want to have a Stichodactyla haddoni some day

[dogfrog]

Setting up a 220 gall tank and would love some input on what should be done in setup to be able some day house a Stichodactyla haddoni

Tank is 72 X 30 X 24 (LWH). Its set up for a close loop and will have about 5500 gph flow via the loop, The loop consist of 2 X 2” outs with 8 X 1” ins. With only 4 ins open at any given time. Plan is to have the flow run clockwise for a few hours and the change to counter wise flow. Sump will be a 150 gal and will be using a dart for that. No powerheads planded for right now but I know I will have to use at least one to keep flow incase of power outage. There will be a +/- 4” sand bed in the whole tank with all rock supported by some type of racking so the rock will not have all its weight on the sand (200 lbs+ of Marco Rock) Halides are planed for lighting (PFO Pro Hood) Right now I have 400 watt X 3 and 220 watts of VHO. Skimmer will be a Tunze Master DOC Skimmer 9460. ½ hp Chiller and Ca Reactor. Fish planed are a few tangs (2) a pair of clowns (open to what type), a few Anthias, and maybe fish from the Butterfly family (2) (Heniochus or Moorish Idol, yes I know of the feeding problems with the Idols). Will also have some LPS and some SPS.

This tank has been in the planning stage for over a year and in the next few weeks I will finally have water in it. Just waiting for some plumbing parts to arrive.

There will be no “Live rock” used at all at first, as I don’t want any pest imported at the begging. I will be loading up the sand with bugs and worms. Water depth will be aprox 21” less the sand depth so I could be looking at only 17” of water. Lighting might be lowered to 3 x 250watt halides


Also plan at a later date to tie in a small cube tank to grow Mangroves.

Any good input would be welcome

[Peter Eichler]

Probably not what you want to hear, but... Do cube tank as an anemone species tank and attach it to your system rather than the mangrove tank. While it can be done, S. haddoni just isn't a good idea in a mixed reef, especially with all those grazing fish.

Other random notes... Getting Moorish Idols to eat really isn't all that hard, getting them to live for more than 18 months is. Also, if you don't already have the skimmer and the chiller and have any desire to save money you could easily do so in those two areas without hurting the system in any way, IMO.

[Toddrtrex]

While others have had issues with Haddonis eating their fish, I have only lost 2 in the 10+ years that I have been keeping them --- a yellow watchman goby and a Mandarin.

One thing that sticks out is that you seem to be planning a lot of flow. IME, Haddonis aren't fans of a lot of flow, too much will make them move around and try to hide from it.

I would be worried about the butterfly's you are planning. While Haddonis have potent stings, they still can be "attacked". I used to have a blue face angel in my tank that would go after my Haddoni anytime the clowns weren't looking.

If you do decide to get one, make sure that it is sticky and its mouth is tightly closed. If getting one from an LFS, make sure it has been there at least 2 weeks -- in the last couple of years it seems like they have become poor shippers and have a habit of dying within the first couple of weeks of being shipped.

[dogfrog]

Thanks for the info Peter and Todd. I want to set it up as close to right the first time .


Todd... What type of flow then?

Peter... I might be with you on the idea of no skimmer but the price was way too good to pass up. I like the deep sand method idea.

[Peter Eichler]

Originally Posted by dogfrog

Thanks for the info Peter and Todd. I want to set it up as close to right the first time .


Todd... What type of flow then?

Peter... I might be with you on the idea of no skimmer but the price was way too good to pass up. I like the deep sand method idea.

Didn't mean going skimmerless, just that the Tunze is a very expensive skimmer and that you could get similar performance for much cheaper.

As for flow, your anemone will most likely find a place that has less flow and that it likes, just don't expect it to be where you want the anemone... It may also take a very expensive walk in the process by killing anything in its path. However, S. haddoni tend to stick with the sand so it's often not a big deal.

[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by dogfrog

Thanks for the info Peter and Todd. I want to set it up as close to right the first time .


Todd... What type of flow then?

Peter... I might be with you on the idea of no skimmer but the price was way too good to pass up. I like the deep sand method idea.

Hard to say for sure. But, in my 75 I have 2 SureFlow MaxiMods -- but only one on at a time and a 500 GPH return (( guessing at that number, since I have it throttled back ))

My 58 has 2 SIEOs, an 1100 and a 600 -- both on wave makers. Plus about 500 GPH return. I tried to add another powerhead about a year ago and the Haddonis didn't care for that one bit.

[dogfrog]

Again thanks for your time.

So if I am seeing some sort of pattern here is that they do not like very much flow. So then could there place that they pick in the tank be controlled by flow? Meaning a powerhead here or there could make it a place they would not like to stay?

Aquascaping could also control where they call home?

Mark

[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by dogfrog

Again thanks for your time.

So if I am seeing some sort of pattern here is that they do not like very much flow. So then could there place that they pick in the tank be controlled by flow? Meaning a powerhead here or there could make it a place they would not like to stay?

Aquascaping could also control where they call home?

Mark

The only reason I don't like a closed loop with Haddonis is that it is harder to move the returns if the Haddoni is being bothered. With powerheads you can move them around until you find the sweet spot where the other corals are happy and the anemone is happy too.

I have noticed that if I move a powerhead over just an inch or two mine will become unhappy and either retract or move. Though once they are settled they seem to stay put. And with them being sand dwelling anemones (( IME, right at the sand/rock interface )) there is less chance of them stingy any other corals.