IT's a Good Day!

[KidNano]

I just wanted to announce that my tank is finally cycled. It's been 5 weeks since I set it up. I don't know if the cycle completing has cleared up my algae problem or if it's my two little blue leg Hermits. All the algae is gone and I've got coralline growing everywhere. So fish....

I've got a blue damsel. I want to get a bubble tip anemone and a gold stripe maroon clown. I've been told by my LFS that the maroon clown is one of the most aggressive clowns and will hold his own against the damsel. Anyone have an opinion on this? 12 gallons. I feel so bad because my Damsel seams so happy having the whole place all to himself. I'd hate for something to happen to him or have him destroy a potential friend.

 

[skipm]

IMO a 12 gallon tank is a bit on the small side for a maroon clown. I would go with either an ocellarous or true percula clown in a 12 and you could still add another small fish like a clown gobie or one of the small shrimp gobies like a yase hashe or hi finned red banded.

 

[KidNano]

The problem is that I love the gold striped maroon clown...... I know they're the biggest of the clowns yet on Saltwaterfish.com they say minimum tank size is 10 gallons for this fish. i'm a whopping 25% bigger. 12.5 gallon. Also I'd buy a baby which is only like 1-1/2" and hopefully I'll have a bigger tank by the time he's to big. How long do they take to grow? I'm selling my motorcycles and going to throw my money into a watering whole in the middle of my family room...... figure this is a safer hobbie. My pregnant wife agrees. I'm more concerned with lighting for an anemone. I've e-mailed Nanotuners to get something figured out here. I have an Aqua Euro Usa tank which I guess isn't very common here. I'm pretty crafty but I need some guidance.

thanks for the response. Any helpfull ideas on lighting would be greatly appreciated.

 

[skipm]

Is there any way that you can use a MH pendant for lighting the tank? If there is then you have no problems at all other than deciding which bulb to use. I would personally opt for a 150 watt HQI MH, supplemntal PCs would be a nice addition but you can get by without them by going with a slightly higher K rated bulb.

 

[KidNano]

I could definitely go with a pendant if I was interested in doing things the easy way. you'd really go with 150 W with a 12.5 gallon? Doesn't that seam a bit much? you'd know better then I of course. I've e-mailed Chris @ Nanotuners about possibly putting their 70 w MH retro fit in it. (He tried to contact my tank manuf. as well with no luck.) If I did this which bulb would you recomend and should I consider adding an actinic as well? Or should I just add the actinic PC's and forget about MH?

I have plenty of space for the MH and a couple of fans. That would probably be an easier DIY then the PC's. :?:

I'm interested in doing what's best for my tank and what I can put in it not necessarily what's easiest. I would really like to keep the hood on. It looks so much better. I took it off last night to see how I'd like it and I really didn't. I just don't want to limit myself from the begining becuase I didn't get the right lighting.

Thanks again for your input.

 

[skipm]

If you are still planning on an anemone or higher light corals like SPSs then I would stick with the 150 wat MH, otherwise the 70 you asked about would be a great addition. If the corals you plan on are not as light demanding then you could opt for using just PCs to light the tank. Decide for sure about the corals you want and then it will be easier to help you with your lighting decision.

 

[drty811]

your aquascaping looks great, cant wait to see your progress.

 

[amf82380]

I agree with skip I would go with a metal halide pendant with a 150w I know someone who has a 175 over there 10gal just depends on how high you want the light off the surface of the water i had a 150 on a 10gal for about a month and everything acted like it was dying then about a wk later all opened back up and growth took off things grew like weeds. I wouldnt go with the 70w only because you said there is a chance of a tank upgrade in the future so go with something bigger that will work for this application and can be used later down the road also. as for the anenome in a 12.5 dont do it especially if your going to have corals they walk all over and sting everything in there way there nice but in a tank that small you asking for trouble unless you plan on just a anemone tank. as far as the maroon clown I had one in a 10 gal for about 6 months and all was ok but they grow pretty quick so you might get away for the 6 month time frame but I wouldnt plan on it in there any longer then that puts to much stress on a fish its like playing with carbord boxes when you were a kid you fit in them and it was cool to hide out but now trying doing it in the same size box! as for the damsel hes really going to limit what you can pu in there because they normally are pretty aggressive towards pretty much anything else so unless you want to keep just damsels then I would look for a new home for him. Just My .02 im sure others will chime in

Aaron

 

[Tony]

i would avoid the anemone in a small tank as well. i made the mistake in my 12g and it was all over everyone. I would also wait. Most anemones need a tank that has been up and running for at least 4 months. even longer.
just my 2 cents
TOny

 

[KidNano]

:sad: I guess I'll wait on the anomone till I get a bigger tank then. OH well. Thanks everyone for the heads up. I'll probably get a percula then. My niece will like it better anyway because, well, you know. Or a tomato? My wife and I went to fiji for our Honeymoon and fell in love with the tomato clowns it was so much fun swimming with them, they are so interactive. one female tried to eat my wifes goggles. I guess she didn't like there being another female in her territory. literally swam full speed into her face trying to eat her eyes or something. it's hard laughing while SCUBA diving.

Lighting..... I'm going to keep this tank going even if I get a new one so what ever I do now it will forever be on this tank. with the light 3-4" above the water is a 150w MH to much?

 

[amf82380]

i would say 150 would be to much on a tank that size about that height you would need to go at least 6" or other wise you will have some serious heating issues not to mention possible bleaching of soft corals but mostly the heat issue alone would be something of a concern.

Aaron

I have 150w HQI and 192 watts pc on my 46 gal bow front and the room temp is right around 70 f and my tank runs right around 80 degrees during the day with no heaters running and the light is about 6-8" off the waters surface so you can imagine what it would do in a tank 1/3 that size

 

[KidNano]

I went ahead and got a Tomato Clown.... He and the damsel are getting along pretty well. The clown is the new king of the castle.

I have a few months before I'm going to do the lighting so I'll post what ever I end up doing. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[amf82380]

keep in mind the tomato clowns also grow to be a pretty good sized but i believe they grow at a smaller rate (others will have to chime in there) but good luck things are looking good keep us updated

Aaron

 

[KidNano]

OK..... My Tomato... Bob is his name.... isn't eating. I'm assuming that's normal for him to not want to eat untill he's comfortable. I have pellets and the four pack of different frozen entres. He didn't want any of it. Is that the proper food for a clown? My damsel loves all of it.

I think my first coral purchase might be a candy cane. Anyone know much about them? is $10 normal for a small frag?

 

[amf82380]

10 isnt bad for the candy cane and as far as the clown he might not eat the first day or two. clowns eat pretty much anything I use ocean nutrition prime reef flakes and he loves them I also feed frozen mysis shrimp 3x's a week my clown has also liked the ocean nutrition formula 2 marine pellets i would say watch him and if he still doesnt take anything after 2-3 days then I would check your water parmerters and make sure everything is in check also leave the lighting off for a day it will help him settle in to his new home a little quicker. but he should be alright.

Aaron

 

[davenia7]

mine love the cyclop-eeze