how often do Nems get stuck in powerheads?

[Ballyhoo]

I want one eventually, but after three months, I have not had enough stability and luck with my coral so I think it's too soon. But down the line I would like a safe variety only have a 42 gallon tank plus sump. I have my reef wave though set on reverse and forward flow. I could just imagine nem getting in there and then the reef wave pummeling everywhere. IDK maybe there's a way to jig a reef wave so that don't happen.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Nems will move around a bit until they find the right spot. Do some research about care for them, then put one close to a good area (may not be where YOU want) for their needs, and chances are it won't wonder too far. But nem guards for power heads are very available, and a good "just in case" option.

 

[exnisstech]

I would not even consider one in a young tank especially one that you haven't managed to keep stable parameters in yet. I'm sure you can find someone to tell you they do great in a 3 month old tank but I would disagree. I think we're talking about bubble tip nems? To answer your question IMO the only time they get in a power head is when they are unhappy in a tank and start wandering. I've kept them for years and had as many as 50 in a 180g. I have never had one get in a powerhead. I no longer keep them in tanks with coral. Mine move when they grow and start getting crowded and they usually move next to or on top of a coral.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its usually noy how often but if they climb towards a power head, there's a good chance the flow is insufficient and they work their wat towards more current. Same will apply to lighting

 

[mfinn]

To answer your question in the title, not very often.
It seems to happen in newer tanks, but can happen in most any tank if the anemone starts to wander and gets caught up in the tank flow.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

There's no harm in caution. Nem guards won't hurt, I'd air on the side of caution whenever you take that plunge. But as you and others have said, It's a good idea to give your tank some more time to settle and mature.

 

[NkSde]

My first nem sought out a small gap In a pre filter sponge and got ate. That was about 9 hours in the tank.

When I do it again I’m using the basket method.

 

[D-Nak]

Your question is like asking how often does someone catch a cold or flu.

There are just too many variables.

What kind of anemone? BTAs tend to wander the most and since they over-inflate themselves and float around, they're the most common anemone to get stuck in a powerhead.

What kind of powerhead? Gyres tend to attract anemones the least, since they're usually placed high in the tank.

How big/powerful is your powerhead? Smaller ones tend to not shred up an anemone like the bigger ones.

Are your water parameters consistent? How is your tank husbandry? Tanks with fluctuating parameters tend to have anemones that wander more.

Lastly... anemone guards are not 100% effective. NONE of them are. It only takes one tentacle to enter the guard and reach the impeller to suck in an entire anemone. Most are poorly designed and sit too close to the powerhead to provide any sort of an effective barrier. Those that are mesh or screen get clogged too quick and reduce flow, effectively rendering your powerhead useless.

That said, I have multiple tanks with anemones and all have a combination of gyres (Reef Wave and Gyre) and powerheads (MP40s). The trick is to know your anemone and keep your parameters stable/consistent so the anemone doesn't feel the need to move.

 

[Hot2na]

How ever often you leave them unprotected ....Duh.... cover everything, power filter intakes, power heads, wave makers -you name it ..if there's a way for them to get stuck =they will ..overflows need to be protected also...
And ...don't forget using some kind of heater shield if the heater is in the main tank..I've seen a few get burnt as well.....

 

[Hot2na]

Lastly... anemone guards are not 100% effective. NONE of them are. It only takes one tentacle to enter the guard and reach the impeller to suck in an entire anemone. Most are poorly designed and sit too close to the powerhead to provide any sort of an effective barrier. Those that are mesh or screen get clogged too quick and reduce flow, effectively rendering your powerhead useless.

Thats why I make my own barriers using black eggcrate in a variety of different ways... think like an anemone...lol ..they hate sharp surfaces and have an aversion to things they can't attach to ...

 

[VintageReefer]

I put a bubble tip in a 2yr old tank. It picked a spot and stayed in place for 6 months. I would feed a good size meal 3x a week. Then for reasons I can’t explain one day I check the tank and it’s moved to the back. And every day from then on it was in a new spot.

I would leave it be. It would wander. I would move it back to its spot where it was happy and open for 6 months. It would leave overnight. I’d find it underneath shelves. On the glass panes. On rocks.

It became the biggest headache for me. Any coral it touches it can kill. I have anemone guards but was still worried it would get sucked in and ruin my tank.

They have a mind of their own and are more animal like than coral like. You can’t buy one and pick where you want it to be. If you put it somewhere chances are high it won’t stay. They will wander and pick their own spot, and that might not be convenient for you or your coral. And, it might not be permanent

 

[KrisReef]

Sometimes they get stuck but if it’s a high volume powerhead they often get sucked right through and juiced all over the tank. Last one I lost only left a dime sized chunk of foot behind.

 

[Ballyhoo]

sounds like as attractive as they are, for a not highly experienced reefer, they could be an extreme liability in a mixed coral reef tank. although I did hear that is that one species, it's not the bubble tip but another one that was supposedly pretty immobile in character.
IDK, some place them in baskets inside reef tanks?

 

[VintageReefer]

sounds like as attractive as they are, for a not highly experienced reefer, they could be an extreme liability in a mixed coral reef tank. although I did hear that is that one species, it's not the bubble tip but another one that was supposedly pretty immobile in character.
IDK, some place them in baskets inside reef tanks?

Look into tube anemone
They come in fluorescent colors and live in a tube you bury in the sand. They stay put

 

[VintageReefer]

 

[dieselkeeper]

Thats why I make my own barriers using black eggcrate in a variety of different ways... think like an anemone...lol ..they hate sharp surfaces and have an aversion to things they can't attach to ...

Could you post some pictures? I'm looking to see how you attached the egg crate. To the powerhead or the glass.

 

[stewy14]

nems like rfa's can be placed semi-permananlty in a pvc ending

 

[OrionN]

Look into tube anemone
They come in fluorescent colors and live in a tube you bury in the sand. They stay put

Tube anemone is a misnomer. They are tube worm and not an anemone at all. They don’t host clownfish but eat them.

They are beautiful animals, just not anemones. At night their tentacles expanded tremendously