Getting a tank with clowns started... need advice

[bc-matty]

Hi there everyone! I have just joined up on this site, and I am anxious to learn as much as possible from you all. I have always had an aqurium as far as I can recall, and up until recently I had a 40g tank filled with africian cichlids, all of which are now at my brothers place. I am now wanting to venture out into a salt water tank for my first time.
I am probably going to purchase a 30g tank and I wish to keep a few clown fishs in a natural reef setting. Except I am very lost as to what I will need, pumps, live rock, sand, ect.. Also any insight into what types of corrals are good to keep with clowns is greatly appreciated and any other information. I have purchased a few books.. but they don't have any specific tank set-ups for clowns. Thanks too everyone who sends me any information! Excited to get started.. but wanting to do it right!

 

[tuftsreef]

as you prob know, you'll have to get your tank cycled. when i cycled my old 45g, i used some live rock and 3 green chromis. however, after about two months, i added a couple clown fish and they have done well. from my experience, clowns, at least perculas, are extremelly hardy. mine have survived an electric desaster caused by my roomate that killed pretty much everything in my tank. thus, i wouldn't be surprised if you could even cycle your tank with them, depending on which clowns you get.

 

[ChaoticReefer]

WELCOME TO REEFS.ORG!

Have you had a chance to take a look at our beginner's guide?

http://www.reefs.org/library/newbieguide.htm

There is a wealth of information in it.

I hope that it helps. Let us know if you have any further questions.

 

[robertpower3]

What up. i work for a pet store and have set up many small tanks for customers wanting the nemo fish. If you are going to use thirty gallon, I would get a CPR back pack skimmer, 30 lbs. of live rock, and 30 -50 lbs of sand. Try to get live sand really reduces cycling time. I have started about ten different tanks with in 24 hours when using cured live rock and=lve sand with out ever having ammonia or nitrite spikes. As for corals with clowns, you could do a number of different things but i would wait until you get the fish keeping down. When you do decide maybe try some different types of mushrooms and polyps.

 

[robertpower3]

Oh yeah you will need at least one power head i would get two. Try to get some rated a 150 -250 gph

 

[Len]

Welcome to Reefs.org!

There really isn't anything special in terms of what you specifically need for a clownfish tank. I'd set it up like a regular reef tank. The basics you'll need is filtration, circulation, lights, and substrate/live rock. There's literally thousands of ways to achieve these needs.

I know a new tank can be a scary experience with the number of methods and equipment available to hobbyists today. To keep it simple for a beginner, I'd recommend going without a sump. This list should get you started:
- 2 powerheads (i recommend maxijet 900's for you)
- a hang-on skimmer (AquaC Remora or Precision Marine HOT-1 are good choices)
- lights (2X96W PCs is a good start for easier to keep corals)
- live rock (about 50 lbs worth of Fiji is plenty)
- sand (about 100 lbs of fine aragonite or live sand)

This is just one of many possibilities, but it's one of the simplier setups at an affordable price point. You can always add or edit anything on this list. Ask around on this board for different opinions .... there's as many of them as there are people

BTW, I wouldn't recommend cycling with clowns. I've witnessed too many sad deaths when people have tried. Matter of fact, there is actually no need to cycle with any fish; it's kind of an outdated idea. The stuff on live rocks is plenty of fuel to start the cycle.

 

[Entacmaea]

I would echo what Len has said about cycling with fish, especially damsels, as you then will have a tough time of getting them out of the tank! Live rock and live sand are fine, and some shrimp meat (or any fish food really) at the bottom of the tank will kick-start the cycle as well. I cycled my tank by feeding the LS fish pellets for a couple weeks, then added live rock without any additional spike...

WELCOME!

Also, my obligatory advice for a beginner reefer, is to do everything you can to buy propagated/farmed livestock. Your clowns you will be able to purchase farm raised, and you can find almost everything else: live rock, live sand, and many many corals, all propagated. It is worth it to know you are not taking from the wild.

Good Luck!

 

[bc-matty]

Thank you all for your insight, and your friendly greetings! So as you all may now know, I am in the planning stages of buying my tank and thinking of a set-up ( natural reef look ). I promise you all I will not dare to cycle my tank with fish in it, never did with my cichlids.

I suppose I should be on the look out for some corral books, but first hand knowledge is always best. Any reconmended species of corral to start off with?

Also should I invest in a "wave maker" for a 30g - 40g size tank? I am only keeping clowns, and corrals. I am too nervous about anemones at the moment. Oh and one other thing at the moment... do different species of clowns work together as long as they are in pairs, or should I stick to one species. I am thinking of buying a few percula's and the red coloured Premnas? if not I will stick to percula's.

 

[bc-matty]

Oh by the way thanks tuftsreef for your reconmendation of the green chromis. I feel stupid for asking but what are they, and what do they look like. I am mad cause the book I bought on clowns does not list any corrals at all that are compatible with clowns. Guess I am buying another book this one on corrals - can't have too many books though! Any info you guys have and suggestions as to good "friendly and compatible" corrals is greatly appreciated!

 

[Anonymous]

I suppose I should be on the look out for some corral books, but first hand knowledge is always best. Any reconmended species of corral to start off with?

May I suggest "Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History" by Eric Borneman? If you're going to get *one* coral book, this one is definitely IT.

and one other thing at the moment... do different species of clowns work together as long as they are in pairs, or should I stick to one species. I am thinking of buying a few percula's and the red coloured Premnas? if not I will stick to percula's.

One pair per tank, unless the tank is HUGE. I would go with the false perculas, or ocellaris clownfish. You can get them tank bred & raised, they're very hardy & colorful, and you don't impact the reefs at all by acquiring them.

Good luck, and welcome to reefs.org!

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Also should I invest in a "wave maker" for a 30g - 40g size tank? I am only keeping clowns, and corrals.

I wouldn't get a wavemaker for that tank unless you have some extra cash, and if you have extra cash I would think about putting it into getting nice lights, lights are one of the first things people want to upgrade as their tank matures and they want to keep more difficult corals.

Oh and one other thing at the moment... do different species of clowns work together as long as they are in pairs, or should I stick to one species. I am thinking of buying a few percula's and the red coloured Premnas? if not I will stick to percula's.

I have heard that some folks can mix clown species succesfully, but I think that is asking for trouble, in my experience.

 

[bc-matty]

Hi all again! Thanks for all of your insight to date, it has been great help.
A couple of more questions for you all:

I was browsing the pet stores this evening and was only able to locate Indonisian Live Rock and Tanga Live Rock. The Indo Live Rock was covered with purple corralites and had large portions of white crusty stuff on it. The Tanga rock was bare looking to the eye. Which is better between the two, and is the white stuff bad. Also which live rock is better for the reef tank with clowns, or does it matter. Lastly can you mix Live Rock, such as the Tanga with the Indonisian Live Rocks or will they interfer with each other. Thanks again guys!

 

[bc-matty]

Oh here is another age old question. When searching for tanks today I ran across a few variations. I found a store that seemed to have deep tanks or high tanks depending on how you look at it. The other store had tanks that were longer and about 18 inches deep. Is height better than length or is length better. I assume length is good for the fish to swim in, but I heard that deeper is better for dealing with chemical exchanges.

I assume that a longer tank is better suited for the clowns cause they are mostly bottom to mid tank dwellers if I read right?

 

[ChaoticReefer]

but I heard that deeper is better for dealing with chemical exchanges.

Actually, the opposite is true. The taller the tank is the less surface area there is for gas exchange. Longer/wider tank has more surface area (water level surface) so more gases is exchanged. Gases exchange as in oxygen coming into the water and CO2 escaping the water (keeping the pH up).

Another reason for going shorter (height wise) is more light will reach to the bottom of the tank. Light depletes very fast while traveling through water.

As for live rock, it is good to mix different live rock together to get more diversity of critters. If you are not happy with the LR that you have found try to keep looking for Fiji LR.

Not sure about white crusty stuff. Does it look like coraline algae? Or a creature that is decaying away? Or etc?

 

[Lostmind]

hehe, Matty is in the same boat as me essentially. Good to see someone else from my area in here. Whereabouts you at Matty?

What stores you been going to?

 

[fishfanatic2]

Oh by the way thanks tuftsreef for your reconmendation of the green chromis. I feel stupid for asking but what are they, and what do they look like

Green chromis are relaed to the clowns and damsels, I believe. They are a schooling fish that gets about 3-4 inches long. They make good tankmates and are very hardy. They look like thinned out, enlongated clownfish with a scissor-like tail. As for coloration, greens are a turquosie, metallic color.

Good luck!

 

[bc-matty]

Hello all again! Another clown question for you guys! Of course! Let me know when you get tired of them, if that is possible. Anyhow, I am terrified at the thought of having an anemone for the clowns to host in, only because I would worry that I would do or not do something to kill it.

My thought is this, I read in my book that bubble coral can be used for the clowns to host in, or a rock in the middle of the tank. I am not looking for my future fish to breed, I only want them to be comfortable.

Is bubble coral reconmended for them, and if so can I add additional types of coral with it in the tank without having a coral tank war?

What would you suggest as for coral for a newbie?
Oh last thought... let's assume my tank is up and running with my clowns and 6 months later I am brave and want an anemone. Can I still add one to the tank after the clowns are in the tank, or will the change stress them?
Thanks for the insight!

 

[bc-matty]

Hello Lostmind! How is it going over your side of the river? Anyhow just to let you know I live in the lower mainland, probably about 45mins from you. I have only been to Petland, Petsmart, and another small store. I am hyping up to journey to a store called J&L Aquatics in Coquitlam somewhere... not sure where yet. Have you been there? Good to see another bc marine fish hobbyist!

 

[Anonymous]

You don't need to put anything special for your clowns to host in, just rock is fine. They will find a spot and adopt it as home. I even had a clownfish that had a host powerhead that he lived right by and would rush back to it if he got scared.

I think soft corals such as toadstool leathers, sinularia, xenia, anthelia or mushrooms are the easiest corals. Probably mushrooms being the hardiest if you want to try something bulletproof first.

Adding an anemone after you get the clown will not stress them, it can be hard on the anemone because sometimes the clowns dive right in and stress it a bit before it can settle, but it usually works just fine if the anemone is healthy.

 

[bc-matty]

Thanks for the insight Mulberry! I will definately look into those corals when I am next in the petstore, or better yet I will see what a local dealer has on their website!

Are star fish coral safe, or will they snack on them? And are they okay with clowns?