Pipefish in reef tank?

[reefnewbie54321]

I'm wondering if anyone has sectioned off a part of there display to keep pipefish in a reef tank? I;m still brainstroming ways it can be done without the sectioning off actualy being noticable. If anyone has done it please share how.

 

[Lpabsolute]

I have a Jan's Pipe in my 54g. reef. But have not sectioned my tank off.

 

[reefnewbie54321]

I have to section my tank off, theres going to be some big fish that I would consider semi-aggresive

 

[BethanyM]

like?

 

[reefnewbie54321]

Yellow Tang, Regal Tang, School of Bartlett Anthias, Pair of Nemo Clown Fish, and a Mandarin. Thats my stock list as of now.

This is pretty inapropriate to keep a pipefish so I thought I might be able to come up with an dea to section him off.

 

[masterswimmer]

I have my pipefish in my mixed reef with:
mandarin
hippo tang
mated pair ocellaris clowns
kole tang
royal gramma
lawnmower blenny
blue green chromis

Not sectioned off either. Been seven months now.
Check it out:

He's named Ticonderoga

 

[coralnut99]

I had a pair of jans pipes in a mixed reef with 3 anthias and a sailfin tang. Nothing on your list should pose any physical threat, but that is a lot of competition for food. Mine got real good at getting their share of mysis, and I took the time to make sure they did.

 

[BlueNWhite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7423321#post7423321 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralnut99
I had a pair of jans pipes in a mixed reef with 3 anthias and a sailfin tang. Nothing on your list should pose any physical threat, but that is a lot of competition for food. Mine got real good at getting their share of mysis, and I took the time to make sure they did.

Agreed. You can try to see if there is any aggression towards the pipefish, and if there is, the pipefish is about as easy to catch fish that there could be.

 

[coralnut99]

Boy do I wish I could agree on that one. My Jans Pipes were breeding every 30 days when the tank's temp went up a couple of degrees during the summer. I tried several times to get them out. I would have given them their own "pipefish palace". But this pair were exceptionally quick for pipes, and knew how to keep to the rock very well. I would have had to dismantle a heavily stocked 120gallon reef. They also had no trouble swimming into the powerhead currents to snick mysis. I had them for almost 3 years at that point and they were remarkably adapted to their environment. In general though, I agree with BlueNWhite about them being easy to remove if you have to. Ideally, they should be taking frozen mysis before being introduced to a mixed fowlr setting.

 

[masterswimmer]

coralnut99, I specifically chose the Janns' pipefish because they feed like mandarins, on copepods. Mine did not eat any frozen food when I got it. I have a good quantity of LR both in my display and my fuge. So providing it's natural prey was more important to me than it taking frozen food.

In the 7 months that I've had him, he has recently started eating frozen cyclopeeze with abandon. So now I'm seeing him plumping up and getting even fatter than before.

I believe that the primary feeding concern for the Janns' is the exact same as for a mandarin. If you have a properly functioning fuge (producing tons of pods) and ample LR in your display with very high water quality, you should be able to keep a Janns' happy. IMO, eating frozen foods before buying one is not a prerequisite.

swimmer

 

[reefnewbie54321]

Updated stock list,

1 Yellow Tang
2 Nemo Clowns
2 Hybrid Dottybacks
5 Bartlett Anthias

Do you see any problems adding a pair of Janns' pipefish ... I just set up a 8 Soda Bottle Pytho Culture, 10g Triggerpod tank, 10g Brine Shrimp tank, and hope to set up a Mysis culture ... I cant seem to find any small scale cultures though. I also have a 30 gallon refugium along with macro in the display for pod "condos"

 

[masterswimmer]

newbie, sounds like you should have two FAT Janns' pipefish on your hands. Good luck. Post pix.

swimmer

 

[reefnewbie54321]

I think the Janns would be fine even w/ out the cultures but if all goes well and water quality stays up to par I plan on adding a mandarin aswell.

 

[Reefer421]

Would a dragonface pipefish do okay with a coral beauty in a 55 gallon? I also have a maroon clown (very nice fish), and 2 bar gobies.

 

[Reefer421]

There is 65 lbs live rock and some small corals such as zoos, xenia, and mushrooms.