Clown Only Tank

[bigblue141]

I would like to set up a cube for a clown only tank with Frogspawn & Hammer Coral for them to host in.

I know that clowns don't normally swim around a whole lot, but how small is too small of a tank? I was thinking of some percs or osc clown.

My idea was to get a cube that's about 18 x 18 x 18 and was wondering if that would be to small for them over their life, or if they would be just fine. There will of course be a CUC of hermits and snails but that's about the extent of the livestock I would want in this tank.

Thanks

 

[returnofsid]

If you're only planning on 2 Clown fish, and if they're the smaller Clown species, such as Skunks, Percula or Occellaris, I think you'd be fine with something in the 15-20 gallon range. However, if you're planning on any of the larger species, such as Maroon, Carkii, Tomato, etc, I'd go with nothing smaller than a 29, even larger, if they're Maroons.

If you're planning on keeping more than 2 Clown fish, I'd highly suggest you DON'T, unless they're ALL Occellaris or Skunks.

I'd also discourage you from mixing species. Some do this, with success, but most of the times, it ends in disaster.

 

[bigblue141]

I just want a pair of Black Perc's or a pair of platiniums in their own tank. I thought it would help get my 6 year old a little more interested into the hobby if she had her own fish in her room.

She really enjoys the 120, but it frustrates her that she can't really help out much with it as much as she wishes she could.

 

[returnofsid]

Great idea!! My 5 year old is a "Reef Nerd" in the making. She helps out a lot with our tanks, from cleaning her Mom's Nano, with the algae magnet, to holding hoses, during water changes, to actually helping Dad frag corals, once in awhile.

The tanks are very educational. She knows the scientific names of some corals and some fish. It's funny to hear her tell her friends, "No, that's NOT Nemo!! It's a Percula Clown fish." or, "That's not a plant, it's a coral called Frogspawn and the Clown fish live in it." She even has some of her own Zoanthids and a M. digitata, that she picked out and remembers the names of. In the past, she's told us that she wants a "freshwater planted tank," in her room. The other day, she informed us that she "changed her mind and doesn't want freshwater tanks in her room, I want saltwater, instead."

 

[Krish]

I personally think the smaller species of clowns (a pair) would be fine in a tank 18x18x18 as well. The 18x18 foot print gives nice roaming area and going by the clowns I had in the past, they don't roam too much.

 

[bigblue141]

Great idea!! My 5 year old is a "Reef Nerd" in the making. She helps out a lot with our tanks, from cleaning her Mom's Nano, with the algae magnet, to holding hoses, during water changes, to actually helping Dad frag corals, once in awhile.

The tanks are very educational. She knows the scientific names of some corals and some fish. It's funny to hear her tell her friends, "No, that's NOT Nemo!! It's a Percula Clown fish." or, "That's not a plant, it's a coral called Frogspawn and the Clown fish live in it." She even has some of her own Zoanthids and a M. digitata, that she picked out and remembers the names of. In the past, she's told us that she wants a "freshwater planted tank," in her room. The other day, she informed us that she "changed her mind and doesn't want freshwater tanks in her room, I want saltwater, instead."

They are quite outspoken at this age! She sounds extremely smart and full of energy.

I have plenty to catch up on... I don't know any of the Scientific names of anything in my tank. Todd tries to teach me when I visit for frags or macro, but it just doesn't stick My daughter does know all the common names for all the different life in our tank though.

 

[flatteringchild]

I am wondering about the clowns hosting in frogspawn and hammer coral. My understanding is that because the frogspawn/hammer coral is not intended to be a "host" the clowns will pester or irritate these corals - if the clowns even attempt to host - and the corals will not thrive. In other words, Mother Nature set up clowns to host in anenomes and vice versa. You might want to check into that further.

 

[nata]

My clowns are hosting my hammer for 6 months ..they refuse the RBTA...Hammer is very healthy and happy!!!Got larger since the clowns are hosting...

 

[returnofsid]

It is true that sometimes Clown fish, while attempting to use a LPS as a host, will irritate the host LPS, causing problems. However, usually most LPS and Clown fish will get along just fine.

One thing to watch for, though it's not known if it's a real concern or not, is Hypermelanization of the Clown Fish. This is somewhat common, when Clown fish host LPS corals. It causes a discoloration on the Clown Fish, resulting in black smudges. So far, it's believed that it doesn't do any harm to the Clown fish and the discoloration will slowly go away, when the LPS and Clown Fish are separated. It also doesn't happen every time a Clown Fish uses an LPS as a host.

In Angie's Nano, we have a pair of A. percula, using a Frogspawn coral as a host. They've been using it for well over a year, with no ill effect to coral or Clown. In the past, I've had Clown fish use Frogspawn, Torch, Hammer, Bubble Coral and even Xenia, as a host, with no ill effects.

However, I would suggest keeping an eye on the LPS coral, for signs of irritation, since it is possible and can cause eventual death to the LPS coral.