Reef Tank

[ChunksInClemson]

Does everyone breed in the reef tank? I am in the process of setting up my 90 reef and I do want to start breeding. I am somewhat of a newbie at breeding since I have never bred clowns (have done a good bit of research though), but I have always wanted to do it so I am even though its gonna be a couple of months before I get started. Just wondered if everyone bred in the reef tanks or if yall had special breeding quarters.

 

[BlackOnyx]

seperate else the fry become lunch

 

[NicoleC]

If your goal is breeding, set up breeding tanks. If your goal is a reef tank and maybe someday raise a few batches of fry, the reef tank is fine.

If the clowns can be coaxed to spawn on a clay pot, tile or some other removable and replaceable item, then the eggs can be moved the evening before the hatched. Or, the larvae can be collected the night of the hatch.

 

[phender]

The tanks I set up for breeding have all ended up being reef tanks. Clowns spawn in them just fine and I am able to collect (depending on the species) 150-300 larvae by scooping them out the night they hatch.

If making money from my clowns was my objective, I would probably go with sterile tanks, but for me, I don't see any point in keeping clowns if I can't have them in anemones in a semi-natural looking tank.

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Tomatos vs. Ocellaris(false perc)-Which is easier? I just got a Maroon today in my 20L (she's about 3.5" so should I get another 2"?)and I would really like to breed these but I know they are harder to pair than the others metioned. Anyone successfully bred Maroons?

 

[KMatysek]

I apologize if this is hitch-hiking, but it's related...

I have a 90g reef and my pair just recently started spawning. However, I've not had good success with quantity. I've scooped out only 20-30 each time (and I'm usually down to 10 by morning). I'm suspecting the adults' nutrition and am working on that, but am wondering about secrets of success in the night-time scooping operation. Phil, or anyone else, do you have any tips that aren't in JW's book? I don't want to remove the eggs if I can find a moderately successful way to scoop out the larvae.

Kathy

 

[phender]

The nutrition of the parents definately effects how robust the babies are.
The afternoon of the hatching, I make a 5 gal water change and put the water from the parent tank into the larval tank.
Here is what I do to collect the babies. On the night of the hatch I turn off all the lights a little early(I don't like to stay up until the wee hours of the morning). All the lights means the room lights, TV and outside lights that might come in though windows. After 30 minutes I go back and turn off all pumps and powerheads. 1 hour later (hour and a half total), I shine a small, almost dead flashlight straight down into the tank. If I don't see a few babies coming up immediately I turn off the flashlight and come back a half hour later. Once I start seeing babies in the flashlight beam, I scoop them out with a plastic container. Do not let them fall over the lip of the container, but scope them without causing them to be sucked into the container. Be the time I have transfered the first scoop of babies to the rearing tank and get back to the parent tank, there is usually a cloud of babies under the flashlight. With practice, it will only take 5-6 more scoops to get almost all the babies.

Hope that helps

 

[KMatysek]

Thanks, Phil. You added some details that I haven't seen before (like shutting off the lights early - I've been nervous to try that, but hate the late nights - and how to shine the light in the tank for the quickest, least disruptive check). I've got a batch hatching next week, so I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Kathy

 

[ChunksInClemson]

What about moon lights? Should those be cut off too?

 

[tweety69711]

suggestion

suggestion

Hello,

Places like petco sell breeders that you can put on tank that suck fry in.. and keep them inside. Im sure not all will go in...but i read that you can shine a light and the fry will swim to it...and to scoop up with a cup... not a net... to move into breeder...

 

[KMatysek]

Have you tried this? I'm open to any techniques that have good success rates, but the only breeding 'tanks' I've seen are ones where the fry can go to the bottom compartment (to be protected from the adult in the top compartment) or one that you would need to coax them into (and now way to secure them once inside).

The problem I'm having is finding them once hatched - I only get about 10%, I think, and that's using the flashlight to attract them. Once they come to the light, I can catch them OK with a cup.

I'll know in the couple days if phender's tips pay off, but I think my problems have been timing (I usually give up scooping 4-5 hours after lights out and I think that by then I've probably lost the rest to hiding or being eaten), not shining the light in the right way/place (I've been mostly shining from the side, not the top) and possibly a nutritional problem, which is causing a poor success rate right from the start.