Anenome in a SPS system...

[Finn450]

Hi all...I have a 120 SPS system and included are a beautiful pair of black clowns. The clown seem to be content with their favorite area of the tank, but think if they had a nice anenome would be much happier. I've read about movement, chemical warfare etc...I have an open area in a front corner of the tank...any thoughts of this as a problem?

[wildtigg3r]

Anemone will always move no matter where you place it. Always best to put the anemone into the tank first, let it settle and then add the rest of your corals in later.

If you do add one, just hope it doesn't move a whole lot. Try a carpet anemone. They tend to stay at the lower water column.

[jasonp87]

+1 on nems moving. I had one that would take about a 2 week cycle all the way around the tank. Twice a month he would make the full route. His buddy in the same tank never moved. Each one is different but they have the potential to let go with their foot and float around and land somewhere new.

[socalaly]

If you can try to buy one that already has its foot planted in a rock...buy the rock too obviously. Ive had some that move a little but usually stuck to one side of the tank.

[davocean]

Well, I think most people's experience would be w/ BTA's, which may be much more forgiving in the ability to keep them, but they do wander a great deal more, and they are rock dwellars, so when they wander they sting and kill everything in their path.
This is why I have mostly kept sand dwellars, and in my experience very often you can place them and not have them wander at all.
A few things to consider, how is your tank set up, how long, lights, sand bed, and what clowns do you have(it's really nice to have a natural host nem/clown combination)
Can it be done?
Sure, I had my Sebae(H.crispa) and LTA(M.Doreensis) in my 180g mixed for 5 and a half years w/out issues, and I have a Malu in my mixed now.
I do run carbon to help prevent and chemical warfare, but really that is only an issue when things are disturbed, and I've never seen any real signs of it.
Pic of my old 180g that was mixed w/ nems.

[wrestle1952]

I had a GBTA and left for Winter Break. When I returned it split into three seperate anemones, wandered throughout the tank and killed @ 15 acros, damaged others.

[Jarederaj]

I would go with a colt coral or nepthea. Ive had two different pairs of clowns and they both decided to host it. They dont move or sting so thats why i chose that over nems

[littlereefer]

my clowns love to host my duncan heads (very long tentacles though)...

[Bogg]

You guys are right But I've had several rbta stay in one spot in my sps tank since 06
I'm assuming I got very lucky with the placement, on a rock on the sandbed imbetween both.

[h20poloman]

my sebae hasn't moved since I placed in my tank however, it has grown and likes to spread it's tentacles out FAR. If it's any consolation I don't plan on putting it my tank upgrade and I'm in a 120g right now.