Tube Anenomes

hi,
I had a tank back in the 80`s that wasnt a reef tank (special lighting)
BUT--- I managed to keep a beautiful Purple tube anemone for years in it. It
seemed to thrive and do fine with the brine shrimp and clam pieces I fed it.
I want to start a new marine aquarium w/o the hi-tech lighting. I cant
afford it. But I would like to have a nice tube anenome like the old days.
Did I just luck out years ago----or are these tube anenomes heartier than
others and formidable in a regular fish-only tank?
thanks for your help.

StringerBell wrote:
hi,
I had a tank back in the 80`s that wasnt a reef tank (special lighting)
BUT--- I managed to keep a beautiful Purple tube anemone for years in it. It
seemed to thrive and do fine with the brine shrimp and clam pieces I fed it.
I want to start a new marine aquarium w/o the hi-tech lighting. I cant
afford it. But I would like to have a nice tube anenome like the old days.
Did I just luck out years ago----or are these tube anenomes heartier than
others and formidable in a regular fish-only tank?
thanks for your help.


The thing about tube anemones is that they are not photosynthic so they
do not need great lighting, they just need to be feed.

Kim

I kept the same on for 15 years and it did not die of natural causes. As long as it is fed
correctly, not to much and not to little they will do fine. However, many have had
problems keeping them . It is usually a food thing and not keeping them off the bottom in
a tank. I kept mine in artificial tubes which by far is the best way.

--
Boomer

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up

Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php

Want to See More ! The Coral Realm
http://www.coralrealm.com



"StringerBell" wrote in message
...
: hi,
: I had a tank back in the 80`s that wasnt a reef tank (special lighting)
: BUT--- I managed to keep a beautiful Purple tube anemone for years in it. It
: seemed to thrive and do fine with the brine shrimp and clam pieces I fed it.
: I want to start a new marine aquarium w/o the hi-tech lighting. I cant
: afford it. But I would like to have a nice tube anenome like the old days.
: Did I just luck out years ago----or are these tube anenomes heartier than
: others and formidable in a regular fish-only tank?
: thanks for your help.
:
:

thanks for the reply---
one other question---
is there a type of anmonie that doesnt need special lighting that will
interact with clowns? In other words---I dont want to go nuts with a reef
tank---but I would like to have a simple Clown/anemonie relationship going
on. Is there a way I can chieve this without the "heavy duty lighting"
investment?

thanks again
"Boomer" wrote in message
...
I kept the same on for 15 years and it did not die of natural causes. As
long as it is fed
correctly, not to much and not to little they will do fine. However, many
have had
problems keeping them . It is usually a food thing and not keeping them
off the bottom in
a tank. I kept mine in artificial tubes which by far is the best way.

--
Boomer

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up

Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php

Want to See More ! The Coral Realm
http://www.coralrealm.com



"StringerBell" wrote in message
...
: hi,
: I had a tank back in the 80`s that wasnt a reef tank (special lighting)
: BUT--- I managed to keep a beautiful Purple tube anemone for years in
it. It
: seemed to thrive and do fine with the brine shrimp and clam pieces I fed
it.
: I want to start a new marine aquarium w/o the hi-tech lighting. I cant
: afford it. But I would like to have a nice tube anenome like the old
days.
: Did I just luck out years ago----or are these tube anenomes heartier
than
: others and formidable in a regular fish-only tank?
: thanks for your help.
:
:

"StringerBell" wrote in message ...
thanks for the reply---
one other question---
is there a type of anmonie that doesnt need special lighting that will
interact with clowns? In other words---I dont want to go nuts with a reef
tank---but I would like to have a simple Clown/anemonie relationship going
on. Is there a way I can chieve this without the "heavy duty lighting"
investment?

All host anemones are photosyntetic, but they do not require
strong light to live. I have a large bubble tip anemone under
two 96W power compacts (1x10000 and 1xactinic). I feed it
occasionally with larger morsel, my breeding pair of maroon
clownfish are feeding it also with what they do not eat and
it is doing just fine. One word of warning - properly fed
they grow quite fast and can become too big for small tank...
I kept mine in 3-feet/30 gallon and had to upgrade to 58 gallon
because it was smothering other corals in the nearby...

It will not do well under normal output fluorescence ligths
sold with average aquarium set, but you can get a tank and
some used lights from eBay or other place for very cheap...
Under my two 96W bulbs the anemone positioned itself very
close to the bottom - so the light is too strong for it anyway.

Thanks for your reply. I got a nice 65 gallon tank as a gift---so space
shouldnt be a problem. Can you be more specific about the types of lights
you are using? What is the general price range. What is the brand--where can
I get them and NOT get ripped off? The guy in the store said proper lighting
would be upwards of $500!!!
Also---is there some other kind of device I would need beside the Cannister
and Wet-Dry filters? Like I said---I`m not planning on Corals---all I want
to do is keep 1 healthy host anemonie. THANKS!

All host anemones are photosyntetic, but they do not require
strong light to live. I have a large bubble tip anemone under
two 96W power compacts (1x10000 and 1xactinic). I feed it
occasionally with larger morsel, my breeding pair of maroon
clownfish are feeding it also with what they do not eat and
it is doing just fine. One word of warning - properly fed
they grow quite fast and can become too big for small tank...
I kept mine in 3-feet/30 gallon and had to upgrade to 58 gallon
because it was smothering other corals in the nearby...

It will not do well under normal output fluorescence ligths
sold with average aquarium set, but you can get a tank and
some used lights from eBay or other place for very cheap...
Under my two 96W bulbs the anemone positioned itself very
close to the bottom - so the light is too strong for it anyway.

"StringerBell" wrote in message ...
Thanks for your reply. I got a nice 65 gallon tank as a gift---so space
shouldnt be a problem. Can you be more specific about the types of lights
you are using? What is the general price range. What is the brand--where can
I get them and NOT get ripped off? The guy in the store said proper lighting
would be upwards of $500!!!
Also---is there some other kind of device I would need beside the Cannister
and Wet-Dry filters? Like I said---I`m not planning on Corals---all I want
to do is keep 1 healthy host anemonie. THANKS!

I started with 30 gallons tank, it is 3 foot long, so I used
Coralife fixture as the single source of light... It had one
"smart" pc 96W bulb. Smart means simply it is half 10000K and
half "actinic". Then, I upgraded the lights to a home-made fixture
taking two similar 96W bulbs. This time I could save some $$$
and use single 10000K and single actinic ("smart" tubes are more
$$$). I got 2 96W kits from http://www.ahsupply.com/96watt.htm
and put them into this home-made box. It does not look very pretty
but it does not look ghetto either ;-)

Your 65 gallons tank is probably 4 feet long, so just pick
a power compact fixture of the proper lenght/width...
96W bulbs are out of the question because they will be too
short. You could pick a fixture with two or better 4 65W bulbs.

Instead of listening to "the guy" in the store check the prices
yourself! This one will cost you $200 fully assembled:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...roduct=ES53106
It might be not enough for the very tall tank - but you
can always try to build your rockwork to provide some room
close to lights for the anemone to settle to its liking...
To get more light pick a fixture with a parabolic reflector
instead of the flat one. The Coralife from the link above
looks like it has flat reflectors, but I had a different one
so I am not sure. Ask the people in the MarineDepot store.
Maybe they will recomend you 48" long fixture with parabolic
reflectors - they will be much better for taller tank like yours.

If you are handy, you can order "retrofit kits" and build your
canopy yourself. Retrofits consist of all parts needed to fit
the "empty box" with the light: AC cables, wire nuts, power supplies
(sometimes called "ballasts"), mirrored aluminium reflectors,
all hooks/clips to hold the bulbs and detailed instructions on
how to hook it up together...
The benefit of ordering kit is that you can put as many bulbs
as you like of the kind you choose... Factory made lamps do
look nicer, but if you are on the tight budget than the DIY
(Do It Yourself) is the way to go...

Thanks so much!
Stringer


"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
"StringerBell" wrote in message
...
Thanks for your reply. I got a nice 65 gallon tank as a gift---so space
shouldnt be a problem. Can you be more specific about the types of lights
you are using? What is the general price range. What is the brand--where
can I get them and NOT get ripped off? The guy in the store said proper
lighting would be upwards of $500!!!
Also---is there some other kind of device I would need beside the
Cannister and Wet-Dry filters? Like I said---I`m not planning on
Corals---all I want to do is keep 1 healthy host anemonie. THANKS!

I started with 30 gallons tank, it is 3 foot long, so I used
Coralife fixture as the single source of light... It had one
"smart" pc 96W bulb. Smart means simply it is half 10000K and
half "actinic". Then, I upgraded the lights to a home-made fixture
taking two similar 96W bulbs. This time I could save some $$$
and use single 10000K and single actinic ("smart" tubes are more
$$$). I got 2 96W kits from http://www.ahsupply.com/96watt.htm
and put them into this home-made box. It does not look very pretty
but it does not look ghetto either ;-)

Your 65 gallons tank is probably 4 feet long, so just pick
a power compact fixture of the proper lenght/width...
96W bulbs are out of the question because they will be too
short. You could pick a fixture with two or better 4 65W bulbs.

Instead of listening to "the guy" in the store check the prices
yourself! This one will cost you $200 fully assembled:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...roduct=ES53106
It might be not enough for the very tall tank - but you
can always try to build your rockwork to provide some room
close to lights for the anemone to settle to its liking...
To get more light pick a fixture with a parabolic reflector
instead of the flat one. The Coralife from the link above
looks like it has flat reflectors, but I had a different one
so I am not sure. Ask the people in the MarineDepot store.
Maybe they will recomend you 48" long fixture with parabolic
reflectors - they will be much better for taller tank like yours.

If you are handy, you can order "retrofit kits" and build your
canopy yourself. Retrofits consist of all parts needed to fit
the "empty box" with the light: AC cables, wire nuts, power supplies
(sometimes called "ballasts"), mirrored aluminium reflectors,
all hooks/clips to hold the bulbs and detailed instructions on
how to hook it up together...
The benefit of ordering kit is that you can put as many bulbs
as you like of the kind you choose... Factory made lamps do
look nicer, but if you are on the tight budget than the DIY
(Do It Yourself) is the way to go...

thanks so much for your help----will that light fixture be enough for me to
keep anemonies?---or do I need som other type equipment?
Remember---I only want to get the heartiest types of stuff out there----not
try to do anything exotic.

"StringerBell" wrote in message ...
thanks so much for your help----will that light fixture be enough
for me to keep anemonies?---or do I need som other type equipment?

Beside the lights I would put a large amount of live rock,
thick layer of fine sand "seeded" with a top layer of
live sand (DSB). In the sump I would add a skimmer to remove
dissolved organics before they turn into the nitrates and
I would skip on using any wet-dry or canister filters...
They are there to generate nitrates - this is not good.
They are great for freshwater tank, but not for the reef tank.
Also a heater and a couple of small powerheads inside the
tank to create additional water movement anemones like so much.
And that would be it!

Remember---I only want to get the heartiest types of stuff
out there----not try to do anything exotic.

Go to the public library in your area and borrow a book
titled: Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to
Creating Living Sal****er Microcosms (Paperback)
by John H. Tullock or just order it from Amazon.com
It will be about $20. Another great and very small book
is Host Sea Anemone Secrets (Paperback) by Dr. Ron Shimek $8
A must for you, if you want to keep happy sea anemone :-)
These two positions it is the best $30 investment in this
hobby you can make, before you start collecting expensive
equipment which has no use in a reef tank, like a canister
filter... unfortunatelly recommended by many fish stores.