150g Breeding Setup (Built-in)

[Tmoriarty]

So my wife came up with the fantastic idea that I should use the nook in the Office/Fish room to put my breeding pairs of clowns, as well as have some sort of grow out and fry tank setup. From her idea we grew plans to fully utilize the space. Here is the start of transforming a 41"x24"x10' section of our house into the perfect spot to keep clownfish. I have been busy building other things, so I left this build up to the Smallest of my tiny tikes. Tristan will be the guide for this build.

Everything started with the spot, here is what we have to work with.

He busted out that carpet and the base boards with ease.

He always has to check out his work.

I do not think he liked the placement of this board, he wanted to change it a little.

Proud little man, tore through most of the framework in just a day.

Here is most of the base work complete, hard working little man kept at it strong.

The plan from here is to use another 40 Breeder as the sump tank, and add three 10g (or five 5g) tanks to the top. There will be a set of cupboards above the 5g tanks for misc. storage. Everything will be trimmed in white to match the walls and make the system a built in that could have the tanks removed and the area could always be repurposed for shelving/etc. One of the 40 Breeders will be partioned into 3 sections (using black Acrylic) that will house the spawning parents. That gives each pair approx. 13g's of space.

I like the idea of a flow through system for the fry so I am making plans to incorporate the fry tank into the system (with the ability to pull it offline of course).

I am happy with what we have going so far and can't be any more excited that I have the full support from the wife on this build (guess she really wants those babies off the kitchen counters )

 

[woodnaquanut]

Looks great.

Very cute with your boy 'working'. I always work best if I have my pacifier!

 

[r2odie]

Looking good! Awesome how you are utilizing the space so well! Can't wait to see it trimmed out and running.

 

[Lou Young]

Following along. Great start. I am getting some ideas for my own build. Keep the pictures coming. What kind of clownfish do you have?

 

[Tmoriarty]

I currently have a mixed pair (a. percula female x a. ocellaris male) With the female being a WC onyx and the male being a WC darwin B/W. Babies will be very similar to Sanjays Black Photons.

For the breeding setup I want to get a pair of picassos, a pair of black ice, and a pair of possibly whyoming whites. I will leave the current pair I have spawning in my reef tank since I enjoy having a pair in the tank.

 

[Lou Young]

Nice. That would be some nice pairs to have to get a lot of different types of clowns.I would love to see pics of the babies you have now.

 

[Tmoriarty]

Black Photon Babies, 30DPH

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pEpZeSLfnXU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Lou Young]

Very cool video dude!! And those baby clowns are really awesome looking. Congratulations!!

 

[zoolover]

If only I could get my daughter to work like that, my system would've been done so much faster! Good luck with your build, I'll have to post pictures of mine someday to get some feedback on it.

 

[Tmoriarty]

Very cool video dude!! And those baby clowns are really awesome looking. Congratulations!!

I'll have to make a new video soon, there is now 20 juveniles in that anemone. When I approach the tank they all come out to visit me hopping food will fall from the heavens. Then when I move my hand to fast they all retreat right back into the anemone.

Just goes to show people that associating with an anemone is not a learned behavior it is a genetically encoded response. Clownfish will seek a host whether they are captive bred or wild caught (something that seems to be of some confusion on occasion).

 

[Lou Young]

Yes please make a new video. I would like to see them in the anemone. I have been reading on another forum of breeders keeping the babies in dark colored round tubs. Did you ever try that?

 

[Tmoriarty]

BRT's or black round tubs are another method, the reason is for the first few days any side lighting is detrimental to the health of the fry, they just are not designed to take side lighting.

I have not tried using them yet (although I have used a dark bucket) but would not be opposed to it, they are cheap and effective. I will make a new video soon just haven't decided if I want to make it while they are in the 20g or when I move them to the 55g (which is set to be their home soon either way).

 

[Lou Young]

Can't wait for your video!! It seems like the round tubs would take up a lot more space than the square tanks you are using so your way seems like you will be able to have more tanks which is good. Can I ask where you found your clownfish parents? I want to try growing baby clowns too but can only find younger clownfish ones. Thank you.

 

[Tmoriarty]

I bought both of the clowns I have as juveniles. The female onyx true perc was purchased as a juvenile pair (both wild caught, soloman island) in June2011, I lost the male around June2012 and replaced him with a Wild caught Darwin Black and white, he was also a juvenile (approx. 6-9 months based on size). They began spawning a few months later and have not stopped since. Based on the size of the female when I purchased her and when she spawed I would estimate her age at time of first spawn to be around 2 years.

You can purchase spawning pairs sometimes either locally or from breeders (check marinebreeder). I just purchased a B/W x snowflake (with the b/w being the female) pair that will most likely spawn within th next month or two. They are of age and came from a local breeder. There was two pairs of the same fish, one of which began spawning 1 month ago (he sold me the other pair).

Hopefully they began spawning in the next couple months so I can start raising snowflake babies as well. If you get a spawn that is of age and have access to eggs (either from another pair of yours, or a friend) you can sort of trick your fish into spawning sometimes by introducing them to care for eggs from another set of fish. It's something that is done by some breeders to get new males to pair up with known spawning females (which is always a possibility with my current spawning female).

I want to get the clowns into the new tank, the bluer lights will make for much better video (especially since the nems are so fantastic looking). Here is a picture of one of the anemone in the 55g (it is a clone of the one in the 20g with the clowns currently, just not under 5k lighting). Best part is I picked up 5 of these anemone for under $100. Shows that you can purchase beautiful anemone pretty cheap if you get a lucky deal locally. This picture was taken under Blue+ bulbs, but the color was White balanced and is very accurate.

 

[Lou Young]

Awesome information. Thank you very much for sharing. I don't think I have the patience to buy babies and wait 2 years for them to have babies. Hehe I will check out that site to see if they have any parent clowns on there for sale. Please send me a PM if you ever hear of anyone selling.
Your anemone looks awesome and that is a great deal for 5 of them. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing the babies in the new tank with the anemones

 

[Tmoriarty]

I moved 7 juveniles to the 55g before I went to class tonight, they have settled in well. I released them directly above one of the sea anemones to keep them in the same place. I do not think at their current size they will do much adventuring out side of the anemone, so that should keep them where I can observe them for some time. I took some pictures, but no videos until tommorow.

 

[Tmoriarty]

Quick video I made tonight of the clowns, now 47 DPH and moved the the 55g, their final home until they move out of my house.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/caY4vt5KUc8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[oceancube1]

so cool!!!

 

[Lou Young]

Awesome video. I can't believe the clowns are in the anemone so quickly. The one on the left has it all to himself and he looks so dark. Thanks again for sharing.

 

[rgreene]

nice video