jeff@zina.com
New member
Okay, a 12" cube will be fine for a pair of occelaris or percula clowns. Of any size or age. Water chemistry can change quick so you have to pay attention, but they do absolutely fine.
Jeff
Jeff
12" cube for a pair of clowns?
- Thread starter coral acquisition
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coral acquisition
Active member
Thanks guys, still have to make a diagram of what I want the tank to be.
I wanted it to be at least 60" long and divided evenly so I can have a few clown pairs in them.
So maybe 60"/5 sections = 12" and maybe 24" deep with inside overflow. It will have a sump for more water volume. Also if I do 24" deep, then maybe I can put another setup on top, 60x12x12 for something smaller, maybe goby and shrimp pair or do something else.
The main purpose of me doing this was to have different pairs of fish in different tanks and have no territorial issues.
Still have to draw up a plan on what I want and already bought the router and table saw so I can start making the acrylic tank.
This is gonna be a long project but I think I will enjoy doing this project. Will draw up something soon and post it on this thread.
Thanks guys.
I wanted it to be at least 60" long and divided evenly so I can have a few clown pairs in them.
So maybe 60"/5 sections = 12" and maybe 24" deep with inside overflow. It will have a sump for more water volume. Also if I do 24" deep, then maybe I can put another setup on top, 60x12x12 for something smaller, maybe goby and shrimp pair or do something else.
The main purpose of me doing this was to have different pairs of fish in different tanks and have no territorial issues.
Still have to draw up a plan on what I want and already bought the router and table saw so I can start making the acrylic tank.
This is gonna be a long project but I think I will enjoy doing this project. Will draw up something soon and post it on this thread.
Thanks guys.
BonsaiNut
Premium Member
Heck, why stop there?! I think it would be physically possible to pack at least 6120 clowns in a 60 gallon cube. All you need is one of those oxygenators they use in bait shops. I say GO FOR IT! Hopefully you can get to the point where you can't even see THE WATER! You could be the next Bonsai Kitty!!!! ZOMG!
OrionN
Moved on
12 inches cube is too small for a pair of clowns optimally. You can keep them alive like that but hardly optimal for your clowns. Raising baby clowns to sell (with minimal loss) is one thing, Keeping a stable, healthy, beautiful adult pair of clowns is another. I would not pay too much attention to reefstew regarding keeping adult clowns. You can compartmentalized your aquarium to 6 inches cube and put two clowns in there on display like at LFS and they will live a very long time like that but I think most people (except reefstew) would agree that this isn't adequate condition to keep a pair of clowns.
Puppy mills get plenty of puppies but it would be hard to argue that puppy mills condition is great for the dogs. Which is pretty much how I feel about keeping a pair of clowns in a 12 inches cube
Puppy mills get plenty of puppies but it would be hard to argue that puppy mills condition is great for the dogs. Which is pretty much how I feel about keeping a pair of clowns in a 12 inches cube
Fishboy42
Premium Member
BonsaiNut's post makes me wish RC had a "like" buton
Yes, you could keep a pair of clowns in a free-standing 12" cube tank, but as some have said here, it's not optimal. As an example--I had a pair of ocellaris clowns grow to maturity and spawn regularly in a 1.5g novelty "Nemo" aquarium on my desk (stock, corner bubble filter, little LED light and all), but that doesn't mean it's a good idea (I eventually moved them to a more appropriate home).
Having said that, clownfish are very site-attached and don't mind small living spaces (especially species like ocellaris and percula), but water quality (stability!) can be a problem with small aquariums. Many breeders have banks of small aquariums linked by a common (large) sump and filtration system, which can work well since the stability offered by the extra water allows the fish to have a small but safe environment. I prefer to give fish more room if possible (standard 15g for most smaller clown species--larger tanks for larger species)--I think most here would suggest to strive for optimal rather than minimal
Matt
Yes, you could keep a pair of clowns in a free-standing 12" cube tank, but as some have said here, it's not optimal. As an example--I had a pair of ocellaris clowns grow to maturity and spawn regularly in a 1.5g novelty "Nemo" aquarium on my desk (stock, corner bubble filter, little LED light and all), but that doesn't mean it's a good idea (I eventually moved them to a more appropriate home).
Having said that, clownfish are very site-attached and don't mind small living spaces (especially species like ocellaris and percula), but water quality (stability!) can be a problem with small aquariums. Many breeders have banks of small aquariums linked by a common (large) sump and filtration system, which can work well since the stability offered by the extra water allows the fish to have a small but safe environment. I prefer to give fish more room if possible (standard 15g for most smaller clown species--larger tanks for larger species)--I think most here would suggest to strive for optimal rather than minimal
Matt
coral acquisition
Active member
Thanks for all the info guys. Again, this will basically be a 48" or longer divided into different sections and will have a sump, so water quality will not be a problem cause it will be a really nice water volume.
As for dividing them, I guess I will be giving them a better swimming area. If I do 48x24x24 and divide the 48 by 4. Then each clown adult pair (ocellaris/percula) would have about 12x24x24 swimming area. Would that be fine then? That would give them about 24gallons minus live rock, which I don't plan of filling the live area with.
As for dividing them, I guess I will be giving them a better swimming area. If I do 48x24x24 and divide the 48 by 4. Then each clown adult pair (ocellaris/percula) would have about 12x24x24 swimming area. Would that be fine then? That would give them about 24gallons minus live rock, which I don't plan of filling the live area with.
deangelr
Clown Whisperererer
More than enough room... They will do well
davocean
Active member
That would probably be ok, you would just need to make sure each chamber has good flow and linked to adequate filtration.
I wonder how having other pairs being so close and visible long term would affect their personalities, would they be more defensive, and therefore a touch more aggro?
That's just me thinking and wondering out loud.
I wonder how having other pairs being so close and visible long term would affect their personalities, would they be more defensive, and therefore a touch more aggro?
That's just me thinking and wondering out loud.
coral acquisition
Active member
daveocean - each would have an overflow and a return, I wonder though how I could plumb that so I will have 4 returns.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
OrionN
Moved on
Vertical is not really need. I think the foot print is more important. 24X12 would likely be fine. If you keep them just for breeding then no LR needed but a flower pot would be better.
18X18 with whatever height would be more than adequate, and likely much better than 12X24 IMO, but I keep a young pair A. percula in a 20 G high with no problem
18X18 with whatever height would be more than adequate, and likely much better than 12X24 IMO, but I keep a young pair A. percula in a 20 G high with no problem
Fishboy42
Premium Member
This is a good point. You may want to make the dividers opaque so that the pairs can't see each other. Some breeders don't use them, but I find that it's better to keep the pairs focused on breeding rather than having the distraction of being able to see other fish.
OrionN
Moved on
You don't really need for separate tank. You can just have one return at one corner and another return at the opposite corner. This way the water will flow through all four area. You can have solid partition with only about 10% perforated and this will not obstruct the water flow.
If you want overflow individually from each section, then you will have to have individual returns also. Essentially you will have four tanks share a common sump.
BonsaiNut
Premium Member
You will need to make sure they can't see one another (or can't see each other easily). Eggcrate won't cut it
coral acquisition
Active member
The tank will be divided with black acrylic, since this will become a diy acrylic tank setup.
The wont be able to see each other with that. I will just have a front view of the tank.
I guess I will also have the dividers with teeth (like the overflows) on both top and bottom for more water flow and just have one overflow on one corner and the return on the other.
If I need more flow I can always put a koralia pump or something.
I'm not making the tank as a breeding tank. I would like to have nano display tanks that hold a different clown pair. I wouldn't know what to do if they do decide to breed.
My whole point in dividing a large tank is so that I can have 3-4 different display tanks with different clown pairs sharing one sump and having it look like a nano tank but in reality really be just one big tank.
The wont be able to see each other with that. I will just have a front view of the tank.
I guess I will also have the dividers with teeth (like the overflows) on both top and bottom for more water flow and just have one overflow on one corner and the return on the other.
If I need more flow I can always put a koralia pump or something.
I'm not making the tank as a breeding tank. I would like to have nano display tanks that hold a different clown pair. I wouldn't know what to do if they do decide to breed.
My whole point in dividing a large tank is so that I can have 3-4 different display tanks with different clown pairs sharing one sump and having it look like a nano tank but in reality really be just one big tank.
coral acquisition
Active member
I think I'm going to do a 16x16x16 x 3 = 48" long tank and will do a sump maybe 36" long or 48" long too, depending on my stand and whatever pump I use. I would like to use an external pump so that it doesn't really make the water hot and use DIY LED lights.
Now to draw it up and also the metal stand. I have a welder here, might as well learn how to weld right? lol
Any suggestions for cool looking clown pairs? I wanna stick with the smaller breeds like the ocellaris or perculas. Any cool coloring other than the platinum. I don't really like that color. lol
Now to draw it up and also the metal stand. I have a welder here, might as well learn how to weld right? lol
Any suggestions for cool looking clown pairs? I wanna stick with the smaller breeds like the ocellaris or perculas. Any cool coloring other than the platinum. I don't really like that color. lol
OrionN
Moved on
I think 16X16X16 is perfect for some of the smaller clowns. Various designer Ocellaris and Percula clowns are perfect. I would have Onyx, Snowflakes and Picasso pairs.
I got a Onyx percula and Snowflake ocelaris pair and they are just great. The contrast between he two fish is really neat. They are in my Green H. malu which is just perfect for a 16X16X16 cube (for the three of them)
I got a Onyx percula and Snowflake ocelaris pair and they are just great. The contrast between he two fish is really neat. They are in my Green H. malu which is just perfect for a 16X16X16 cube (for the three of them)
davocean
Active member
My thoughts exactly, and the only thing I would add to this comment is one my love for Malu's, and two they come in other nifty colors.
Mine is purple, but I've also seen yellow, and pink/purple mix.
