[Anemone in new tank]

OK, I know, don’t put an Anemone in a new tank ! Problem is, the guy at the LFS convinced me it was ok to put an Anemone in my new tank and I only read about how wrong he can be after I brought a Condylatics home.  After reading about all the Anemone warnings, I am wondering what I should do to improve my Condi’s chances of survival.  

 

My tank has had it Nitrite  Ammonia level at zero for about 2 months now.  It has pretty good water movement since my power head has two outputs.  The Condi I got was about 6 inches wide and very healthy.  Since I brought it home, it has shrank to about half the size, sometimes as small as 2 inches.  I am aware that Anemones contract and expand every now and then. I got it 3 days ago and I know it probably shrunk due to stress in a new environment, but how long should I wait before expecting it to return to the 6” size ?  

 

It has been feeding and moving about the tank and seems to have settled in one area.  What other things does any one have to suggest I should do ?  

 

What is the best food for a Condi ?  I’ve been feeding it frozen brine shrimp.I’ve read that Anemone’s don’t like changes in their environment.  Does that mean that I should not do any water changes for a few weeks ?  

[Jawfish didn]

I do have a large cleaning crew with hermit crabs & snails.  Also have a coral banded shrimp.  Didn't know they can stress out a Jawfish.  What do you  suggest I do when I get a new Jawfish ?

 

Any suggestions so to where I should go to get one in the DC metro area ?

[Jawfish didn]

I got a Jawfish 2 days ago and I found it dead this morning.  It did not die from carpet surfing as I’ve got the surface pretty well covered.  It was a  small Yellowhead, about 1 ½ inches.  My tank is only 2 month old and I’ve have had Ammonia and Nitrite at zero for over a month now.  I also have ,cleaning crew, 2 shrimps and corals do nicely for about a month now.   I therefore think my tank is cycled, though I am aware that some schools of thought suggest waiting for 6 months.  This is my first fish since I read that Jawfishes are less stressed when they are the first fish in the tank.

 

I have the same substrate as the National Aquarium’s Jawfish exhibit so I don’t think that is a problem. I also have the live rock sitting on PVC cones so as to avoid a cave in,  I did acclimatize it for a little over an hour when it was introduced 2 days ago.  It seem to have been doing well, though it had not built a barrow yet.  But I was told it may take a few days for it to do that.  I do have lots of coral pieces for it to use to build a barrow.  I also know that I am not home free until I see a barrow.  

 

I would like to get another one for one more try.  I would also like to get advise from other Jawfish owners before getting it.   My 5 year old has been looking forward to this Jawfish for months and I would rather not have her experience another death.   Thanks in advance.

[Feather Duster dead or alive ?]

I’ve just purchased 2 Feather Duster from a LFS.  One has been displaying it’s crown within hours of being in the tank. The other is still in it’s tube and has yet to display it’s crown. I believe this one is also the one that did not display it’s crown when it was in the LFS.  It was hard to tell for sure since there were so many in the tank and they all retracted when a hand was put in the tank.  I know it is still alive because you can feel the strong vibrations when you touch it.   How do I know when a Feather Duster is dead ?  Obviously not showing it’s crown is not in clear indicator.  But is this an indicator of a sick Feather Duster ?  Should I remove it from the tank so that it was not infect other inhabitants ?

 

I read that Feather Dusters are light sensitive. Does this mean I should keep them in “caves” where they are not exposed to the 200 watt of lighting I have ?

[substrate depth]

I have been getting all kinds of conflicting advise on substrate depth.  I have 3" to 4" of aragonite mixed with sand and a layer of crashed coral with shells above it, may be 1/4".

 

Someone tells me I should not have 1 grain over 3" or I'll have lots of problems down the road since my tank is only a 50 gallon.

 

Someone else tells me I need at least 4" since I plan to have a Jawfish.

 

I guess I am taking a poll of opinions here since the 2 "someone’s" are LFS vendors and may not be totally objective.

[sand crabs in tank]

My 5 year old wants to put the sand crabs she finds on the beach in our reef tank.  Is this OK ?  What about other creatures she finds on the beach.  I see this happening alot since we have a place at Bethany Beach.

[Jawfish]

Does anyone know where I can buy Jawfishes in the DC area ?

I have 4 inches of subtrate.  Is this enough to keep a pair of Jawfishes?

 

I am told the Jawfishes can really mess up the subtrate of a tank with their need to barrow.  Is this true ?

my subtrate is 2 inches of sand with 2 inches of Argonite above it.

[Bio Wheel vs Skimmer]

I have a Penguin Bio Wheel 330 Filter and a Skimmer with a carbon filter.

 

Is it true that when you have a skimmer that has a built in carbon filter, you no longer need a external bio wheel filter ?

[Metal Halide lighting]

My LFS guy tells me that MH is too hot for a small tank like the 45 Gallon tank I have; that many of their customers return their MH lighting to them due to heat.  They say all I need is compact flourescents.  

I am only planing to have a few anemones, clown fishes and jaw fishes and bunch of invertebrates.  

 

Is this just a sales pitch to sell JBJ compact flourescents they specialize in ?