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assuming greenhouse is not an option, would cheap home depot power compact bulbs 6500K be a good lighting source for this type of project? yes... and in fact, if the pool is shallow enough (less than 20"), you can use standard output fluorescent "plant grow" 40 watt lamps (see k high CRI over 90 if possible, high PAR/warm color 5000-7000K) And yes... the clownfishes will be a burden and handicap. Never use in anemone fragging systems. Mark - it is hard to say on minimum quantities, my friend... but on the lowest end, several dozen per month minimum.
. Anthony Calfo
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Last Login: 11/17/2009 10:33:37 PM
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| Did some quick math allowing for a longer splitting interval of 12 weeks, and assuming 100 broodstock anemones with no losses... which would produce about 300 saleable anemones per year. Even hoping for $20/ea only returns $6K/yr not considering expenses or time invested. Seems like producing these profitably at the hobbiest level would be difficult and that the tight margins would make scaling this up to a commercial level, and paying for labor, a challenge indeed. - Mark
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| [quote]yes... the clownfishes will be a burden and handicap. Never use in anemone fragging systems.quote] Anthony, is there anything that you could add to your farm tank to add a little interest. I know we are talking farm functional over "sexy" but since mine is in my livingroom... is there anything that would not be a handicap?
Heather
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Group: Moderators
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Did some quick math allowing for a longer splitting interval of 12 weeks, and assuming 100 broodstock anemones with no losses... which would produce about 300 saleable anemones per year. The doubling cycle for anemones like Entacmaea and Heteractis species is 2-4 weeks. Even at 8 weeks though, doubling a 100 starter colony 6 more times annum is light years more than 300 anemones.
. Anthony Calfo
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Anthony, is there anything that you could add to your farm tank to add a little interest. indeed... do try co-culturing a non-cnidarian invertebrate: lettuce nudibranchs, some beautiful sea stars, et cetera.
. Anthony Calfo
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The doubling cycle for anemones like Entacmaea and Heteractis species is 2-4 weeks. Really? Not debating here... just trying to take a serious look as to whether this might be viable in a non-greenhouse setup where I'm paying for lights, electricity, etc. I thought splitting them at 12 weeks was being agressive based on your four months conditioning recommendation and my observations of the healing time of my E. quads. Perhaps I misunderstood and the four month conditioning recommendation is just for the initial conditioning of wild-caught specimans? My intent would be to grow the broodstock numbers initially to the level required for a predictable level of output. The broodstock numbers wouldn't change thereafter since all the clones would be sold off as they were produced. From the initial 100, splitting at two months, would produce 600 saleable anemones without depleting the broodstock. (In my earlier post, it was supposed to be 300 when splitting at four months, 400 when splitting at three). Sounds like you don't think it will be difficult finding a distributor who could reliably move 600 per year? Thanks for the help, - Mark
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Really? Not debating here... just trying to take a serious look as to whether this might be viable in a non-greenhouse setup where I'm paying for lights, electricity, etc. really, yes. Have done it and see others do it too with E. quads for many years now. Perhaps I misunderstood and the four month conditioning recommendation is just for the initial conditioning of wild-caught specimans? correct... the initial broodstock. Much like wild Xenia is weak, struggling and dismal on arrival and takes sometimes months to even begin to show growth or any vigorous reproduction, but once it finally established, its cycle of harvest is 10-14 days for doubling time. Sounds like you don't think it will be difficult finding a distributor who could reliably move 600 per year? a visit to an LA wholesaler during an off week will make this clear and be reassuring (and inspiring to you to want to save anemones  )
. Anthony Calfo
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| Mark, per Anthony, you can split them ever 2-4 WEEKS. If you only split once per month, splitting 100 per month would leave 100 to sell each month (after healing). So, if you did wait 4 months to condition them... sold 100 each month thereafter, that would be 800 in the remaining 8 months of the year. Even at $10 each, that's $8,000 for the year. At @ $20, well, that's YEE HA!!  (unless i am completely mistaken... and that has been known to happen)
Heather
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The time between splits is key and changes the economics dramatically. In E. quads the column is closed but not fully regrown in two weeks. I was under the impression that one should allow 12-16 weeks of healing before splitting an anemone again. Even splitting every four weeks results in a much more satisfying set of numbers. Thanks! - Mark
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| Anthony, one more question if I may... What is your experience/opinion of doing three or four way splits of the anemones as opposed to simple bilateral division? - Mark
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