Setting up a Anemone/Clown Tank.

[WerezMiePie]

I purchased a 30 gallon tank and a HOB refugium/skimmer/mechanical filter.
This HBO will hold my heater as well.

Equipment:
30 Gallon Tank
HBO filter/refugium/skimmer
Heater
Uh I'd have to check lighting. It is LED and trust me it will work for an anemone.
2 600 GPH power heads
25 pounds LR

Things I am wondering about:
I would like it to be a bare bottom tank
Many fish,
Red Mandarin Dragonnete
Flame AngelFish
Bicolor Blenny
A mixture of Leathers and stony

Seeking information. Will this setup work? I plan on a 10 gallon water change every 2 weeks. I would like the anemone to be the main part of the tank ( I am aware they move). What anemone is best and how many clownish can occupy it?

 

[cyruson]

Just make sure Mandarin eats frozen food.For Flame AngelFish,definitely you need much bigger tank at least 70 gallon tank. A pair of clown fish should be good.

 

[WerezMiePie]

Alright I wouldn't mind hearing a few more opinions about the flame fish, I have heard of them thriving in 20 gallon tanks.

 

[jwoyshnar]

30 gallon is too small for a flame angel and way too small for an anemone. You will also struggle to keep a dragonette unless eating frozen like posted earlier

 

[WerezMiePie]

I am weary of the flame angel. Although I know that their are species of anemones like bubble tip who can thrive in a 30 gallon. Your post seems overly negative making me think it is a bit one sided.

 

[OrionN]

30 gal bare bottom, you likely only able to keep BTA in there. Other host anemones are either too big or require a sand bed.
You should not keep Mandarin with Flame angel. Flame angel will eat all the pods and Madarin will not get any. Even if the Mandarin eat frozen food, they eat soo slow and methodical that they will get enough food if the other fishes are absolutly fill and can eat no more.
Flame angel are active fish and will not do well in a 30 gal. I have 5 at this time so i think I know what I am talking about.

 

[PeterHall]

I would do a BTA and a pair of clowns. Ocellaris or percula. Depending how aggressive they get you could do some small fish, but that flame is a very active fish. Plan on doing 5 gallons a week vs 10 every 2.

 

[Pastey]

30g with a HOB filter will be limiting with what you have planned for a number of reasons.

1. A 30g tank without the benefits for a sump means you don't get the added stability from increased water volume. Your salinity will change faster, ammonia/nitrites/nitrates all build up faster, the temp swings are more pronounced, etc. If your stand and budget allows the plumbing of a sump, I'd recommend it.

2. Skip the dwarf angels and the dragonet. 2 adult sized clowns in that size tank will not allow for any other possibly aggressive fish. My flame angel is in a 200 and it still likes to chase other fish around that are twice its size. The dragonet, for now, forget it. Unless you're able to train it to eat frozen or prepared pellets, you're tank will never support the amount of live food that it needs. My dragonet is in a 200 and it's STILL not as fat as I'd like it to be. Hold off on this until you've had the time to really read/learn about their requirements.

3. The anemone--a tank that size means a medium/large anemone will take up the majority of the real estate. This also means you must design everything around it. Rockwork, lights, flow, etc. Picking what type you want to keep is a must do. Even once you've got everything right, your tank needs a minimum of 1 year to stabalize and for you to learn the in's and out's of keeping your tank. You're going to goof.....you'll read your specific gravity reading wrong...you'll leave your heater unplugged on accident...your kid might dump a container of food in the tank. You want your tank to run smoothly and that means learning how to care for your tank. Don't spend a bunch of money on livestock only to kill them shortly after because you didn't know your hydrometer didn't come calibrated or something silly and avoidable.

Hope this gets you started in the right direction. Before you spend a bunch of money on more equipment or livestock...read, read, read and read some more.

 

[OrionN]

Here is a thread on my Gigantea in my 30 gal cube. I only have him in there for QT. Did not keep him there all that long, and know that he should not continue to stay there
I even have a Mandarin in there but no flame angel
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2196701

 

[WerezMiePie]

Okay I was wondering about the Mandarin my LFS is holding one that eats frozen. And on the flame angel I have many references of people keeping them in 20 gallon tanks. My LFS has held them and 35 and they looked extremely happy and active. But I have seen my fault. What is the minimum for a flame angel. I am hoping at least 40 gallon?

 

[WerezMiePie]

30g with a HOB filter will be limiting with what you have planned for a number of reasons.

1. A 30g tank without the benefits for a sump means you don't get the added stability from increased water volume. Your salinity will change faster, ammonia/nitrites/nitrates all build up faster, the temp swings are more pronounced, etc. If your stand and budget allows the plumbing of a sump, I'd recommend it.

2. Skip the dwarf angels and the dragonet. 2 adult sized clowns in that size tank will not allow for any other possibly aggressive fish. My flame angel is in a 200 and it still likes to chase other fish around that are twice its size. The dragonet, for now, forget it. Unless you're able to train it to eat frozen or prepared pellets, you're tank will never support the amount of live food that it needs. My dragonet is in a 200 and it's STILL not as fat as I'd like it to be. Hold off on this until you've had the time to really read/learn about their requirements.

3. The anemone--a tank that size means a medium/large anemone will take up the majority of the real estate. This also means you must design everything around it. Rockwork, lights, flow, etc. Picking what type you want to keep is a must do. Even once you've got everything right, your tank needs a minimum of 1 year to stabalize and for you to learn the in's and out's of keeping your tank. You're going to goof.....you'll read your specific gravity reading wrong...you'll leave your heater unplugged on accident...your kid might dump a container of food in the tank. You want your tank to run smoothly and that means learning how to care for your tank. Don't spend a bunch of money on livestock only to kill them shortly after because you didn't know your hydrometer didn't come calibrated or something silly and avoidable.

Hope this gets you started in the right direction. Before you spend a bunch of money on more equipment or livestock...read, read, read and read some more.

Hehehe... I am the kid. I am a Sophmore in highschool. Seeing this now I can work a extra sump I have into the mix (15 gallon) I can upgrade the tank. Although I would rather roll with a HOB skimmer because I am currently in a RV by my self and room is very limited.