Stichodactyla mertensii

[taylor t]

Merten's Carpet Anemone

Chocolate Glazed Clowns

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0c15fcd0.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0c15fcd0.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsa94588eb.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsa94588eb.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0e38e2aa.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0e38e2aa.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsccef596a.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsccef596a.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb5677fb1.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb5677fb1.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsa1de139e.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsa1de139e.jpg.html)

They frequently eat the tentacles around the mouth.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdb0bc0d5.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdb0bc0d5.jpg.html)

[taylor t]

Papa tends to the nest above his head, while mamma and the little one go out to play

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps81eb5120.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps81eb5120.jpg.html)

[OrionN]

Nice

[adtravels]

Wow, they must really go hard on those inner tentacles as mertens usually have nice long ones on the inner oral disk., good job on keeping it though

[taylor t]

Thanks guys. Yes, they rip them off constantly and eat them. They only really rip them off around the mouth, they don't do this around the edge. This has gone on for a long time now. Originally, few years ago, after it recovered from shipping and intro, it did have longer tents around the mouth. Now it's bald in that area. Doesn't seem to affect it's health, but I've been thinking of changing clowns because of this. They for sure think they own the tank, all 3 of them. Tank is 210. The anemone never shrinks, although last week it did, first time, it spawned. The anemone is a confirmed male... I took some tank water and dumped it into my 75 gallon gig tank, Just for kicks, maybe they can cross breed like Minh & Tom's gadonni's... Doubt it... But worth a shot. I went down at 1am, tank was very cloudy. I emptied the skimmer every couple hours through the night, and by morning, tank was clear, couldn't even tell the event took place, other than I watched it happen, and the anemone was smaller than normal. Coral polyps were hyper extended during the spawn event. Anemone shrank from 2' down to 1'. After one day, it was back to normal size.

[adtravels]

A couple of A.Sandaracinos would look superb in there for that sipadan look!

[Greg 45]

Taylor can you give some information on tank / lighting , temp .
I am running system at 78 with led and find it amazing that there are so many different colored mertens that are out there . Wondering what might change the colors of them. Possible lighting that does this .

[Reefahholic]

Very nice!

[taylor t]

A couple of A.Sandaracinos would look superb in there for that sipadan look!

Great minds think alike. :) I was thinking of just regular pink skunks, I think they'd be easier to find. I really like Deepsea's skunks, after seeing theirs, I thought it looks really nice. I may call Mitch to see what he's got, I know he's the clown man.

Taylor can you give some information on tank / lighting , temp .
I am running system at 78 with led and find it amazing that there are so many different colored mertens that are out there . Wondering what might change the colors of them. Possible lighting that does this .


210 is the main tank. Starting in the sump, the return pumps up to a 20 long above the 210, that is dark all the time, but has 4 inches of crushed coral, and sponge growing on the substrate. Sponge almost covers the bottom now. That overflows into the 210. THen the 210 overflows into a 40 breeder, with a skimmer, and liverock (dark no light) then that flows into another 40 breeder that I use as a fuge. Then the pump does it's job, sends it back to the dark 20 long up high, repeat.


I'm ashamed to tell... I know I'm horrible...
My tanks are the farthest thing from complex. My temps range, I've seen it as low as 74 degrees with polar vortex weather. Usually, it's 78-84 degrees. It's a wide range, I know. I aim for 80-82, but I've seen it as high as 85-6 before.
I don't use filter socks (I used to), I don't use dosers, reactors, CO2 tanks, etc. I have them all, I don't use them. I manually add 2 part in the morning before I head out the door. Once in a while, I add mag, maybe once a month?... I clean my skimmer cup when it's full. The skimmer is an old euroreef CS180 with an eheim 1260 pump motor-not fancy. That's my filtration. I only test for KH, and once in a while calcium. I haven't tested for mag in a long time, but do add some once in a while, depending on what the KH part of the 2 part looks like when I add it. KH ranges, as low as 7, but I try for 9. The anemone really looks the best with higher KH. Top off is RO water, sometimes I add kalk when I get red slime or other things growing. Calcium is around 420 last checked a few weeks ago.

I'm horrible at keeping up with things, I know.

Lights have varied over the years. The mertens started out, I think, under LED, then added T5. For the past year+ it has had 250 watt MH with Geiseman megachrome 10K lamps. I have only one 250 MH in the center, with DIY LED on both sides, supplemented with T5 right now.

If you look, I have other threads with this anemone. Some of the pictures I've posted it looks green, and now that you mention it, it has changed in the color. I just like the look of it under the 10K MH lights, it just overall looks healthier. In some of my earlier pictures, you will see it does have longer tents by the mouth. Not anymore due to the clowns eating it every day.

[taylor t]

Very nice!

Thanks!

[SNAKEMANVET]

That is a awesome anemone.How long have you had it.

[taylor t]

That is a awesome anemone.How long have you had it.

Thanks! I can't remember exactly, but my guess would be 2009? I think I have a thread somewhere, it may say.

[taylor t]

Here are a few more pictures. Here is the spawn event that happened last week.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsecd8a6f9.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsecd8a6f9.jpg.html)

Sorry, doesn't show it well.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3c4cfdd7.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3c4cfdd7.jpg.html)

[taylor t]

I have (2) 40 breeders that are drilled and silicone together as a fuge. Here is the one on the right, with my skimmer.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse997dcd4.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse997dcd4.jpg.html)

Here is the fuge and return on the left. Freshly cleaned out, another couple weeks, it will be full of plants. Dump, repeat.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsabbf6383.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsabbf6383.jpg.html)

20 long in back. The 10 gallon on the right is a qt tank, not tied to the system.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps5b8c78e7.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps5b8c78e7.jpg.html)

Sponge growing along the bottom of the 20 RDSB.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb40ad9e6.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb40ad9e6.jpg.html)

[taylor t]

FTS from today.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsad26031e.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsad26031e.jpg.html)

Three anemone's total in the tank, that I'm aware of...
My, what I consider, a malu. I've had this guy for a few years too.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps492c4a6d.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps492c4a6d.jpg.html)

I haven't had this guy long, maybe 2 months? It's only been in the tank since end of march maybe? It's been in captivity for, I'm guessing, 2 years? I'm reefer #3 to have this guy. It's not doing as well as it looks.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsda1b98d0.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsda1b98d0.jpg.html)

Here's this morning around 7am. Light time is from 10am to midnight, so this is towards the end of the dark cycle. It's got some white patches, they don't show up with lights on.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse722130a.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse722130a.jpg.html)

This guy got a little burned, it touched the gig when I first introduced it. I since moved them apart a little more.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps2cc84078.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps2cc84078.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb8f7cd97.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb8f7cd97.jpg.html)

[taylor t]

So this guy has been acting a bit off lately. It has been opening up, (almost like a scrape on a sidewalk to us), and sending out these little curly Q balls, then closing up. Here is one from this morning. It's at about 4-5 o'clock from the mouth in the picture.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsbb7fb7ef.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsbb7fb7ef.jpg.html)

Here's from today. It looks to be scrunched up a bit more than usual.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps04fa7ded.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps04fa7ded.jpg.html)

Here's all 3 today. Only thing that has gone on, is my hairy mushrooms nuked a porcillapora sps coral, it got brown jelly, I tried to break off the stuff that had it, but the whole coral got it quick, died, and I left it in the tank. IT lost the battle with the mushrooms. It's the only thing I can think that's gone on. Everything else looks fine. Levels are all where they normally are. Water changes have been light the past couple months, but I'm trying to get back on task.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsef7958df.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsef7958df.jpg.html)

[taylor t]

The chocolate clowns got the boot. Here's the next group for the hopper.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps47b1fd21.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps47b1fd21.jpg.html)

A peek under the skirt. :)
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps97636858.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps97636858.jpg.html)

This green gig has really done well the past month. Quite pleased at how it's adapted.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps76e5584b.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps76e5584b.jpg.html)

And, last but not least, my ? (malu) inside a vinegar bottle. Seems happy though.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0fcdfb42.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0fcdfb42.jpg.html)

[ptr13]

your Mertensii is monstrous, nice looking nems buddy.

[taylor t]

your Mertensii is monstrous, nice looking nems buddy.

Thanks Pete!


Mertens has made improvements in it's appearance, the chocolates were really impacting how it looked. It seems overall "better". I'm in the process of removing all my KH hungry corals.
Mertens tents are looking longer with out the chocolates eating it's tents every day.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps32cc001a.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps32cc001a.jpg.html)

I think it's looking like they are growing a little better. In removing some corals, the large rock above it crushed it's foot, or rather is now resting on it's foot. The foot is so big, there's a gap between the rocks, the anemone is actually holding the two rocks above it. I put the big rock on the top to keep it from tumbling forward. This thing is a beast!
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps20d59f08.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps20d59f08.jpg.html)

And instead of peppering the other thread with pics, here's a picture of the 2 of 7 gigs I would consider "well acclimated", not just "stable". The left blue was not a cut, and the green in the 75 was not cut. The right blue was cut, but seems to have acclimated, but in the back of my mind, I know it was cut, so it doesn't get the "well acclimated" label from me.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb50b0669.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb50b0669.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps8d67dfba.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps8d67dfba.jpg.html)

Closer pic. Those middle tents are quite long.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3131a2c9.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3131a2c9.jpg.html)
I think I need to start thinking of space issues coming soon.

[taylor t]

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb20cdef3.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb20cdef3.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscccc8aa7.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscccc8aa7.jpg.html)

[Gigantea]

Taylor, how sensitive are the merts compared to gig and mag?

[taylor t]

Taylor, how sensitive are the merts compared to gig and mag?

One of the easiest anemone's to care for. When it isn't happy, it just won't expand as much, or won't look good, tents can stay shorter, but never melts. When stressed, it has patches of tents that turn white, otherwise, when happy, no white patches. Handles swings much better than all my corals ever did. IMO, same as a BTA, maybe easier in the fact it rarely moves. Moving it is very challenging though. It's like trying to control a 55 gallon plastic garbage bag half full of water in a pool. It's just too darn big to control where it goes when you want to move it. And, the foot is so big, it's on about 3 large rocks. I tried to move it last month, ended up just smashing the anemone, or rather, the anemone was just holding up the rocks, too big to smash. The foot is monstrous, and does not like to let go for anything. I gave up trying to move it. Could be the main reason they aren't seen often, besides the actual size and bland color... a real pain to remove! It killed all my fish a few years ago, it walked into an mp40 when I wasn't home, came home to all my fish nose dived in the sand on the other side of the tank. It's recovered 100% since. It will be the last thing I get rid of when I get out, if I ever do. No plans to fully get out, ever. :)

[Mikefallen13]

Gorgeous nems! That mertens is a monster!!

[Gigantea]

One of the easiest anemone's to care for. When it isn't happy, it just won't expand as much, or won't look good, tents can stay shorter, but never melts. When stressed, it has patches of tents that turn white, otherwise, when happy, no white patches. Handles swings much better than all my corals ever did. IMO, same as a BTA, maybe easier in the fact it rarely moves. Moving it is very challenging though. It's like trying to control a 55 gallon plastic garbage bag half full of water in a pool. It's just too darn big to control where it goes when you want to move it. And, the foot is so big, it's on about 3 large rocks. I tried to move it last month, ended up just smashing the anemone, or rather, the anemone was just holding up the rocks, too big to smash. The foot is monstrous, and does not like to let go for anything. I gave up trying to move it. Could be the main reason they aren't seen often, besides the actual size and bland color... a real pain to remove! It killed all my fish a few years ago, it walked into an mp40 when I wasn't home, came home to all my fish nose dived in the sand on the other side of the tank. It's recovered 100% since. It will be the last thing I get rid of when I get out, if I ever do. No plans to fully get out, ever. :)

That's awesome. I need one.

[_divad]

Wow! Thank you for sharing!

[taylor t]

Gorgeous nems! That mertens is a monster!!

That's awesome. I need one.

Wow! Thank you for sharing!

Thanks guys!




One of my kids made me a video of my tank. Turned out good for a first try... I'm not sure it will work, here's the link. It won't work on my computer, don't know why. If you can't get it to work with this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ItXHPfNQM

go to youtube, and search " taylor t 210 display tank " and it should (hoping) be the first one to pop up. The video was made in HD, but I can't get it to work or upload (I don't know how to), so it's in less quality but you can still see the flow and get a feel for what the flow is like. Too bad because you could see the blue spots crystal clear on the green gig on the original video. The clowns are from a local hobbyist on the boards here is "unicospollos", a great guy to deal with. I got 12 onyx and one fancy named one from him, 13 clowns in all. Super happy with them. The original chocolate glazed trio was very rough on the anemone, it's looking much better with out the tentacle ripping off every day.

[Pinkskunk]

that is a very nice video, complimented with a nice music. :)

Both carpets are just too nice !!!!

is the giant yellow carpet a Mertense carpet? how come the tentacle are so long? i thought they are short tentacles?

[taylor t]

Thank you! There is a purple malu, a green gig, and a brown mertensii. When happy, mertens tents are a little longer. When I first got it, the tents were like haddoni short.

[justinky]

Great video Taylor! Thanks for sharing :)

[taylor t]

Great video Taylor! Thanks for sharing :)

Thanks!

[taylor t]

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpslzsrdc1p.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpslzsrdc1p.jpg.html)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh180/dave1748/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps7eihjcvy.jpg (http://s256.photobucket.com/user/dave1748/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps7eihjcvy.jpg.html)

[clorox]

You should shoot a new video again like that beautiful one you posted last year.

All those gigs are demanding it ;)