Hands in the tank

[richtg]

Just my two cents about sticking your hands in the tank. As a mechanic, it has always been a concern to keep my hands extra clean before sticking them in the tank. Since I aquired a magnificent anemone, I noticed that it sometimes shrivelled up within minutes of my hand in the tank, despite thorough washing and rinsing of my hands. The oils in our skin, trace soap residues, and many other unforseen contaminants can be introduced this way. Even if you are not a mechanic, or have no adverse effects from this, I still recommend gloves. We all work so hard to create the perfect environment, so why be careless?

[EmilyB]

I never use soap.... :lol: :razz:

[Aquattro]

Trying to think of a day when I didn't have my hands in the tank... :rolleyes:
Nope, can't think of one :razz:

[StirCrazy]

I never use soap.... :lol: :razz:

:confused: :redface: :mrgreen:

I have not had a problem but when I am going to go in the tank I rinse with water real good.

a word about soap if you use an antibacterial soap make sure you rinse real well after using it..

Steve

[StirCrazy]

Trying to think of a day when I didn't have my hands in the tank... :rolleyes:
Nope, can't think of one :razz:

wanna come over and put them in mine one weekend and give me a hand :rolleyes:

Steve

[Delphinus]

Can you post some pictures of your ritteri? How long have you had it? What colour?

[danny zubot]

I'm going to need you to come over sometime this week with your camera so I can get some pics online. I need to show some of the 'tude' going on in my tank.

[richtg]

Batteries charged, Zubot. I might be working OT sat and sun, though. Ask Jen if you can borrow it if I can't make it.

My ritteri is the common red base with yellow & green tips. It is the size of a small melon and I've had it for about a month. I don't have any MH lighting, but it is perched up high on a rock and doesn't move. Will post some pics soon. Rich.

[Delphinus]

You will need MH for that anemone. But, you're gonna find out that it's gonna outgrow a 45g before you know it. You are planning your next tank right now already, right? :wink:

This is a picture of my >24" ritteri in my 72g. Some would argue that the 72g is way too small for this animal as well, and I would agree ... but it's more of a dedicated setup buying me time until I can build a bigger system myself. (Which is coming soon now that I have the space for it!)

http://members.shaw.ca/hobiesailor/temp/anemones/ritteri.jpg

They get to well over 30" eventually. Better start planning for it. Incidentally, mine went from 5" to 20" in about 3 months. I've had it for over three years now.

[Bob I]

If that picture is current, it looks like the move did not bother it. :mrgreen:

[Delphinus]

The picture is from night before last (I was too busy watching some hockey game on TV last night to take any pictures..)

It hasn't skipped a beat. So far, anyhow ... I don't know at what point you can consider yourself "out of the woods" ... it's been two weeks.

After I posted, I realized that I am probably exagerrating a little with the >24" claim. On a good day it might exceed 24", but that's probably not really the norm. "Average" is probably somewhere between 20"-24". The bottom of the base is not that wide around, but the top is, and then you add the tentacles on top of that, and it just LOOKs huge. Of course, the bowfront is only 18" front-to-back at it's max distance, but the confounding piece of info is that the anemone brushes up against both the front and back panels. It also sits at a bit of angle which would of course yield it a few extra inches maybe.

[Bob I]

The picture is from night before last (I was too busy watching some hockey game on TV last night to take any pictures..)

It hasn't skipped a beat. So far, anyhow ... I don't know at what point you can consider yourself "out of the woods" ... it's been two weeks.

After I posted, I realized that I am probably exagerrating a little with the >24" claim. On a good day it might exceed 24", but that's probably not really the norm. "Average" is probably somewhere between 20"-24". The bottom of the base is not that wide around, but the top is, and then you add the tentacles on top of that, and it just LOOKs huge. Of course, the bowfront is only 18" front-to-back at it's max distance, but the confounding piece of info is that the anemone brushes up against both the front and back panels. It also sits at a bit of angle which would of course yield it a few extra inches maybe.

So are you going to build it a specialised tank :question: Shallow, and wide :question:

[AJ_77]

It hasn't skipped a beat.
Even with different pairs of hands in and around that tank, AND being moved to the new house??

I thought Ritts were sensitive... . :wink: .

:mrgreen:

[richtg]

I'm aware of the needs of this anemone, and yes, I am planning my next tank-no worries. I felt that I just had to rescue it from it's former home (the store of which I shall not mention). It has picked up since then, because I keep my flourescents new and have over 210 watts. Yes, I know that you need MH's for these, as well as most SPS, but mine grow and look great. I am planning intense LED spotlight arrays above each light demanding specimen as an experiment. I bought 8000 mcd LED's (30) on the internet for this. I am willing to go MH if the results are less than great. Thanks for your interest. :biggrin:

P.S. My ritteri looks exactly the same as yours, but smaller, and hosts 2 true perculas.

Rich.

[Delphinus]

Cool, sounds interesting. Can't wait to see the results :cool: