As the subject heading suggest, I am interested in creating a species tank for BTAs. Unfortunately, however, there is not a comprehensive primer for hobbists interested in same. Nonetheless, it is my hope that this discuss will help me and possible get this think tank working to create a comprehesive, layman's guide to the anemone species thank

Toward this end I am interested in the following (1) any and all reference material regarding same; (2) advise regarding system set up; and (3) advise regarding using a seemingly defunct deepsand bed from a previous reef tank recently shut down.

I. Reference materials

I have had a great deal of trouble procuring reference materials that advise on how one can create a species tank for anemones--to date I have found a personal website, some articles from Dr. Ron which I ordered, a book about clown fishs and their host anemones, and a 1992 field guide. Any other materials out there?

II. System Setup

I understand the basics of what BTAs need--having been the hobby for years, however would like to ascertain exactly how I should set up the species tank. Several issues:

1) Lighting: 300 watts of VHO lighting should be enough, I presume; however how close should I hang the lamp to the tank water?

2) Aqua-scaping the tank: Currently have three nice aged peices of GARF aragnite Rock, was thinking of breaking these up to create a rocky landscape in the center of the Tank--akin to their natural enviroment-- in which the BTAs can settle in with caulerpa intermiggled throughout the tank

3) SUMP/Waterflow: I have resigned myself to the fact that powerheads in the tank just won't do it--covering same up with foam, etc, just seems messy and counterproductive--interest in creating a sump in which I can keep my heater, ph/temp monitors, more live sand, etc as well as pump water from it to the main tank--any suggestions?  Can I add my aqua C remora to this sump? or does same have to be added to the main tank? Goal here is to make the tank more aesthically pleasing--I just hate all the stuff in the main tank. What can I use for water flow--one of those wave makers? Saw a how to set up once regarding same--any thoughts--i refuse to use power heads--they are loud and don't last and they are dangerous to the BTA

4) Water treatment: R/O? I have one that needs to be refurbed--just hate using same as it wastes so much water--any other "MORE EARTH FRIENDLY" ways to handling top off and water changes. Top off is currently a large kitchen trash can and an aquamedic doser--opinions as to whether a power head should be used to aggitate water

5)Additives: Ideally would like to augment my coraline algae growth in the tank--if I use the GARF rock can I seed the tank and use additives to increase growth of same without compromising the BTA. What additives are ok for the BTA--read that iron is good--please advise what is any additive should be added--is reef plus ok?

6) Purchasing BTAS: has a network been set up in which one can purchase same from a hobbiest? If not what is the next best thing--were can healthy specimens be purchased

III. Use of Old Sand Bed

I currently have a 29 gallon with 5-6 inches of sand bed comprised of carib sea aragite and crushed shell and approx. 10-15 pounds of GARF Grunge--should I get rid of all this, make is smaller, or just add more to re-invigorate it? will Dr. Ron's book re sandbeds help here?

Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln

Mr. Calfo's Anemone Links Page:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic24714-13-1.aspx?Highlight=Anemone+propagation

Anemone Propagation System Build Log
(Dallas Forth Worth Marine Aquarium Society)
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=25142

Host Anemone & Light
(A Classic RC thread from 2001)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34041&perpage=15&highlight=anemone&pagenumber=5

Dr. Shimek's "Be A Host to Your Anemone" Article
(Reef Hobbyist Online)
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0505/main4.php

You mentioned getting materials from Dr. Shimek. If you didn't get it already, his booklet ...

Host Anemone Secrets
A Guide to the Successful Husbandry of Indo-Pacific Clownfish Host Sea Anemones
Dr. Ron Shimek
2001

... is arguably an excellent acquisition. Unfortunately, the hobbyist literature marketplace has largely overlooked anemone husbandry and culture, unless presented within the context of clownfishes as with Wilkerson's book (2001). The field guide by Fautin and Allen (1992) is currently about as good as it gets.

The majority academic research literature available online strikes me as both tantilizing and of limited direct value. Lots of research on genera like Aiptasia, Anthopleura, and Metridium ... virtually nothing on genera like Entacmea, Heteracis, and Stichodactyla.

This is representative of the stuff that I've been able to search out ...

The effects of illumination, food and symbionts on growth of the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima (Brandt, 1835). II. Clonal growth
Craig B. Tsuchida and Donald C. Potts
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Volume 183, Issue 2 , 3 November 1994, Pages 243-258
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T8F-4876DD3-1W&_coverDate=11%2F03%2F1994&_alid=505752531&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=5085&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=7c57f1029049dd9eb6274eb54b99ea5b

Prey Capture by the Sea Anemone Metridium senile (L.): Effects of Body Size, Flow Regime, and Upstream Neighbors
Anthony Krn
The Biological Bulletin, Vol 192, Issue 1 73-86, 1997
http://www.biolbull.org/cgi/content/abstract/192/1/73

Ammonium enhancement of dark carbon fixation and nitrogen limitation in symbiotic zooxanthellae: Effects of feeding and starvation of the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida
Clayton B. Cook, Gisde Muller- Parker and Christopher F. D ‘Elia
Limnol. Oceanogr., 37(l), 1992, 131-139, 1992
http://www.aslo.org/lo/toc/vol_37/issue_1/0131.pdf

Feeding factors for the sea anemone Anthopleura midorii
Y. Nagai and S. Nagai
Marine Biology
Volume 18, Number 1, 1973
http://www.springerlink.com/content/th7uhh6j88450445/

Physiological Variation among Clonal Genotypes in the Sea Anemone Haliplanella lineata: Growth and Biochemical Content
Michael G. McManus, Allen R. Place, William E. Zamer
Biological Bulletin, Vol. 192, No. 3 (Jun., 1997), pp. 426-443
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0006-3185(199706)192%3A3%3C426%3APVACGI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-V

Physiological energetics of the intertidal sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima . I. Prey capture, absorption efficiency and growth.
Zamer, WE
Marine Biology. Vol. 92, no. 3, pp. 299-314. 1986.
http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=1396857&q=&uid=789713131&setcookie=yes

... hardly the kind of practical reference set needed to inform a hobbyist interested in the husbandry of a bubble-tip anemone (or other genera commonly available in the trade). Even so, there is a variety of information related to light, symbiot zooxanthellae, flow, reproduction, and dietary requirements which may be indirectly applicable to the commonly kept genera.

HTH


Res Ipsa Loquitor.