Breeding system up and running - any advice?

[Ooulophilia]

So I have my breeding system up and running - it is not the ideal setup, but it was what I had to work with. I wish I had pictures but my camera is out of order (due to a SW mishap).
The system consists of 12 10 gallon tanks teird all plumbed together going to a sump/fuge with skimmers.

I have the top two rows with my broodstock, 4 adult pairs of maroons, 2 adult pairs of oscillaris, a group of wierd cardinals that I found breeding, and one empty tank for my future pair of snowflakes (yeah right). The broodstock tanks have sand, some small pieces of live rock, and a half flowerpot.

The bottom 4 are bare bottom and I can take them off the system and add an air pump for fry/growout. In the future I hope to find room for some circular tanks for fry.

I also have breeding maroons in a display about to lay eggs on a tile.

I have 2 large tubs of rotifers which are doing great (on algae paste - nanochloropsis, not live stuff)

The total volume of the system is close to 180 gallons, and I do about a 30 gallon water change every day. I keep the salinity at 1.025, the temperature at 80, and the photoperiod is 12/12. I am feeding mysis, cyclopeeze, enriched brine w/garlic, formula one pellets, and arctic - pods (each spaced out though the day).

My main concern is that the tanks are too small for the fish to breed in, especially the big maroon pairs. I can up the water changes, but I am wondering if there is a territory space issue.

At this point the fish can see each other - I did some thinking and could not come to a conclusion if this is detrimental or benificial- I was thinking that them seeing another pair might strengthen the pairing they have, and they might pick up breeding cues from the ajoining pairs. On the other hand, they may be spending too much energy on squabbles, less on breeding - any experiences?

I think if I am raising maroons, I will need fairly big grow out tanks to stop them from picking on each other, any minimum size recommendations?

The pair in the display layed eggs last Wed. in the evening - I am thinking of pulling them tuesday afternoon to be safe. Good idea, or wait?

I have been sucessful breeding oscillaris in a makeshift system in the past so this is not entirely new to me, but any critiques, advice would be more than helpful (and sorry for all the questions), thanks

 

[Ooulophilia]

If everything is done right, there is no room for responses?

 

[damer]

i am a long way from an expert, but 10 gal tanks for maroons is very small. and how many cardianls do you have in the one tank?

i also read somewhere that they should not be able to see your other pairs, cant remember where. i am sure someone out the has them breeding with clear dividers.

 

[Kathy55g]

Do you have a market for a ton of maroons? They have huge nests, and they are aggressive, so the juvies fight (no experience here, just heresay).

4 larval tanks means you can raise two spawns a month, if you want a steady supply of fish, as long as you have a large grow-out system. With all those breeder pairs, you may have a difficult time deciding which spawn to take. I have one breeding pair, and it keeps my 5 larval tanks full to the brim. I have no growout tanks, my fish grow in the tanks to which they were transfered upon hatching. I have to let 2 spawns a month go, because I have no room for them.

Circular tanks are not necessary, but may be fun to try.

You are considering pulling the eggs early to be safe? If you can keep them sterile and aerated perhaps. In my opinion, they will be safer with papa clown. Fungus is an egg killer, and I could not avoid it in my tanks, but my papa clown did a fine job of keeping the eggs safe. I harvest the larvae after they hatch, and get a ton of fine larvae.

Cheers,
K