Please critique my ideas for a breeding setup

[espenlg]

(I posted this on another forum, but trying here aswell with some new questions)

Hello everyone,

I've started designing my breeding tank and I would very much like to have your thoughts on this.
This is what I've come up with so far:

Total volume is about 143 liter or 35 gal'ish. I want to add about 10kg of liverock in the sump for filtration. Light will be 39W T5's or something in that area.. I have a topup-system ready, and ofcourse there will be a heater in the sump.

I have a few questions in addition to your thoughts on the design above;

+ Should the breeding tank share sump with the grow-out tank?
+ What about circulation? I have several small powerheads laying around, but how much is needed?

I hope you can find the time to give me some input. Thanks alot!

oh, btw: the system is for occelaris clowns

 

["Umm fish?"]

I'd start with base rock to try to keep the hydroids out.

+ Should the breeding tank share sump with the grow-out tank?

Better not to.

+ What about circulation? I have several small powerheads laying around, but how much is needed?

Whatever keeps the cyano away.

Good luck!

 

[otto486]

Yea, you don't want too much flow in the breeder tank, I've heard thats bad for any fry. The sump flow might almost be enough for the fry.

Definately don't want to share sumps with the display, just in case. I'm not sure how good if an idea the filter sock is- it might trap baby clowns that slip down the overflow.

I almost wonder if it wouldn't be a bad idea to work a refugium into the sump that the overflow goes directly into, that way it might be easier to find escaped clowns, and safer for them in a place where they can still find some food.

Just suggestions though. CANT WAIT TO SEE SOME PICS!

 

[espenlg]

Sorry, but I think I might have used the wrong words here.. This tank described above is the tank I want to keep the clown-pair in. I haven't really started to think much on the grow-out tank yet. So the filtersock won't trap any clowns. But your input is usefull in my next step so thanks!

What's the difference between base rock and live rock?

 

["Umm fish?"]

Base rock = dead rock

Live rock = rock that's been treated nicely and still has life (good and bad) on it

Hydroids love to eat larvae, unfortunately. They have a polyp stage and a medusa stage (like little jellyfish) and they can be moved around your system in the water. When next I restart (I'm in the process of renovating--including a fish room), I'll be starting my broodstock tanks off with dry rock and dry sand.

As an aside, my clowns love to surf to the sump. Don't be too sure that your filter sock won't trap any clowns. Keep your overflows guarded. And maybe even your filter sock submerged.

Good luck, again!

 

[espenlg]

Oh ok. Hydroids= no good.. I understand.. First time I've heard about Hydroids really :-S

So my setup is good to go then?

 

[Atticus]

I kept my tanks bare except for a 6 inch terrcotta flower pot. This helped the clowns settle on the pot as a surface to lay their eggs. All though they may still choose the glass... Growout water should never mix with broodstock. Any rock in the breeder tank can become a distraction or possible spawning substrate. Not a good deal. I personally used HOB filters on my broodstock tanks to keep things simple and consistant.