Calling all Clown Fish Lovers

[tory]

From Papa New Guinea...I just got a beautiful pair of P. Clownfish.

I've been cycling my 30 gallon tank (with 45 lbs of live rock and 3 dams) for one month now. I'm a brand new hobbyist and the addiction--and compulsion--are palpable. My plan is to buy a 92 gallon corner spill-over tank next month--and get the lighting system required to raise corals and clams. I'll have to go through the whole patience thing 2-fold at that point...but, somehow waiting is part of the intrigue. (I do have a fliter, protein skimmer, and blower--I know that's elementary as hell to you guys...but, just so ya know)

Keep in mind that I'm literally brand new to saltwater... be gentle...

The clownfish pair have been in the upper right corner of my tank for the last 24 hours. I don't mean--the general upper right area--they are literally snuggled up to the blower, tredding water. I've had my water tested and it got the proverbial 'A'. I removed the dams and gave them back to the fish store--and I just want to know if the stress I caused by chasing those suckers around before introducing the clowns is a significant enough reason for the clowns static behavior. The other life in the tank is: 2 dottybacks, 1 shrimp, 4 snails, 1 hermit crab, and a few mushrooms. Everyone else has gone back to life as was. (I bet 24 hours is a laughable amount of time for you veterens)

I'll be getting more advanced lighting Oct. 9th for their anemonie. (that I have yet to buy) Is this just uneventful behavior for clownfish? Is there anything else I can do for them? I really love them and want them to thrive.

Thank you in advance,
Tory

 

[kylem]

Hi, nice to hear that you are getting into the saltwater thing. You may want to review the chemisty section. It was really an eye opener.
I am new to this reef thing...been running for 6 months now and run into a few problems....things change over the cource of a year. Make sure you do some water changes now and then....I refugium helps alot to minimize the algae headaches.
As for the clowns. You should introduce them to your tank in the dark so they can get used to the enviroment. They are stressed out a little and will tank a few days or less to start swimming around without any fear. This is also it seems to be breeding season for alot of creatures so you may find that they seems to fight alot...its called mating. They will line up sideways and shake...little dance.
They like places to hide but I find that they will swim out in the open by a rock somewhere at night instead of hiding in the dark behind them.
I have two mated pair 3" and 1.5" of False Percula Clowns and Percula clowns.
They are loving their new rose anemome and have moved in.
I have a 135 gal tank with 3 blue devil damsels, 4 little purple damsels, 3 striped black and white damsels, 1 royal grama, 1 yellow headed jawfish...really fun to watch and help build his home, 1 lemon peal angel, 1 dwarf flame angel, 1 blue tang, bunch of crabs and snails, red,blues,greys.
1 serpent star, 2 red brittle stars, 1 black and yellow brittle star, a couple of 7 leg stars that came with some rock...really tiny about 1 inch. Serpent stars and brittle stars are the best addition to a reef tank...they don't hurt anything and the eat the detrius. I have 1 orange bubble coral(anemome family I think)..just devided twice this last month and left behind two young ones. A bunch of pulsing Xenae soft coral, several types of hard corals and a brain coral....think thats about it for now.


By the way Anemomes are hard to keep. Some make it and some don't. Most die shortly after you get them. If you can keep it alive for the first month you have a greater success in keeping them; however, they have a 5 % success rate beyond 3 years.

Have fun with you new tank.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Tory,
The hardest thing about a new tank is waiting for tank to mature itself. How long has the tank been set up? The rock you have will go through changes adapting the new environment you put in it. The algae from different light, you will most likely have die off. Tory, Kevin at Aquatic Dreams is very personable.honest, and prices are pretty good. You may want visit him and I also recommend Talking to Zeph about going to Club meeting. The Club meeting or Kevin can teach you how to learn about this hobby with as little mistakes as possible. OOPs...This forum is for that also. Its just easier at times to visit people in public places in person one on one or to have a Club meeting at your house and have people teach you tricks as you learn about this hobby. Tri-cities has a club meeting tonight. The door is open for anyone that wants to share.
Club meetings are to discuss water problems, equipment, etc.
All I can say is wait a good 8 weeks before you add any new animals. Wait those 8 weeks and learn that your tank is like a marathon runner. It has to adjust to the environment that you built itself. You are on the right track with Live rock. Your temp should be monitored or try to keep it stable. Your lights should be timed so they go off at same time everyday to create less stress to animals. I am glad to hear someone new is learning about this hobby...But patients, let your tank adapt to animals, rock, lighting slowly. I wish you the best.
Good Luck,

Ed

 

[tory]

Ed,

Thank you--you give excellent advice. I actually bought the pair from Kevin. I've visited every marine and reef shop in Spokane--and Kevin has them beat by leaps and bounds. (in every area)

Patience is hard for me...I do know that I need to find some, though.

Kyle--thank you for your advice also. I'm looking forward to gaining the experience needed to keep a tank like yours. And, they are doing that sideways shaking thing, by the way. How funny that you mentioned that!

Tory

 

[Ed Hahn]

Tory,
You got to show the guys how good you can get with this hobby. Show your stuff!
Good Luck! Hope you Contact Zephrant or Zeph and learn and share with all of us together. This hobby is fun and even more fun (my oppinion)shared
Thanks for the smiles
Ed

 

[madmark]

anenome angst

Hi Tory

Welcome to the show, I appreciated your word choice "compulsion", well said, it can be like that. On the question of anenomes and having success, I have found that it is best to wait for one to be available out of another person's tank. When another aquarist brings in a propagated anenome then you can be sure it is healthy, since it wouldnt have split in the first place if it wasn't They are sometimes available on this forum, as well as in the local fish stores (LFS). As there are different schools of thought, I recommend feeding about twice a week, and cover up the intakes to your power heads, they will shred anenomes!! But do wait a while, it is very sad watching an anenome wither away because your tank wasnt quite ready.

mark

 

[MtnDewMan]

I wanted to chime in because I am a clown fish lover myself ... My avatar clown is the queen of my tank

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!!

 

[Elmo18]

I'm a clownfish freak myself I have a mated pair of GSM's that are spawning.

I also have 2 orange skunk clowns (A. sandaracinos) in my sump that I'm hoping to pair up and become spawning adults.

- Elmo

 

[Angelscrx]

I didn't know about the acclimating in the dark thing good to know. I have a mated pair of Cinnamon Clowns.

Welcome to Madmark and Tory to Reef Frontiers.

 

[cheeks69]

Welcome to RF Tory !
You have received some great advice. I would emphasize patience there's a saying in this hobby "only bad things happen quickly".

I would recommend you get some books such as The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists by Robert M. Fenner and since your a clownfish lover Clownfishes by Joyce D. Wilkerson.

I would also suggest you wait for your tank to mature a bit before you add any Anemone. Your tank will go thru some fluctuations in the beginning and it would be best to know more about anemones and their requirements before adding them to your tank. Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions there's alot of knowledgeable people here.

 

[NaH2O]

Tory - welcome to Reef Frontiers!

Great advice everyone!

 

[jesshimom]

I'm with madmark on getting ANYTHING from other people's tanks. Shilo and I love to do that. Our tanks are almost complete with corals from everyone else's tank. Not only is it usually a good deal, you know it's healthy, been treated right, and has been in their tank for a long time. It's so frustrating to buy something from a store and watch it die for what feels like no reason because you've done everything the correct way, or what you think it the correct way. We buy our fish locally from the stores, but most of the coral from members.

Colleen

 

[Angelscrx]

I'm with madmark on getting ANYTHING from other people's tanks. Shilo and I love to do that. Our tanks are almost complete with corals from everyone else's tank. Not only is it usually a good deal, you know it's healthy, been treated right, and has been in their tank for a long time. It's so frustrating to buy something from a store and watch it die for what feels like no reason because you've done everything the correct way, or what you think it the correct way. We buy our fish locally from the stores, but most of the coral from members.

Colleen

You are so right about that. Frag trading is the way to go.