Biotope tanks?

[Tarhiel]

I have always seen a good number of "biotope" tanks representing a specific geographic, regional habitat in the freshwater hobby- Amazon tetras, Rio Negro, Asian Gourami, Asian streams with HIllstream Loaches and White Cloud Minnows, and of course the ever-present Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichilid tanks. What about in the saltwater hobby? The only biotope forum I have found, on the nano-reef site I believe, was focused primarily on temperate or local biotopes.

Does anyone here have experience with recreating a specific natural habitat in their reef tank? As my first reef tank, I have decided to recreate a shallow, inshore reef or reef rubble zone from the Philippines. The primary reason for thi is because my wife wants clownfish- it was actually for this reason I decided to try my hand at saltwater, as before I have stuck with freshwater- and because I was able to find a number of pecies on liveaquaria which specifically mention that they were collected in Cebu. According to my research (from fishbase, I believe) the Ocellaris clownfish dwells in the waters around Cebu to depths of 15 meters.

Anyway, that is what I have so far. Anyone out there who has trie, and hopefully succeeded, in such a venture? And does anyone know a good field guide t coral? I would like to find species native to the areas around Cebu where you can find Ocellaris.

 

[E46Twist]

If you are not dead set on clowns the Caribbean would be cool to do with lots of options.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Hey! A fellow Arkansan! The ocellaris clownfish usually lives in Stichodactyla gigantea, S. mertensii, Heteractis crispa, and/or H. magnifica. (ocellarisclownfish.com) If pricing isn't a problem...you could maybe try that super duper uber-expensive whitecap goby/pistol shrimp pair! Or if you have a giant tank, a whale shark would look nice! Seriously though, besides the clownfish, the only other fish I'm 99% certain that has a range in the Philippines is the mandarin dragonet. How big is your tank? I'm gonna PM you the name of the fish store(s) that I found most helpful.

 

[Tarhiel]

For better or worse, the clowns are not optional- the only reason I started on this reef tank adventure is for the sake of clowns. I kept a couple freshwater tanks before I moved, but my wife told me that, if I want more fw tanks, I have to get here clownfish. A few months later, I am thinking I may never go back to freshwater.

Anyway, from what I have been able to find, based on wild ocellaris distribution and the availability of other species, I have decided to go with a Philippine lagoon/inshore reef flat biotope. Fish will be two Ocellaris, one Twinspot Blenny (E. bimaculatus), and one Barber Shop goby (S. nematodes). The all appear to inhabit the same environment- relatively shallow, somewhat calm, sandy, a tad nutrient rich. Now to narrow down the corals, though I am think I will go all-softies.

On another note, where does one post a build thread?