keep unless it was a dedicated tank.

If I can piggyback a question here, that would basically make it too big for a 15 Gallon, correct? Would you recommend anything for a smaller aquarium?

 

[Red_Beard]

I have an SPS tank that has been running for a year now. It's more than well seasoned, water quality is great, lighting and flow are dialed in.

The thing is, I have another tank that I'd like to break down that has a very mature Mocha Storm Clown in it that I've had for 6 years. She loves her anemones (currently assorted BTAs). I'd like to put her into the SPS tank, but I'd like to give her an anemone to call her own. I will NOT add BTAs to this tank! I refuse to subject myself to that madness!

The tank is a decent size 65g tank, but it's not huge by any means. I was originally thinking an LTA because it could handle the light, stay towards the bottom of the tank (I have a nice sandbed with some rubble), but I'm worried that it might get HUGE and take up too much real-estate. The larger carpets are out for the same reason. Too big.

Is an LTA my best option, or is there another option I'm not thinking of? Is there a type of carpet that offers some color but stays smaller? I am well versed in BTAs and RFAs, and I've kept LTAs and Sebaes in the past, but I've always steered clear of carpets because I haven't had the space for one (assuming they all get huge eventually).

I just set up a 35 cube specifically to get the BTAs out of my SPS tank LOL. They do add that certain 'chaos' factor for sure. Good luck whichever direction you decide to take.

 

[Hooz]

I just set up a 35 cube specifically to get the BTAs out of my SPS tank LOL. They do add that certain 'chaos' factor for sure. Good luck whichever direction you decide to take.

I started with a 10g AiO on my dekstop with a pair of baby Snowflake clowns, 3 BTAs (different colors) and 2 RFAs. 5 years later I now have about a dozen BTAs (no clue how many I've sold) 30 RFAs (they spawned and I've whittled them down from about 50) and the same pair of clowns.

In the meantime I "rescued" a Mocha Storm from a buddy's frag tank. Originally I just put it in a 30g LPS tank with no anemones at all. After BJD ripped through that tank and decimated almost all the coral in 4 days (almost made me quit the hobby throwing 90 heads of dead hammers/torches/frogspawn/octospawn away) I decided to migrate the anemones to that tank instead so I could shut down the 10g. Well... I can't move the clowns out of the 10g until I move the big old Mocha Storm out of the 30g. But now that she's figured out what anemones are all about (she LOVES them), I'll feel bad putting her in a tank without them.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to put an anemone into a tank that I swore to myself would never have an anemone in it!

This hobby is so fun.

 

[Red_Beard]

I started with a 10g AiO on my dekstop with a pair of baby Snowflake clowns, 3 BTAs (different colors) and 2 RFAs. 5 years later I now have about a dozen BTAs (no clue how many I've sold) 30 RFAs (they spawned and I've whittled them down from about 50) and the same pair of clowns.

In the meantime I "rescued" a Mocha Storm from a buddy's frag tank. Originally I just put it in a 30g LPS tank with no anemones at all. After BJD ripped through that tank and decimated almost all the coral in 4 days (almost made me quit the hobby throwing 90 heads of dead hammers/torches/frogspawn/octospawn away) I decided to migrate the anemones to that tank instead so I could shut down the 10g. Well... I can't move the clowns out of the 10g until I move the big old Mocha Storm out of the 30g. But now that she's figured out what anemones are all about (she LOVES them), I'll feel bad putting her in a tank without them.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to put an anemone into a tank that I swore to myself would never have an anemone in it!

This hobby is so fun.

That is no joke. In 6 years, i think im at about 50 or so. Sorry to hear of your LPS losses, that really sucks, but ya, once those clowns really get settled with nems they are never the same without them.

 

[RichReef]

If I can piggyback a question here, that would basically make it too big for a 15 Gallon, correct? Would you recommend anything for a smaller aquarium?

An LTA would be way too big.

Mini Maxi carpet.
Rock Flower.
Mini Rose Bubble Tip.
Sunburst.