Restless Ritteri / Mag - time for more light?

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FernBluffReef

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Some of you may recall. I setup a new tank in December and put a Ritteri in tank as soon as was cycled (30 days from first wet). Little guy had a bacteria infection and had to be removed to receive hospital treatment and has been thriving ever since. It’s now been a little over 6 months since completing its hospital stay and what once was a small Ritteri is a now a monster, err magnificent animal ;-). Previously was maybe 5” in diameter. At this point the anemone is closer to 16”+ and to my dismay growing non stop even though i intentionally do not directly feed it…. Tank is only 112gallons and the Ritteri owns the tank. So pretty but getting BIG.

Ritteri has recently become unsettled. Every day, for the last two weeks, doing a lap or two around its rock pedestal. During the day it reliably returns to its place on top of its pedestal where maximum light is but it’s obviously hunting for a new home. Previously it did not move much.

I assume it’s time for more light at this point. I have a Red Sea Pendant with qty 3 RS90 LEDs. The anemone has ~350 PAR +/- 50 depending on how high the anemone standing at the time.

My first preference is to add a forth RS90 to the pendant centering two of the four lights directly above the anemone, but I’m concerned that RS90 light will cover the entire tank in that area and as such it won’t necessarily encourage the anemone to stay in its place vs how a spotlight might.

The second option I’m considering, is a Kessel 160WE Tuna Blue. If I went this way I think the light would be more concentrated hopefully increasing the likelihood of keeping the anemone in its place. My concern is how ugly it would be to add a gooseneck to the clean look of the pendant lit tank. I’ve considered if I can lash the Kessel into the pendant so the goose neck isn’t needed but then wonder would the coverage remain central enough to help please the anemone or if such in the end would be little different then just adding the extra RS90.

Lights in pedestal are mounted to Red Sea spec at about 8.5” above the surface of the water for a coverage of around 24”. I’ve not found decent data on the Kessel to tell me what it’s coverage area might be if I were to lash it into the pedestal at a similar height?

Thoughts on which way to go? Or other options to consider.

Sorry for the long post, current picture below for your effort in reading this far. There are two clown fish hiding in the nem if you can spot them. They rarely leave even for food, have to target feed them - so spoiled.
IMG_5934.jpeg
 
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Perhaps build the pedestal taller, closer to the light.
I had pedestal up to 6 inches from the surface of the water. You can also add more light or change current light for more powerful light, or do all of the above.
 
Perhaps build the pedestal taller, closer to the light.
I had pedestal up to 6 inches from the surface of the water. You can also add more light or change current light for more powerful light, or do all of the above.
Thought about adding something to the top of the pedestal for the nem to stand on. Seen a couple tanks where that was done with some flat round platform purpose built.

I’m a bit concerned in doing so as When constructed I tried to be very conservative on how I glued the rocks as permanent is never so permanent but been really happy with. But have wondered if the weight of such a large anemone (more likely the flow against its surface area) may eventually cause the rock structure to collapse and if I put a place for the nem on top that it might make that happen sooner.

Since these are all in water. My prior 180
g 22 years ago I just piled rock. Thoughts if im being overly concerned over nothing given in water and in many ways floating?
 
Finally got a light for the nem. Installed over thanksgiving break. Kessil A160WE tuna blue - so just 40W more. I made myself a mount within my pendent and placed the light directly beside one of the other lights having to shift them around a bit. Light comes on ~2 hours after the main lights rise and off ~2 hours before sunset. Sits ~4” closer to the water’s surface than the main lights.

It took the nem about a month to finally move the short distance to be directly under the light (surprised me, I expected it to move to the light quicker).

It’s not moved since and just keeps getting bigger / has learned to just all out sprawl out in the light. I’ve only turned the light up to maybe 25%. and just a bit whiter light setting than the main lights. Even then the nems side of the tank is much brighter.

Have not rented a par meter since installing the light - was ~300+ at the base of the rock before installing so standing up it’s gotta have 500 plus now. I’ve increased the lights intensity once, not sure I need to go any higher as It seems to be happy where it is now, but it’s gotta stop growing. Clowns are laying eggs ~10 days and are quite happy that their home is no longer a mobile home. Let’s hope my saying that doesn’t cause the nem to start to roam again :)

76005727579__F7AC320E-FC1B-4C42-AE2D-C168A76AAFCC.jpeg IMG_6544.jpeg
 
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If you're gonna do kessil ..try the 500 x
 

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