Advice needed for 29g tank for clownfish and anemone

[Kawaii]

We recently purchased a 29g and we decided we would like to set it up for clownfish and an anemone. We currently have a 29g reef tank and we have had a gold stripe maroon clown in there almost since we started the tank so we have never been able to have other types of clown. Please suggest what would be a good setup!

I was thinking maybe 3 tiny clownfish or a pair but I would like input on how many would be good to keep in a 29g if they would be the only fish in the tank. What would be the maximum amount that I could have-while still having very happy clowns obviously ? The only other fish I was considering would be possibly a flame angel so how would that get along with the clownfish and how many should I get if I were to also have the angel? Would the angel be ok with an anemone?

The lighting will be 30" 65 x 2 Current USA Satellite. Would this be sufficient for an anemone? Should we only have one anemone or two or more? I don't want anything large, so they would be maybe softball sized at the largest.

There wouldn't be any coral in the tank, only about 20lbs of base rock, 5lbs of live rock and the anemone(s).

Are there any differences besides appearance with the true percula clown and the false percula, such as behavior, health, hardiness, etc?

Also, I have seen black clownfish like these ones:

Are these black variations the same as the orange ones besides appearance and will they mix together? Say two orange clowns and one black?

Thanks for your help, and I am so excited about finally getting my own tank of perculas. I should add that I am trying to do this on a budget. Let me know if there is anything else that I should know. Thanks

 

[ackoi]

Hi,
I just wanted to say that that is almost exactly what I was planning on doing, except I was gonna go with only 2 Clowns. Because as far as I know 3 clowns doens't always work too well.
My planned setup is going to be:
2 65W PC *don't know which ones yet* (same as what your planning)
25 lbs base rock *cheaper* (a little more than your planning)
5 lbs live rock *fiji* (same)

The 2 clowns I have right now that will go into the 29 are 2 Black Ocellaris clowns, they are the ones in your picture.
Not sure about behaviour differences since I only have the black O's *which are great *

The anemone that I was going to get would be a RBTA or BTA although I do know that the chance of hosting is smaller than a natural host would be. But BTA's in general i believe do get fairly large, but in some/alot of them they split and then they're not so small.

 

[ackoi]

O yea, forgot, on my 29 I plan on using Live Sand, and if theres enough money a sump. As well as a skimmer (dependant on sump or no sump) With out a sump I was planning on an aqua c remora but with a sump I was planning on a different aqua c (not sure which yet)

 

[wheelspin]

I have a 29gal GSM/BTA tank and then I have a 20H reef with a pair of O/W & B/W Ocellaris...

I am hoping one day they will start breeding because I have the system I want to raise the fry in my head....

 

[dantodd]

As ackoi said the B&W clowns in your picture are ocellaris though they are often sold as percula.

You can pair B&W with other color variations of ocellaris (and even percula) but I would not recommend 3 clowns. Once 2 of them pair up and start to mature they will likely turn on the 3rd. Some have had success but it is spotty at best.

BTA will grow in that tank if you feed it well. You cannot count on them to stay "softball sized." If you provide them with good light and food they will grow quite large within 6-8 months. As for light, the 2*65 PC is on the edge of what I would recommend for such a tank. It would probably be plenty for a 20L which is the same footprint but much more shallow. My 20L has 4*55 PC over it.

 

[CraigG]

I had a friend with a rose BTA that spawns quite often so that would be the probable anenome we would choose. Should we avoid an anenome with only 130w PC's? I wouldn't want to have any problems.

What is a 'good' choice of lighting for them?

 

[ek9vboi]

U can get nems, just try to feed them. usually after a clown decides to host it, there will be no need to feed the nem.

just get 1 nem since you should really just have 2 clowns (pair)

with clowns hosting the nem, its a 50/50 shot if u ask me. true perc. will usual be quick to host if the are wild caught.

 

[ackoi]

CraigG, it all depends on the depth of your tank if you can have an anemone with 130 W PC

There are alot of reefers that would recommend MH for RBTAs and BTAs and then alot of other reefers that would not recommend it as they feel it is too strong.

I don't believe that clowns actually feed the anemone with enough food, all the anemone is getting is leftovers and waste.
Feeding silversides a few times a week is a good idea.

The myth of tank raised/captive breed clowns won't host in an anemone is false. Instinct is Instinct, some clowns just don't like the particular anemone that is provided.

 

[wheelspin]

The guy at my LFS has been doing this experiment with an anemone tank he set up with a well manered clown he keeps that hosts.

It has been his experience so far that he can put in some clowns that would not host before and shortly they will begin.

 

[johno4]

I had a 20 gal high with the same lights (2x65 watt pc) with a GBTA for a long time. just feed him once a week and he will be fine. I have two tomato clowns hosting in it. just go with one BTA and 2 clowns you will be fine. I even went without a skimmer on this tank for almost 2 years. It took a month before the clowns would host so be patient. good luck