10 Gallon Nano For Perc Pair

[FishNutty]

Hey all. I've been poking around for a few days:reading:, but I'm having a little trouble finding exactly what I need, so I figured it was time to post in here.

I'm setting up a ten gallon nano reef and moving my livestock from my pico over to it. I had gotten a baby perc with the plan of doing this, but now I'm a little unsure of how to proceed. Ultimately I wanted a perc pair and a firefish, along with 3-4 peppermint shrimp and LPS/Soft corals. The baby is about 1 1/2in long and has been alone for 3[ish] weeks, which from what I've read means it's probably a female now? I was going to wait a month or so and then get another baby, but from what I've been reading....okay.....okay, so I'm hopelessly confused! HELP!

Is a pair even doable at this point, and how should I proceed?
Thanks!

 

[garygb]

It seems a 10 gallon is on the small side for all those things. In Joyce Wilkerson's book Clownfishes, she says percs and ocellaris can be kept in a 10 gallon, but I think that would be a dedicated tank. To have a firefish, several shrimp, along with coral might be pushing it. A 20 gallon would be a better bet with all the things you're wanting to keep and will be easier to keep stable. Since you've been successfully keeping a pico, you are probably a good candidate for a 10 gallon nano, but you don't have much margin for error with such a small tank.

 

[FishNutty]

^okay. My plan was to slowly add livestock, but I wasn't sure if I waited to long if it would make it even harder to pair the clowns up........
Nothing is really set in stone as far as stocking goes, excepting what I already have[the perc and 1 peppermint shrimp], could I do either the clown pair or a perc and a firefish?

 

[garygb]

If you decide to do a clown pair, which is possible in a 10 gallon (according to Joyce Wilkerson, a clownfish expert), then you will need to be on top of tank maintenance. I still suggest a larger tank if at all possible. As far as pairing clowns, make sure the one you get is young and smaller than the one you have. Your older fish will become (if she isn't already) the female.

 

[FishNutty]

I still suggest a larger tank if at all possible.

Ten is really all I can do or have room for, unfortunately.

At this point I could go either way, having a pair or doing other fish with the perc, I just want to do what's going to make it the happiest. You can do whatever you want with a fish/reef tank, but you're going to enjoy the end result more when the animals are happy and content.

 

[ditka]

I know you think you only have room for a ten gallon tank but you would be surprised. a 10g is 20Lx10Wx12H get out a tape measure and see how much room a 15g tank would really take up (24Lx12Wx12H). i bet you could manage the extra space being taken up, its only an extra few inches plus it gives you a safety cushion, making your tank more stable and possibly allowing you to add an additional fish. Just think about it. I found when deciding on what size tank i wanted a cardboard cutout helps to actually get a feel for how big the tank actually is.

 

[ILLiDaN]

you can do it mate

 

[FishNutty]

I know you think you only have room for a ten gallon tank but you would be surprised. a 10g is 20Lx10Wx12H get out a tape measure and see how much room a 15g tank would really take up (24Lx12Wx12H). i bet you could manage the extra space being taken up, its only an extra few inches plus it gives you a safety cushion, making your tank more stable and possibly allowing you to add an additional fish. Just think about it. I found when deciding on what size tank i wanted a cardboard cutout helps to actually get a feel for how big the tank actually is.

I wish, but a)the tank is already here and setup/cycling and b)the stand is only 22in long and I'm not sure if it could hold a larger tank volume. The cardboard is a good idea, though, my mom has had me do similar things in the past.

 

[garygb]

Again, if you can't have a larger tank right now, it's possible to keep a pair of percs in a ten gallon. You will need to be diligent with water changes and other maintenance. Don't plan on keeping an anemone in such a small tank. Definitely wait on that, if you have any interest in an anemone. Maybe you can upgrade to a 15 or 20 gallon sometime soon. If you don't have the Clownfish book by Joyce Wilkerson, I recommend it.

 

[eho72]

I keep a pair of occelaris clowns in my 12g nano tank along with an emerald crab and fire shrimp. They do just fine. Mine are hosting on frogspawns. Would not want an anemone in a tank that small. To tell you the truth, it's alot less maintenance and water change than my 120 mixed reef. I only change the water once a month. There is hardly any evaporation because the JBJ nano cube comes with an enclosed top. So never any top off either. Low maintenance. I do plan on adding one firefish also. So my setup is pretty much identical to yours.

 

[FishNutty]

I keep a pair of occelaris clowns in my 12g nano tank along with an emerald crab and fire shrimp. They do just fine. Mine are hosting on frogspawns. Would not want an anemone in a tank that small. To tell you the truth, it's alot less maintenance and water change than my 120 mixed reef. I only change the water once a month. There is hardly any evaporation because the JBJ nano cube comes with an enclosed top. So never any top off either. Low maintenance. I do plan on adding one firefish also. So my setup is pretty much identical to yours.

Are you happy with the 2 clowns in that size? Do you think they're comfortable?
Yeah, the smaller tanks do seem to be easier for some people, I was all worried when I started the pico about how hard it would be and the whole thing has really been a snap for me, lol:celeb2:!

 

[FishNutty]

Okay, so Nemo was moved into the 'big' tank yesterday(he keeps looking for where it ends, lol!!) and my indecision about a pair officially ended. I'm pretty positive I'm doing it, the only question now is should I get another baby or wait for Nemo to grow a bit and then get a baby.............

 

[eho72]

The pair of clownfish I had in my tank has been there over a year. They seem pretty happy. Say hi to me every morning when I feed them breakfast. :wavehand:

 

[FishNutty]

Say hi to me every morning when I feed them breakfast. :wavehand:

That is something I've noticed too since the move to the 10. S/he seems a lot happier there, and I think the tank will look better with 2 clowns instead of one fish of 3[+?] different kinds/species

 

[garygb]

If you can get another fish that is slightly smaller, then you should be ok to go ahead with that. Perhaps your ocellaris hasn't become female yet, but even so, if the other one is smaller, then yours will likely become the female and the new one will be the male.