When to get an anemone

[cicrush13]

Hey there,

I’m doing some digging on figuring out when to get an anemone for my clowns. Tank has been up now for 2 months and is cycled. I’ve done Dr. Tim’s bacteria in the tank and everything is looking good.

I am monitoring water parameters and everything is going well so far. I’m planning on waiting until the end of March before getting anything else for the tank. My question is would that be too soon for an anemone even with dosing with Dr Tim’s?

 

[Scubabum]

Many people will tell you to wait on adding the Anemone but I can share my latest experience. After my cycle the Anemone was the first thing I added to allow it to attach and move if it wanted, without stinging other corals. That was over 4 years ago and it's doing great, still in the same spot and hosting my clowns.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Usually, what I tell people is that if your tank's parameters are consistent and stable. Then you are ready for an anemone. For some, it can be pretty soon after you start a tank, for others, it might be a couple of months.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I would say when you are growing coraline algae

 

[painter1982]

I added one four months in. Now it has multiplied to eleven in less than a year. Be prepared for them to multiply and take over.

 

[Tahoe61]

I would say when you are growing coraline algae

Than I would never have anemones. BTA and LTA are not particularly sensitive to the parameters associated with coraline algae growth. The answer is highly variable, how did the tank cycle....?

 

[dvgyfresh]

Than I would never have anemones. BTA and LTA are not particularly sensitive to the parameters associated with coraline algae growth. The answer is highly variable, how did the tank cycle....?

There is no one simple answer to the question , but in general if you are growing coraline algae the tank has reached some sort of stability / maturity that would be great for nems - my advice is my advice not saying it’s the golden rule. I added a nem one month into my tank start up but I started with all live rock covered in coraline algae already. Stable parameters is not all a nem requires in my experience but also a bacterial maturity of some sort that I cannot identify

 

[cicrush13]

I would say when you are growing coraline algae

Than I would never have anemones. BTA and LTA are not particularly sensitive to the parameters associated with coraline algae growth. The answer is highly variable, how did the tank cycle....?

I did Dr Tim’s and dosed with ammonia until the cycle completed.

 

[oakcityreefer]

Many people will tell you to wait on adding the Anemone but I can share my latest experience. After my cycle the Anemone was the first thing I added to allow it to attach and move if it wanted, without stinging other corals. That was over 4 years ago and it's doing great, still in the same spot and hosting my clowns.

I added a Chicago sunburst less than 30 days after cycle. It’s been doing great for the last month. Lots of bubbles on the tips. I do feed it a couple times a week just to make sure it’s happy.