Anybody have a Salt Water Fish Tank?

[Selassie I]

That’s so bad ass! Haha How much was that anemone? trying to work my way up to some of that cool shit you showed me! I’ve killed 3 fish but getting the hang of it so far. When I get back home I’ll post my tank, not as cool as yours but got those training wheels on! lol

That's not a cheap one. Black Widow sea anemones are not easy to even find. One of our local shops has a big warehouse coral farm and they have been "breeding" black widows for many years. Anemones don't really breed I don't think... they just kinda divide themselves from 1 animal into 2. Weird... but they make their own clones basically.

The one they let me pick out of their farm would probably cost around $600+ or even a lot more. Between my sons and I, the owners of that place really hook us up with some discounts. This anemone is about the size of a large orange when it opens up so it's considered large for this particular bubble tip species. I was able to get this one for 250. Which is really good. There are some species that are even a lot more expensive. The place that sold it to me is called Top Shelf Aquatics in Winter Park, FL. People actually fly into Orlando from all over to buy their stuff. I'm sure you can find shit all over social media about them.

Your tank looks very nice. One of my twins would be able to reel off all of the names of those corals. I'm way more of a fish guy... but I love looking at the nice corals.

There are scientifically proven health benefits humans can get from looking into a tank for a few minutes. I can stare at mine for way too long without getting board. It looks like you have been hooked with the trade already by seeing your tank. It's most like an addiction at times and it's hard to explain. I got my first tank over 51 years ago and my complete addiction to the hobby has only gotten stronger. Back then I caught shit in the tide pools in Hawaii that costs insane money today for free.

Ps... all fish keepers have total failures along the way sooner or later. I'm not trying to be negative when I say that. ALL FISH KEEPERS go through it even when they are experts. So when it happens, just know that it was your turn. So don't get too discouraged when your turn comes around. It takes longer and longer to come around as the years go by... but it's part of it for ALL OF US.

 

[Corbin]

That's not a cheap one. Black Widow sea anemones are not easy to even find. One of our local shops has a big warehouse coral farm and they have been "breeding" black widows for many years. Anemones don't really breed I don't think... they just kinda divide themselves from 1 animal into 2. Weird... but they make their own clones basically.

The one they let me pick out of their farm would probably cost around $600+ or even a lot more. Between my sons and I, the owners of that place really hook us up with some discounts. This anemone is about the size of a large orange when it opens up so it's considered large for this particular bubble tip species. I was able to get this one for 250. Which is really good. There are some species that are even a lot more expensive. The place that sold it to me is called Top Shelf Aquatics in Winter Park, FL. People actually fly into Orlando from all over to buy their stuff. I'm sure you can find shit all over social media about them.

Your tank looks very nice. One of my twins would be able to reel off all of the names of those corals. I'm way more of a fish guy... but I love looking at the nice corals.

There are scientifically proven health benefits humans can get from looking into a tank for a few minutes. I can stare at mine for way too long without getting board. It looks like you have been hooked with the trade already by seeing your tank. It's most like an addiction at times and it's hard to explain. I got my first tank over 51 years ago and my complete addiction to the hobby has only gotten stronger. Back then I caught shit in the tide pools in Hawaii that costs insane money today for free.

Ps... all fish keepers have total failures along the way sooner or later. I'm not trying to be negative when I say that. ALL FISH KEEPERS go through it even when they are experts. So when it happens, just know that it was your turn. So don't get too discouraged when your turn comes around. It takes longer and longer to come around as the years go by... but it's part of it for ALL OF US.

Haha thanks for that Selassie! Man I was all beating myself up since I usually catch on most things pretty quickly but was so mad they died. Man, that will eventually be my next steps is working on some cool anemones. I'm still so new that some of those anemones I can't even tell the difference between! lol I'll have more time in the next two years to invest into knowledge, but I feel a bit giddy like a kid messing with all this now! lol

Yes! I find myself staring in that damn tank, easily can waste 30 mins staring inside there in wonder without even trying now. It's been my dream to get back to the oceanside and start diving, fishing and f'n off like I read you do! I can't imagine being down there and being amazed and overwhelmed by your surroundings! Bringing back Lobsters etc. for dinner. smh... the life.

Don't know if I can will myself to put myself in Hurricane Alley and just stay here in Boredom Alley... lol

 

[Selassie I]

Picked up the holy grail of anemones today... a Colorado anemone. It's the neon orange/yellow one. It's not open yet because I just put it in my tank about an hour ago. Super badass.

In this pic you can also see my rainbow anemone.

And...

My pistol shrimp which doesn't show himself a lot, but you can hear it making a pistol like pop throughout my house. Especially in the am hours. Tiny little fucker makes an unbelievably loud sound.

 

[Selassie I]

Updated anemones pic.

These anemones are animals, they're not like corals or plants. They move around wherever they want to. They have a foot thingy that gives them the ability to walk and climb... it also allows them to lock themselves into place when they find a spot they want to hang out in.

Last night I came home to find that these two decided to post up right next to each other.

 

[Selassie I]

So this is one of the coolest things that I've ever had happen in one of my tanks.

I've recently added 3 different anemones in my tank. Most people know about anemones because they've seen one of the world's most popular fish, the clown fish, live in anemones. These animals have devolped a symbiotic relationship over millions of years. The fish receives protection from predators because the anemones are armed with poison and the anemone receives more food and protection from the fish.

Clown fish must have an anemone to survive in the wild... but they don't need one for survival if they are living in captivity. So captive clowns many times do not pair up with an anemone ever, even if there are both living in the tank together. Lots of reasons for them not pairing too... they have particular tastes depending on the species of clown fish, but even having that part correct doesn't make them pair. Lots of other reasons too. Now the is a process to force the pairing to happen, but I wouldn't even try that nightmare.

One of my sons stopped by my house earlier today and just happened to witness my Maroon (lightning) Clown Fish in the process of naturally hosting my Black Widow anemone. He got pics too. First step in the process is for the fish to get it's mucous film covering his body to become immune to the anemone's unique poison. That's what's happening in these pics when you see the fish forcing himself down into the anemone and just soaking in the poison... the anemone is also pairing with the fish during this. They will be inseparable now. Pure luck that the fish is naturally picking this anemone to host.

This is the Black Widow anemone.

Pairing process in action. The fish is actually upside down in these because the anemone is hanging under a ledge of a big rock.