Grow Out Tank Question

[jwreffner]

I'm setting up a system to raise clowns. I have my larval tanks covered with black construction paper (sides and bottom). I am curious if the Grow Out tanks need the same covering to achieve better results post-larval stage?

TIA,
Jay

 

[Kathy55g]

Hi Jay,
I painted the bottoms of my tank white(on the outside of course). It helps me keep the tank clean cause I can see the crud there. The purpose of blacking out the sides is to keep side light out, keeping it from distracting the larvae from their job, which is hunting and eating. There is some controversy about whether it is necessary. I painted 3 sides black, and left one open for viewing, and they seemed to grow out just fine.

After metamorphosis, I don't think the fish really care. By then they are experts at eating, and eating flake food, so they are fine with whatever the sides are.

Cheers,
Kathy

 

[jwreffner]

Thanks for the info Kathy

 

[CaptiveMarine]

I read in "Conditioning, Spawning, and Reading of Fish with Emphasis on Marine Clownfish " by Frank Hoff about a study done at IOH with different colors painted on the outside of the rearing tank, and how it affected survival and growth rates. I'll have to look the numbers up and post them here.

 

[bededog]

I only cover the sides for maroon larvae. They seem to be a lot more sensitive to light. For ocellaris and clarki I have been not covering the sides at all and they seem to do just fine. I do put IA in the water with the rots so that probably helps a little with the light. Once they are in grow out mode it doesn't matter. I like to see a tank full of babies so I don't like have the sides blacked out. I take the covers off of the sides for the maroons on day three and that is probably waiting a day or day and a half longer than I need to.

Good luck.

Oh yeah, just put some type of white paper under the larvae tank or paint it white. It makes cleaning the bottom a lot easier than if you have it covered with dark paper.

 

[BlackOnyx]

if the the larva get to much light their natural instinct is to swimdown. If there is no where to go down they're swim into the bottom til they die.

 

[bededog]

You will know if your larvae are getting too much light. Just watch them the moring after the hatch. If there is too much light they will be "standing" on their heads. I have my larvae tanks in the basement and they only get ambient light.