Blue Carpet anemone

**Jocelyn** · 06-13-2010, 04:24 AM

Hi there. I just got a blue carpet anemone for my tank. I found this forum while continuing my research on this beautiful creature, and I found a post that has me nervous now about the care of this anemone. Like the lady who was concerned about her blue carpet, I have only been into marine aquaria for 6 months, (I had fresh water my entire life thus far) I too was told by my LFS that the carpet anemone is fairly easy to care for and that it would be fine in my tank. I have had it for 3 days now, and it seems to be doing great so far. It attached to a peice of rock at the bottom of the tank, and has not moved since then. My two black clowns moved in within an hour of the arrival of the anemone. It has not deflated yet that I have seen, but the mouth is open (though not gapeing) but after reading about the other lady's post, I am worried as I am so new to marine, and want to make sure I am caring for it properly. I have never been on a forum so I apologize if this is long winded! I will attach a pic. And thanks in advance for any advice that may be offered.

**CarmieJo** · 06-13-2010, 10:19 AM

Hi Jocelyn and

to TR! Your post is just fine.

I have not kept a carpet so I can't give you a specific answer. But, to me, your carpet looks pretty good and it really shows off your clowns! What is your lighting?

Unfortunately, the LFS (local fish store) can give bad advice and I think at one time or another we have all fallen victim to them. I hope you become active here at TR. We always offer free advice and we aren't motivated by profit. There are areas where we prefer different techniques, ie deep sand bed (DSB), shallow sand bed (SSB) or bare bottom (BB), but you will find that you receive good advice and learn to grow in the hobby. Plus, you will find new friends who support you and don't get upset when you make mistakes.

**Jocelyn** · 06-13-2010, 10:54 AM

Thank-you for the welcome CarmieJo

I am excited to be here, knowledge is power! As to your question, I have T5HO double light strip (with 1 actinic) I will be getting another of these this month sometime. My tank is a 55 gallon and is longer than it is deep, so a halogen wasn't an option without the added expence of a chiller.(At least thats what my LFS told me) LOL I must admit, in the 6 months I have been running my reeftank, each store I have been to has the one or two salt specialists, and they all have such different opinions, and each one tells me they are correct and all else are wrong! To say the least it has been a confusing pursuit for knowledge, I guess it is like the saying about too many cooks in the kitchen! I am happy to be here to get advice that is not induced from a desire to get my cash!!

**Jocelyn** · 06-13-2010, 11:09 AM

BTW Carmie, I adore your corner unit, it is stunning! It is my goal to eventually up-grade to a tank approx. 90g and I plan on getting either a cube or a corner unit. Less than a year ago my 90 gallon reef ready bowfront (Which I bought new along with matching stand and canopy less than a year previously) was broken by some well meaning, unexperienced friends that where helping me move (I had to run out for 5 mins while disasembly was occuring) and they were not supposed to load it without me there, I was literally gone for 5 mins. I had been keeping chiclids in the tank until this move, at wich time I was going to switch over to salt, wich was the long term plan when I purchased this tank. To say the least, it was devastating as well as a very costly mistake. They felt horrible of course, but what can you do? Needless to say, I had to start over with a used 55 gallon until I am able to buget in a bigger tank again. I have always prefered the deeper tanks to the longer ones and am happy to see the current trend today for tanks is running along these lines

I imagine it came with halogens? It is very beautiful, and I look forward to watching it's progress!
Jocelyn

V · 06-13-2010, 12:33 PM

Hey kiddo, welcome to the TR cluster. You hit a great forum for a first run. In fact i personally couldn't ask for better! We've have been alittle slow of late ive noticed, however life sometimes has a nasty habit of getting in the way for the best of us. so, lets talk turkey, easiest way to truly understand something is to get our hands wet, so what do you know about this species from your research?

**CarmieJo** · 06-13-2010, 01:55 PM

Thanks for the compliments. Corner tanks make.a dramatic display but are hard to photograph. There is a 92 corner tank.

Do your lights have individual reflectors?

**Jocelyn** · 06-13-2010, 05:21 PM

Well, I have learned so far that most of what I learned before and at time of purchase was in fact incorrect, lol.. What I have learned since that I believe is correct is that these anemones are not the easiest to care for, they need good water current (but not direct) good water condtions, and preferably halogen lighting. I have been told that I will need to feed it a few times a week with shrimp, clams, peices of silversides etc. I have also found out that these anemones are fairly rare. I am guessing my lighting is not adequite (1 T5HO double bulb, 1 bulb being actinic) I will be getting a second second strip of the same kind in about 3 weeks, hopefully that will suffice?!

**Jocelyn** · 06-13-2010, 05:27 PM

Oh man, I think I replyed to your post on the wrong spot I am learning this site still! Do I hit 'Post quick reply' or do I hit 'Reply to thread?

**Jocelyn** · 06-13-2010, 05:29 PM

Well, the light strip is brand new(Hagen), and the whole inner backing behind the lights is one large reflector

**CarmieJo** · 06-14-2010, 01:47 AM

You can use either button to reply. "Reply to thread" gives you more options like smilies and attaching files.

T5 lights are OK but the big one piece reflectors are not as good as individual reflectors. I am not a lighting expert but I think that you probably need at least 6 T5's over a 55 to keep a carpet long term. I would avoid feeding it big chunks of food, opt for small pieces more frequently. I feed my bubbletip fish mush.

**Phurst** · 06-14-2010, 09:41 AM

I have to agree with Carmie on the lighting. 4 T5s (2 being actinic and not particularly helpful) isn't going to be enough, especially without individual reflectors. I'd say halides or 6 T5s with individual reflectors, with 4 of those bulbs being some variety of daylight bulbs. Beautiful carpet though!

**Jocelyn** · 06-14-2010, 10:12 AM

Thanks for the advice, I guess the best thing to do is make sure when I up-grade my aquarium size to invest in some halides, the tank I have won't fit 6, it only fits 4. (T5's)

**Phurst** · 06-14-2010, 10:57 AM

How long until your potential upgrade? You can help it survive with feedings, but it won't hold on forever.

**Jocelyn** · 06-14-2010, 01:35 PM

It will be about 6 months till upgrade

**techguy** · 06-14-2010, 05:19 PM

Welcome to TR Joecelyn!!!

That is an amazing blue carpet anemone! I am new to saltwater myself so I am unable to give advise regarding your situation other than to say you are in good hands here at TR. The people here are knowledgeable, helpful, and most important friendly. I look forward to following this thread and reading other postings of yours on here.

Best wishes for your blue carpet anemone.

**CarmieJo** · 06-14-2010, 09:30 PM

You can actually by 6 lamp T5 fixtures that are only about a foot wide.

V · 06-14-2010, 10:17 PM

total irrony, if memory serves, its not a true carpet

ok, so currently you have a 55gal with a twin strip correct.
You mentioned getting a second.
as mentioned, thats 4. - swap out the actinic for a start, that will give you 4 daylight bulbs as a cheap bandaid.

How deep is the tank ?
by the look of your photo its attched to a rock at sand level correct?
ou said HO lighting, whats the Watt rating?

I agree also with gross feed size, just small cube it & feed every few days, anything not accepted remove. Watch to see if the mouth part restricts, it performs a function, so i wouldn't expect to see it open all the time. Also watch your other fish, the clowns will be fine, however anything else that strays to close on lights out can be consumed.