Lighting confusion Bob - I have looked over the site recently (and ordered your book) but, I have an issue I would like to get you to weigh in on. I am saving up to buy a quality 125G reef set-up, but in the meantime I am planning on setting up a 29-gallon tank. I want to put in an anemone or two, a clown fish or two, a crab (if I can find one that will form a symbiotic relationship with the anemone) and maybe 1 or 2 small fish. I read your comments on the difficulties of keeping anemones, but this is my favorite part of an aquarium. The problem is lighting. My brother has successfully sustained numerous anemones on 2 fluorescent bulbs (1 full spectrum and 1 50/50 I believe), but recently the advice I have been given is that they require a lot of light and need metal halide lights. Now is that true, or can I get away with the fluorescents? Also I notice you talk about finding compact lights at a local hardware store. What would I look for there? Any help you could provide me would be greatly appreciated. Aaron <Thank you for writing, and your concern for the welfare of your aquatic charges... Yes to most all of the large Pacific Anemone species being difficult to keep in captivity... not so much as to their adaptive abilities (including a very wide range of lighting, feeding, circulation...), but consequent to their rough removal and handling in transit from the wild to the end-user aquarist... Yes, most can/will do fine with "enough" wattage of regular to boosted fluorescents... Yes, most are photosynthetic, but yes also to their capacity to receive most all nutrition from feeding directly... Best/better to have a mix of both nutritional inputs IMO... and much more colorful with more intense light. Compact fluorescents can be found in large hardware outlets labeled as such or power compacts... look for higher temperature values... Ask the floor staff if they carry them, what your choices are. Bob Fenner... Do keep in mind the need to coat/guard against metal introduction from their fixtures (ask re coatings).>

Lighting Question Hey Robert, <You actually got Steven Pro today, part of the WWM crew.> Thanks for taking the time! <That is what we are here for. To help our fellow hobbyists.> I am setting up a 125 FOWLR and have a lighting question. My plan is for an anemone for a clown (not sure which one, suggestions?) <Anemones are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity and are not require to keep a clownfish happy and healthy. You can begin your education here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anemones.htm> I am going to keep some reef-safe fish but for inverts, I am planning a cleaning crew and a couple of featherdusters. For corals, in the distant future, I plan on possibly some soft corals and a clam. I want the system very well stable before adding corals. I am pretty well set on PC lighting, but not sure about the wattage I should get. Also, should I get the SmartLite (50/50) or go with the white/blue separate bulb combo. Here is what I am thinking on this: Would the 72" 2-96w Smartlites (50/50) for a total of 192 watts be enough for the proposed setup? <No you will need at least 4 96 watt PC, with 6 being even better for the clam.> Please make a recommendation if not. Thanks a million! p.s., should I remove the glass from the top of the tank between the water and the lights. <Removing the glass will help with light penetration, but you must be careful of your fish selection. Watch out for fish known to jump. -Steven Pro>

Re: lighting, Anemone  Hello! <Anthony Calfo up at bat this time> I have been waiting to hear about my lighting dilemma.  <apologies... many e-mails to answer... some remnants of a personal life too ,wink>> Steve, you recommended 4 110 watts VHO lights for my 75 gal, 20-24" depth tank to help my anemone. My light fixture holds 24" bulbs, and they don't come in 110 watts. HELP! Where can I find this, I've searched your e-tailers. Or am I misunderstanding your answer.? <from my perspective, yes... it was definitely misunderstood. A 24" standard output fixture can only hold 20 watt bulbs and your anemone will be sure to die under that illumination sooner rather than later. VHO lighting with four foot (110 watt bulbs) is popular and appropriate for many/most anemone species needs but hardly even considered to be bright reef lighting. Some aquarists need 6 110 watt bulbs or move to 2 metal halide lamps altogether. The bottom line is that you need a new lighting fixture altogether. 24" lamps on a four foot tank is extremely low lighting and fine for most fish but a death warrant for most symbiotic invertebrates. Many aquarist do not realize this when they get anemones... they need reef lighting just as if it was a tank full of corals just to keep the anemone alive. And many aquarists are reluctant to invest in a couple of hundred dollars in reef lights for an anemone that could have cost as little as $10-40. And so instead of getting the necessary lights, many aquarists keep the anemone in weak light and most suffer and die prematurely. Do look into reef lighting options with power compact lighting for your sized tank rated as if it were a full blown reef. If the price is something that you are willing to spend...great. If not, please to return/trade the anemone to someone that can keep it properly. Best regards, Anthony Calfo> Kat

Re: lighting. Thank you for the honest answer. My husband bought the anemone for my tank. We didn't realize the lighting requirements. Will check into it. Kat <quite welcome...and not your husbands fault for the kind gesture. The LFS should have done him the service of advising him better. They might have even earned a new light fixture sale for their honesty instead of possibly disappointing their customer. Anthony>

Anemone lights Hello WWM Crew .. I have a 125 gallon tank with 200 pounds of live rocks (my tank is less then 100gal now) , two 403 Fluval , two 70gal power heads , protein skimmer .I want to keep anemones and I do know that they need a very good lighting. So here is what I got : 2 MH each one is 150 watts , 1 actinic blue 40 watts. I take off the glass cover) and I will place the anemones near the surface. Can I keep them? <depends on the species...and you must know that you cannot mix anemone species. They are quite hostile toward each other. What's worse is that they appear to be fine for weeks or months while they silently shed chemical "toxins" in the tank to try to kill each other. Unfortunately... such noxious elements harm or kill themselves in concentration. And so... assuming you will keep only one species of anemone. crispa (Sebae) and the various long tentacle anemones are likely fine if kept shallow. Some E. quadricolor are also quite hardy. Please do not even attempt to keep ritteri (Magnificent anemones) or carpet anemones under these lights. 150 watt MH are a little too weak for a tank this deep (24" +) Best regards, Anthony >