Mixed nem tank - stupid question

[raoul]

My husband's talking about consolidating our 30 gal (houses H. crispa) and our 75 gal (houses rbta) into a large tank (think 10 foot tank 300 gal+). I would also like to get a carpet nem of some sort at some point in the future (not close enough to actually be researching yet). I don't like the idea of mixing nems and clowns, but he doesn't like the idea of having multiple sumps, water changes, & maintenance work.

In this size system would mixing these things still be a risky idea, or would there be enough space for multiple clown pairs and nems?

This isn't going to be a quick thing, but I'm wondering if I should stand my ground or just go with it, I don't mind having it all in one tank either, as long as it's not bad for the tank critters.

TIA

 

[John Karavias]

I would have no problem combining the 2 systems. A 300 gallon tank is big enough. I would put them on opposite sides to start. There will be moderate amount of "posturing" but It will be relatively harmless. I have 2 perculas in a carper nem and a tomato clown in a bubble tip. Both in a 150 gal reef system. No problem.

John

 

[GSMguy]

Run carbon in the sump 24/7 and please post pics as soon as you start

 

[GSMguy]

in a 300 gallon i would think 2 or 3 clown pairs could get along as long as you watch for aggresion
what kind of clowns would you be mixing

 

[raoul]

I would not be adding tomatoes or maroons, I like the shapes of the percs and occellaris, but might try saddlebacks if I ever get a carpet, but it would depend on the temperament. I figured if I have three, 2 of them being sand nems I could stick the sand nems on opposite sides of the tank and hope the bta stays near the top of the rocks in the middle, then the tank would be anemone balanced

This will probably take a few years to get going, but if we're both on the same page at least he can start planning. I asked if we could put dividers in - he said no I also thought about suggesting just plumbing all the tanks together so there was only one big sump - he said no I guess I'll just have to deal with a 300 gal or so tank IMO, if we're going to go large like that, I think we should have one big enough to snorkle in - you know, make it worth it

 

[GSMguy]

saddlebacks will be very territorial i would say go with percs and occelaris ive seen allot of that and it usuallly works out i have seen a single fully grown saddleback dominate a 280 reef

percs do well in carpets

and yes your right i would shoot for a 8 to ten foot 400g display with a 600g sump if ihad the room or owned my own house. then i could have all the multiple perc pairs i so desire all in one tank plus an 8 clown group of rods onyx would be in there

 

[tpdpercula]

A 300 gallon is a good size to house a couple of different kinds of anemones. In mine I have both RBTA and Blue Carpet Anemone. There is no chemical warfare so far and they are actually on the same side of the tank as one another. The RBTA is higher up in the tank (upper shelf) and the Carpet is on the bottom of the tank.

Good luck and enjoy. BIG TANKS ARE AWESOME!!!

 

[cschweitzer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9399113#post9399113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
saddlebacks will be very territorial i would say go with percs and occelaris ive seen allot of that and it usuallly works out i have seen a single fully grown saddleback dominate a 280 reef

percs do well in carpets

and yes your right i would shoot for a 8 to ten foot 400g display with a 600g sump if ihad the room or owned my own house. then i could have all the multiple perc pairs i so desire all in one tank plus an 8 clown group of rods onyx would be in there

I agree...saddles(polymus species) are a very deceiving clown. They can be one of the meanest types of clowns to anything outside of their pair...they also get pretty big. In the wild, they are the only clown that is known to "wander" away from their host to find a new one. They can even beat a carpet anemone to death. I think this tendancy to be rough with their anemones is either a detrmining factor or an affect of their wandering nature in the wild. That being said, it is obviously not impossible to keep saddles and many times in the aquarium they will settle down with a carpet and do no such mentioned harm to it. But it can happen...

 

[Slakker]

I think one of the "rules of thumb" that i've seen regarding clowns is that you need about 100 gallons per pair, but of course some species are a lot more agressive/territorial than others.

 

[raoul]

Good to know about the saddlebacks. I was actually talking to the guys at the LFS this afternoon and pretty much decided against putting saddlebacks in a tank with other clowns.

I have plenty of time to figure out what we can put in there. We still have to reinforce the floor as well as gather all the equipment - although I guess our left over tanks can be plumbed as part of the sump, and I've already got three MH ballasts.

Right now I just have the two nems and only one pair of clowns. I was supposed to get a pair of b&w occell.s but one of them developed a sore and died overnight. Luckily my LFS wouldn't let me buy them in that shape so I wasn't out any money. Sadly, the one that's left is still there and looking great. I would get her and wait until more came, but I'm just not comfortable introducing another clown at a later date and I really want two My three clown pairs could be the regular occells, b&w occell.'s, and an onyx pair....ah the dream goes on!

 

[GSMguy]

that would be a very cool tank very cool