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 Posted 9/7/2006 11:17:14 AM |
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| Your Demo in SoCal was so inspiring that I am chomping at the bit to start propagating anemones!! I am ordering your book!, but I wondered what is the bare minimum that a good farming tank requires for say... rose anemones? I am on the single mom budget, but I want to do it responsibly, and to give the critters GOOD care! You and I spoke of huge water changes, so I took form that, that a skimmer is not entirely necessary. Good light would be necessary. Astro turf so that they can hold on... but can be easily removed. Powerheads for movement (with well protected intakes). Heater. What else do they need?
Heather
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| Posted 9/10/2006 10:32:09 PM |
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but I wondered what is the bare minimum that a good farming tank requires for say... rose anemones? For propagation you need to think less bling and more sensible/affordable, that should not equate the bare minimum. You want the best you can give, the optimum not the minimum.
With that said, proper filtration (they need to be fed well and their waste removed efficiently), good lighting, some crazy good water flow. Little to nothing else.
I am on the single mom budget, but I want to do it responsibly, and to give the critters GOOD care! You can do this CHEAP if you are resourceful. You and I spoke of huge water changes, so I took form that, that a skimmer is not entirely necessary. Quite the contrary, they are very useful. I am assuming being a single mom your time is not your own many days. Though it's easy to setup a system that can do a 80% + water change in minutes, there will be weeks when it's just not possible. Like I said there is so much waste, affect after propagation, etc that must be taken care of. A skimmer is an amazing safeguard to have. Could you get away without one, sure. Would it be a good idea to try that out, not IMHO. Astro turf so that they can hold on... but can be easily removed. I've tried the astro turf, yes it's good for removing the anemone but I don't like how weakly the anemones attach. A fine product for wholesalers who want the anemone in and out. I don't think that's healthy for them at all for propagation, especially when they are trying to heal after propagation. I like indoor/outdoor carpeting much more. The anemone attach's more firmly and it's simple as pie to remove them.
Anthony might have experience differently but that's just what I've seen.
Think about adding ozone. It's a sweet deal at speeding up healing IME. Try a search in this forum on this subject, plenty of threads will come up. |
____________________________________-Amy-
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| Posted 9/11/2006 10:36:05 AM |
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first off... WELCOME to MD forums  Its a pleasure for me to hear that you are inspired too Good for you, and good for the hobby. Great advice form Amy/Tippytoex too. Do consider. And yes... please know/see the sticky atop each of the "experts" forums here were where have collected some of the best of the best information for you in archives. My sticky "Fav links" atop this forum is chock full of info... including anemone propagation (see the post in that thread called "discussions" and see the anemone link in the list) Single-mom budget - no problem! The anemone system as Amy states needs to be farming functional, not display sexy (bling-bling) Agreed on the indoor-outdoor carpeting for farming... do line any cheap (but strong) water holding vessel you can fit it. What size space do you have to work with? Can you do something in the 50 gallon range? Say 18" X 36 " footprint? You might use a sturdy rubbermaid brand tote from costco or Wal-mart/target. OR a small feed trough... used aquarium... whatever. Basically, something strong that holds water and costs closer to 50 cents p[er gallon to buy (never more than $1/gall. You will need a strong airpump ( see the Tetra Tec brand... get the biggest, its still cheap) and get a large gang valve too with some airline tubing. One line will be to operate a large pond sponge filter for the tanks filtration (see Tetra or Jungle brand large sponge filters). For the other airlines available, you can make PCV lift tubes (pipes with elbows sitting at the surface or slightly below. Notch the pipe down low and inject an airline (rigid stem) down one third the length of the tube. These will be cheap water moving devices for you and spare the fear of overflows or pumps killing anemones. All for the cheap cost of mere pennies in electricity (a few dollars?) per month to operate. Have a battery operated airpump on hand for power outages too... these lifts and sponge filter will give you filtration, aeration and circulation all for cheap! A 50 gallon aquarium can earn you a minimum of $6K per year out of it. Easily double that frankly (based on one anemone per gallon... cut in half once monthly... and sold for only $10 each to a small or medium sized regional wholesaler. You may well do better on production or price and make far more here) Please don't be shy to ask questions... please go slow... and please do post your results, pics if/when you can. Best of luck and life Anth-
. Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 9/11/2006 10:37:49 PM |
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| You are both so kind to reply/help!! I picked up a used but lovely 75Gallon tank, stand, and canopy for only $140. I was going to start a bigger reef... but then there was your speech Anthony. I have a reef... I don't have an Anemone farm!! I'll devour more articles and report back. THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Any tips on how you get a foot into the door with wholesalers (once you have a good batch of critters)?
Heather
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| Posted 9/12/2006 9:28:05 AM |
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| for wholesalers... do let me know when/if you are ready. The key (it's crucial!!!) is to be really very established and be able to consistently produce the amount of anemones you promise. Most folks fail to do this. Holler back when you have thriving colony and I will personally introduce you to an appropriate wholesaler.
. Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 9/12/2006 10:08:01 AM |
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That is incredibly generous Anthony! THANK YOU!!
Heather
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| Posted 9/12/2006 10:14:54 AM |
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My pleasure, truly... for you and the reef/hobby we love.
.Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 9/25/2006 12:54:08 AM |
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| Anthony/Amy, Assuming greenhouse is not an option, would cheap home depot power compact bulbs 6500K be a good lighting source for this type of project?
====== Vaporize
- I am insanely addicted to clownfish, cannot be save by any mortal means. 22 types and counting...
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| Posted 9/25/2006 1:01:45 AM |
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| Also adding a clownfish is a bad idea as it is an irritant to the anemone, is this hypothesis correct? thx
====== Vaporize
- I am insanely addicted to clownfish, cannot be save by any mortal means. 22 types and counting...
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| Posted 9/25/2006 7:37:03 AM |
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...The key (it's crucial!!!) is to be really very established and be able to consistently produce the amount of anemones you promise. What, would you guess, would be the minimum regular quantity a wholesaler would likely be interested in? Wholesaler purchases are typically made monthly, quarterly? Thanks, - Mark
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