Hello!

[jerrinehart]

Hello
I would just like this to be my official hello to these fantastic forums. I have been doing quite a bit of research here for a couple months and I am about to set up my 14g Biocube.
I am still deciding on what exactly would be a great fit for that size, any suggestions??
I know this is cliche, and I have never seen Finding Nemo, but Clownfish fascinate me and I love the way they interact with anemones. I would like to make my system built around that.
Anyone have any suggestions for a good clean up crew?
I have been an avid freshwater collector for years, and I have finally gotten the itch to get my marine feet wet, so to say.
Jerry :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Brian5000]

Hello and welcome

Cliche or not, it's your tank in your house, so go do whatever you want (I had to get 2 clowns too).

I'm sure you've read by now how difficult anenomes are. I would suggest you stay away from that. You might try finding a very large hairy mushroom instead. It looks kinda, sorta, but not really like some anenomes and is really easy to care for. Even though it's not an anenome, the clowns might take after it in the absence of anything better.

Possible stocking senario 14 gallons:
2 ocellaris clownfish
1 goby or cleaner shrimp
2-3 dwarf hemits and snails in any combination
*some people out there try to convince you that you need 14 snails and another 14 hermit crabs. Don't believe them. They will all starve and die in a month or two.

Corals:
hairy mushroom
anything else providing proper light and room to grow
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[jerrinehart]

Thanks for the welcome and your replies
The Oceanic BioCube from the looks of it and based on the research I have done, has the lighting and everything else involved to do put pretty much what I want in there as long as it fits into size and compatibility restraints.

I have read into it and it is more difficult to keep a healthy and thriving anemone when you are starting out. Do you think that my years of freshwater experience will help with that, as I have a very good understanding of how all of that works. Or should I still stay away from them?

On a side note, marine fish are hard to come by around here, do you guys recommend any web sites to get great live stock from, shipped to Ohio.

 

[cindre2000]

Experience is not the only factor in keeping an anemone alive. A healthy stable system is very important and requires time! The biggest problems beginners have is because they do not have patience.

Once the system has cycled, you should be able to keep a bubble tip for your clowns; but remember what I said about patience.

 

[jerrinehart]

About 10 years ago when I really started my love for freshwater, I would add fish into the tank directly for distributors, I would cycle tanks with fish, etc.
I personally think that with time, and enough screw ups, you gain that patience, because you come to love your fish, and you do not want to hurt them in any way.

 

[Brian5000]

I'm sure you do have the patience, and depending on how big you got with the freshwater (natural plants, crustaceans, disci, etc.), the amount of work that goes into your new marine tank may not be any more than your freshwater systems.

You can get a bubble tip anenome (as far as I know, the only kind that will fit). I do suggest you wait a few months to get it. That's true for everyone, not just new people. Various algea blooms and changes that you'll notice over the first several months are evidence of the tank growing into itself. This stage can't really be sped up or altered. We want to get past it before adding something as sensitive as an anenome.

You probably know this, but the clowns will do fine without the anenome while you wait for the system to stabilize.
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[Len]

:welcome:

I think given some time for the tank to mature, you can try one of the hardier species of anemones. Just keep in mind that in a 14g tank, you probably will not have any other inverts because the anemone will dominate the aquarium (most get to about a foot in diameter, often more). I would consider a small Long Tentacle, a healthy Sebae (H.crispa, the operative word is healthy and not dyed), a H.malu, or a Bubble Tip.

 

[WRASSER]

Yes Welcome,
and pictures will help us enjoy the tank with you. :wink:

 

[Brian5000]

Len, you mean people put dye in them as in a "painted" anenome? That's evil!
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[jerrinehart]

Soon enough for pics my friend. I was out looking today. One of the three stores in the area carry Bubble Tips. The only other one I can get are Condi's.


Anyone know any reliable sites?
I was thinking Dr Foster and Smith. But I haven't tried them yet.

 

[Brian5000]

I've never tried buying anything online, though I have seen a couple people here order coral through Dr. Foster & Smith with good results.
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[jerrinehart]

Did I mention you guys rock?

 

[jerrinehart]

Brian what do you think about a cleaner shrimp and a small goby?

 

[Nemo2007]

I have used www.petsolutions.com succesfully in the past. Every specimen except for a neon goby I once ordered were high quality and eqivalent to anything from the LFS. In addition, they ship livestock quickly and have very good customer service. Once they sent me three of the wrong fish. I gave them a call and they sent out the right fish immediately. They allowed me to keep the other fish which I promptly sold to the LFS.

 

[ChrisRD]

As mentioned, anemones are not a good idea for new tanks or new aquarists, but if/when you decide to try one, personally I would stick to a captive propagated BTA.

Also, I highly recommend Joyce Wilkerson's book for more detailed information on clownfish and their host anemones:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... Code=Books

 

[jerrinehart]

I think I'm going to stay away from anemones in the 14g. I am going to go with Brian's set up, 2 Clowns, 3 hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp and a goby (if I can put the two together)
Reef it out.
Income tax time i will invest in at least a 29g and then consider one.
I should have pics up this weekend!

 

[Brian5000]

I was just thinking of the "bioload" when I mentioned having one or the other. The more you have the harder it is to keep your tank clean.

You can have both if you want. They are both extremely passive and can be added to your system at any time in any order.
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