Day 2 I Now Own Clowns
- Thread starter mcrbar910
- Start date
shilo_1
New member
What you will notice after reading a few posts on RC is that the LFS always "knows best".....what you should really read that as....most people who work at the lfs know nothing about fish, especially SW, and make it up as you ask a question. Don't get me wrong, there are some places that are exceptionally knowledgable, but its tough finding those places.
Don't get an anemone - you are correct in wanting something else instead. They need extremely stable conditions and for the most part, strong lighting.
Clowns will host whatever they feel like. Some people add anemones that the clowns never even blink at, then one day they look and the clown is hosting a power head ! Odd creatures ! lol
Froqspawn is an option. I'm not sure what lighting you have on that tank, but since frogspawn are lps, they need slightly stronger light than most softies. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about something for the clowns for a while.
Once you get some algae growing, which you more than likely will, you should look at a cleanup crew. A mix of snails, and if you want, some hermits....some people are mixed on the hermits though...they can kill the snails, and some feel the snails are more important.... Cross that bridge when you get there though.
I wouldn't worry too much about the leather...polyps are probably just not extended because of the star being on it...
Your tank looks good. I love seeing new tanks - I think its half the fun of having a SW tank ! I'll be moving soon, and upgrading shortly after the move...I can't wait !!!
Where in MO are you ? We lived in Ballwin, near St. Louis before moving to NJ (and then to CA and soon to WA....sigh. lol)
Don't get an anemone - you are correct in wanting something else instead. They need extremely stable conditions and for the most part, strong lighting.
Clowns will host whatever they feel like. Some people add anemones that the clowns never even blink at, then one day they look and the clown is hosting a power head ! Odd creatures ! lol
Froqspawn is an option. I'm not sure what lighting you have on that tank, but since frogspawn are lps, they need slightly stronger light than most softies. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about something for the clowns for a while.
Once you get some algae growing, which you more than likely will, you should look at a cleanup crew. A mix of snails, and if you want, some hermits....some people are mixed on the hermits though...they can kill the snails, and some feel the snails are more important.... Cross that bridge when you get there though.
I wouldn't worry too much about the leather...polyps are probably just not extended because of the star being on it...
Your tank looks good. I love seeing new tanks - I think its half the fun of having a SW tank ! I'll be moving soon, and upgrading shortly after the move...I can't wait !!!
Where in MO are you ? We lived in Ballwin, near St. Louis before moving to NJ (and then to CA and soon to WA....sigh. lol)
We live in the country closer to the Kansas City area. My children are having so much fun too. My husband even sits and watches the fish. He called me at work to tell me they were hungry lol. When the time comes to cross that bridge what coral would you recommend that is low maint. and easy to keep alive that the fish would like? Would you recommend shrimp as part of the clean up crew when the time comes? If so which one? I think this girl that wants me to come get an anenome just likes them and does not know as much as the owner. I like when he is there I can say what do you think about this? And he will say no that doesn't generally last long in tank that size. Like the yellow headed goby he told me would most likely die in a couple of months in my tank. I like honesty. I don't want to kill anything.
dantodd
New member
I feed my clowns constantly. 3 to 5 times a day, as much as they'll eat for 5 minutes.
I would not recommend anything like that for 2 clowns in a new, small tank.
I also wouldn't recommend spirulina flake. Clowns are omnivorous and will do much better on a good all-round flake. I really like Ocean Nutrition products and feed "Prime Reef" "Formula 1" and "Formula 2" flakes which all have both meat and algae in them as well as other great stuff. I think that 2 flakes is a bad way to decide how much to feed, flake size is variable. I would give them enough so that they can finish it in 2-3 minutes and none hits the bottom.
Then for the evening, again a more diverese food than mysis alone is good. Mysis is a good food but I prefer to use a mixture of a number of different foods frozen into a single cube. I usually use cyclop-eeze, oyster eggs, clams, squid, fish, scallops and some spirulina and/or nori, sometimes a good sqeeze of selco.
I would not recommend anything like that for 2 clowns in a new, small tank.
I also wouldn't recommend spirulina flake. Clowns are omnivorous and will do much better on a good all-round flake. I really like Ocean Nutrition products and feed "Prime Reef" "Formula 1" and "Formula 2" flakes which all have both meat and algae in them as well as other great stuff. I think that 2 flakes is a bad way to decide how much to feed, flake size is variable. I would give them enough so that they can finish it in 2-3 minutes and none hits the bottom.
Then for the evening, again a more diverese food than mysis alone is good. Mysis is a good food but I prefer to use a mixture of a number of different foods frozen into a single cube. I usually use cyclop-eeze, oyster eggs, clams, squid, fish, scallops and some spirulina and/or nori, sometimes a good sqeeze of selco.
shilo_1
New member
Its possible they will host the toadstool - its polyps may not extend as much, but I've found that for the most part the critter they decide on kinda adapts over time.....like I said before, they are on their own schedule...some will never host what you want, its what THEY want ! lol
I think shrimp are cool additions to any tank ! If it were me, I'd add a skunk cleaner and possibly a peppermint. You could opt for the pricier (but neat looking) fire shrimp, but I find that they are really shy and I hardly ever saw mine. I like the skunks most. Mine would hop up and clean my hand when I was moving stuff or had my hand in the tank for whatever reason...it was neat !
I think shrimp are cool additions to any tank ! If it were me, I'd add a skunk cleaner and possibly a peppermint. You could opt for the pricier (but neat looking) fire shrimp, but I find that they are really shy and I hardly ever saw mine. I like the skunks most. Mine would hop up and clean my hand when I was moving stuff or had my hand in the tank for whatever reason...it was neat !
shiloh I think the fires are so pretty also. Do you have a picture of a skunk? They won't hurt my clowns? How many skunks maybe 2 or will they fight? How long should I expect to wait before adding them? And thank you so much for always answering my questions and being nice
Dantodd I printed out the foodlist I will check out the options at lfs I have been wanting to broaden their selection. I went tonight to new lfs but they were closed. I need to get liquid garlic and silcon too.
Shiloh how often do you do liquid garlic and silcon?
Dantodd I printed out the foodlist I will check out the options at lfs
I have been wanting to broaden their selection. I went tonight to new lfs but they were closed. I need to get liquid garlic and silcon too. Shiloh how often do you do liquid garlic and silcon?
dantodd
New member
search here for Eric Borneman's reef diet. If you don't have corals just chop it up coarser, mine is a derivative of that recipe I just leave out some of the stuff that is coral specific and don't chop as fine. Actually I usually make the fish food and blend it coarsely and then add the rest of the ingredients to the blender and let 'er rip until it is liquified.
shilo_1
New member
Personality-wise, I much prefer the skunks. They are called cleaner shrimp siince the clean the fish of parasites - you will see them occasionally hop on the clowns while the clowns wait patiently. lol I have added two to my tank before with no problems, so I don't see why you couldn't. No they won't hurt or kill your fish. I'd give the tank a few weeks to come up to speed with the addition of everything - if your tests are still looking good, I would say go ahead.
I add garlic one night and selcon the next, maybe missing a night or two of any supplements each week. Dan is correct - feed a good variety of food. I prefer frozen over flake any day. I know its fresh too.
I'd give the tank a few weeks to come up to speed with the addition of everything - if your tests are still looking good, I would say go ahead.I add garlic one night and selcon the next, maybe missing a night or two of any supplements each week. Dan is correct - feed a good variety of food. I prefer frozen over flake any day. I know its fresh too.
shilo_1
New member
Hey Shilo
It is hard to get a clear close up of the coral through the glass and water, but here it is. I also took a picture of what I think is pretty on another rock. Maybe a sponge. I am going to go to lfs to check out expanding my kido's diet today
Thank you for the pic of the skunk too. That is one that caught my eye too. I had not researched them yet. I will probably just go with that when it is time I now see what you meant by my sand was so clean. It has spots now
I like it clean. I checked ammonia this morning, and it was still 0. I went ahead and did a 10% water change. I am going to try the small scale 10% change on Sundays. Others had said it worked good for them. What do you think?
shilo_1
New member
Its kinda hard to say for sure from the first pic, maybe try backing up a little when you take the shot...it looks like you're too close is all, and also try support the camera on something to reduce any hand shake (a tripod is ideal.)
I would say the second pic is just a different color coraline - like the purples.
You will have algae start in the tank, its inevitable. Your tank still has to cycle 100% to get the bacteria levels where they should be, eventhough you used the LFS rock and water. I'd be willing to bet they probably sold you their pre-mixed water (not directly from their tanks - thank goodness), so that means its fresh. Although your rock was cured and the sand live, the bacteria still have to repopulate and growin numbers in the water itself. This all takes time. Some people wait anything up to 6 months before adding anything to the tank (livestock) in an effort to make the tank as stable as possible.
Keep checking the tests, but also try not to do too many water changes (once a week is fine.) The more water you take out while the tank is trying to cycle, the longer it will take.
Have you thought at all about a QT yet ? (A quarentine tank - like a fish hospital.)
I would say the second pic is just a different color coraline - like the purples.
You will have algae start in the tank, its inevitable. Your tank still has to cycle 100% to get the bacteria levels where they should be, eventhough you used the LFS rock and water. I'd be willing to bet they probably sold you their pre-mixed water (not directly from their tanks - thank goodness), so that means its fresh. Although your rock was cured and the sand live, the bacteria still have to repopulate and growin numbers in the water itself. This all takes time. Some people wait anything up to 6 months before adding anything to the tank (livestock) in an effort to make the tank as stable as possible.
Keep checking the tests, but also try not to do too many water changes (once a week is fine.) The more water you take out while the tank is trying to cycle, the longer it will take.
Have you thought at all about a QT yet ? (A quarentine tank - like a fish hospital.)
I will try the pic again it takes a while I have dial up. No it was 10 gallons from their tank I watched them and 15 gallons fresh mix. He said would provide instant stability. If I am getting algea what do I need to do? I am only going to do weekly small water changes at this point. I have not done a qt tank isn't that a whole other aquarium?
shilo_1
New member
Algae comes and goes. Pretty much just wait it out, keeping an eye on amonia nitrites and nitrates, etc.
A QT is a separate tank, usually just something like a 10g with nothing but water, heater, ph and something for the fish to hide in (ie. piece of pvc tube or something similar.) QT's are handy to have running so that IF something happens to a fish in your main tank, you have a small hospital tank to treat, rather than treating your whole main display tank. It is also advisable to add new fish to the QT for a few weeks before adding them to the display so that you can avoid putting bad diseases in your display, and in turn wiping out everything. Its not essential to have a QT, but smart in the long run.
Pretty much just wait it out, keeping an eye on amonia nitrites and nitrates, etc.A QT is a separate tank, usually just something like a 10g with nothing but water, heater, ph and something for the fish to hide in (ie. piece of pvc tube or something similar.) QT's are handy to have running so that IF something happens to a fish in your main tank, you have a small hospital tank to treat, rather than treating your whole main display tank. It is also advisable to add new fish to the QT for a few weeks before adding them to the display so that you can avoid putting bad diseases in your display, and in turn wiping out everything. Its not essential to have a QT, but smart in the long run.
shilo_1
New member
While you're at the at the LFS, see if you can find some "Joes Juice" - on the top right of that rock, you have aptasia (do a search to learn more) but you want to get rid of that guy pretty quick !
Much better pic. I'm leaning towards leather, definately, but I'm not 100% convinced its a toadstool - hard to say with the polyps retracted. Have you seen any polyps on it ? (I remember you said it wasn't happy with the star on it, so I assume it has polyps ?!)
Much better pic.
I'm leaning towards leather, definately, but I'm not 100% convinced its a toadstool - hard to say with the polyps retracted. Have you seen any polyps on it ? (I remember you said it wasn't happy with the star on it, so I assume it has polyps ?!)No girl at lfs said it was toadstool, but I don't have a clue. Star was in it it shrivled up and star tenticle was sticking out of it. I will take pic with me to lfs. It doesn't let me search says not platinum so I just have to hunt. I will look for this aptasia. Will joes juice hurt my fish?
