Caring for these beautiful creatures
In living color with more pictures then you will find anywhere
There have been many people asking, "how small of a tank
can I use for an Anemone?"
This is my opinion
20 gallon.
The reasons for this are.......
More water volume and more space for it to expand.
With smaller then a 20 gallon tank you don't have the opportunity
to add 2 power heads to the tank to keep the water moving.
Filtration is hard in a smaller tank because of what you have to feed the
Anemone.
Silversides are large and will foul the water fast if it is not eaten and the
waste from the Anemone also adds to the problem.
Keeping a 20 is much easier to keep stable as opposed to a 10 gallon tank.
The next reason is lighting.
It is much easier to purchase a VHO fixture for a 20 gallon then a 10.
Also, your tank needs a skimmer.
A 10 gallon tank is impossible to find a skimmer for.
But there are many that can be purchased to fit a 20 gallon tank.
I keep Coralife fixtures over my smaller tanks and they are on legs made for them.
They are 96w bulbs and I like the duel bulbs(half actinic and half sunlight) .
They make for great color in the tank.
The more light wattage the better for them.
However, I have to add, I have never nor intend to use Metal Halides for any of my tanks
I see no need as I have no hard corals.
A normal screw in bulb with a cheap fixture that comes with 10 gallon tanks
are not near the amount of light you will need to keep one happy and healthy.
Here is a Coralife over my 45 gallon tank.
I love this fixture.
Filtration.
I have hang on filters on all of my tanks.
I prefer the AquaClear filters and use the 500's on all of my tanks.
They move the water fast and take a lot of filter media and Charcoal.
Very easy to change out the filter pads also.
My opinion is they are the best on the market for filtration.
I hate the canister filters, way to much work keeping them clean and
also are a pain to disconnect from the tank to clean.
And they are Nitrate factory's if not cleaned regularly.
I have also found that they do not move as much water as the hang on Aquaclear's
Adding an Aquaclear to a 10 gallon is possible but it would have to be a small one and that
will not move the water or filter near as well as a bigger unit.
Here is a picture of one in the box.
I was able to purchase 3 of these at a great price from a person on Ebay.
I love them.
(Remember to cover the intake!)
See the section on that subject
Water movement.
I absolutely insist on at least 2 Power heads in my tanks.
One in each back corner.
I want that water moving in two directions and coming together in the middle of the
tank pointing straight forward to keep the water moving around at all times.
I will add a third one if I can fit it in and add it to the middle pointing down to keep some
water movement on the sand. But not to much as to keep it from blowing around.
I really like the Seio power heads as they come with several different ways
to attach them in the tank, hang up or use the suction cups that come with them.
And they are very easy to point in any direction you wish.
They do create a vortex when close to the top of the tank however and suck in
air so I keep a piece of regular tape across the top bars of the inlet to keep it from
sucking in from the top of the unit.
They come in several different sizes also and can be bought on line
for less then SW stores sell them.
So remember
That cute little silver dollar size Anemone will grow fast when feed
properly so why not get him a good size home with the needed lighting and filtration
right from the start to take proper care of him?
I have placed a really tiny clone in a 10 gallon tank, within 3 weeks it had outgrown it. Stung everything
around it and was up to the top of the tank with some of its tentacles out of the water.
That was not good so he was moved to a 45 gallon tank immediately.
Here is the little fellow I am refereing to in the 10 gallon octagon.
Another problem is skimming the tank which is a must for small tanks.
I have yet to find a skimmer that will fit outside of a 10g tank .
I have purchases several that go inside, they work ok but sure take up a lot of room
and are ugly.
I have one in the 10 above, it
is on the right in the picture.
I hate the things. Take up at least 4" of
space in the tank.
(Have 2 for sale)
Just another reason for a larger tank.
So please consider purchasing at least a 20 gallon tank if you are just getting started.
Best of luck
can I use for an Anemone?"
This is my opinion
20 gallon.
The reasons for this are.......
More water volume and more space for it to expand.
With smaller then a 20 gallon tank you don't have the opportunity
to add 2 power heads to the tank to keep the water moving.
Filtration is hard in a smaller tank because of what you have to feed the
Anemone.
Silversides are large and will foul the water fast if it is not eaten and the
waste from the Anemone also adds to the problem.
Keeping a 20 is much easier to keep stable as opposed to a 10 gallon tank.
The next reason is lighting.
It is much easier to purchase a VHO fixture for a 20 gallon then a 10.
Also, your tank needs a skimmer.
A 10 gallon tank is impossible to find a skimmer for.
But there are many that can be purchased to fit a 20 gallon tank.
I keep Coralife fixtures over my smaller tanks and they are on legs made for them.
They are 96w bulbs and I like the duel bulbs(half actinic and half sunlight) .
They make for great color in the tank.
The more light wattage the better for them.
However, I have to add, I have never nor intend to use Metal Halides for any of my tanks
I see no need as I have no hard corals.
A normal screw in bulb with a cheap fixture that comes with 10 gallon tanks
are not near the amount of light you will need to keep one happy and healthy.
Here is a Coralife over my 45 gallon tank.
I love this fixture.
Filtration.
I have hang on filters on all of my tanks.
I prefer the AquaClear filters and use the 500's on all of my tanks.
They move the water fast and take a lot of filter media and Charcoal.
Very easy to change out the filter pads also.
My opinion is they are the best on the market for filtration.
I hate the canister filters, way to much work keeping them clean and
also are a pain to disconnect from the tank to clean.
And they are Nitrate factory's if not cleaned regularly.
I have also found that they do not move as much water as the hang on Aquaclear's
Adding an Aquaclear to a 10 gallon is possible but it would have to be a small one and that
will not move the water or filter near as well as a bigger unit.
Here is a picture of one in the box.
I was able to purchase 3 of these at a great price from a person on Ebay.
I love them.
(Remember to cover the intake!)
See the section on that subject
Water movement.
I absolutely insist on at least 2 Power heads in my tanks.
One in each back corner.
I want that water moving in two directions and coming together in the middle of the
tank pointing straight forward to keep the water moving around at all times.
I will add a third one if I can fit it in and add it to the middle pointing down to keep some
water movement on the sand. But not to much as to keep it from blowing around.
I really like the Seio power heads as they come with several different ways
to attach them in the tank, hang up or use the suction cups that come with them.
And they are very easy to point in any direction you wish.
They do create a vortex when close to the top of the tank however and suck in
air so I keep a piece of regular tape across the top bars of the inlet to keep it from
sucking in from the top of the unit.
They come in several different sizes also and can be bought on line
for less then SW stores sell them.
So remember
That cute little silver dollar size Anemone will grow fast when feed
properly so why not get him a good size home with the needed lighting and filtration
right from the start to take proper care of him?
I have placed a really tiny clone in a 10 gallon tank, within 3 weeks it had outgrown it. Stung everything
around it and was up to the top of the tank with some of its tentacles out of the water.
That was not good so he was moved to a 45 gallon tank immediately.
Here is the little fellow I am refereing to in the 10 gallon octagon.
Another problem is skimming the tank which is a must for small tanks.
I have yet to find a skimmer that will fit outside of a 10g tank .
I have purchases several that go inside, they work ok but sure take up a lot of room
and are ugly.
I have one in the 10 above, it
is on the right in the picture.
I hate the things. Take up at least 4" of
space in the tank.
(Have 2 for sale)
Just another reason for a larger tank.
So please consider purchasing at least a 20 gallon tank if you are just getting started.
Best of luck
