continuing anemone issues

[Bill S]

I'll second or third the advice on buying a clone. They will have a much better chance of surviving. Also, how old is your tank? Nems tend to like older established tanks.

[k8edid]

Thanks everyone. I have tried getting the clones from people that I know, and those didn't do any better unfortunately. This one is an attempt to keep the clowns from killing the Duncans with their "love." So far, so good. This one has found a spot directly under the spot that I put him to begin with, and he uses the rock that he came in on to hide under when the lights go out. After the lights come back on, he gets around to extending out into view.

I run 4 small heaters as a double redundancy. Those are also on 2 different circuits. This hobby is one of trial and error. My first tank in 1990 was a FOWLR with an under gravel filter. I shut that down and sold all when I moved to Texas. Took a couple of years before I got back into it.
I have had my share of disasters, leaks, bursting hoses, equipment failures, vacation non-feeders (people). So, I have made everything that I can have some sort of backup. Spare pumps and hoses in the cabinet for that "o heck no" moment. I have built my own denitrator and such.

My current tank has been in continuous operation now for almost 10 years. I have had a couple of other tank configs over that 10 years, but have kept coming back to this one. Now I'm getting impatient to try a "new" config of a shallow tank, say 8' x 1' x 1' or so. Usually I get the new one set up physically, put some new water in it, and start transferring sand, rocks, heaters, etc. and by the end of a week everything gets moved. This time I am also adding some new plumbing to the house - a sink with tap and drain, and a small RO unit that attaches to the tap - in the wall next to the placement of the new tank hidden by a pantry type cupboard.

My husband has been a cancer patient and when he was not doing well, his favorite activity was to watch the tank. Beats the heck out of what's on the tube.

Thanks.

[Dean]

You know, I also wanted nems mainly for the clownfish / anemone symbiotic relationship. When I did find the right BTA for my tank my clowns did not want to have anything to do with it. They LOVE their toadstool leather coral and would have nothing to do with any mere BTA. The great thing about that is you don't have to worry about where the toadstool may end up in the morning. Much more than you can say for anemones. I ended up selling and trading my anemones off because sooner or later they would take to wondering around. Besides, the clowns thought they were stinky or something.