Lighting?

[Fat Tony]

Seriously wait on the lighting for a while and wait till the cycle is complete to get your light (gives you time to save a little more money)... I would not go with PC lighting unless you like bulbs that are getting harder to find and are expensive... not to mention they don't last long. One thing I would suggest is that you try the reefcentral classified section (I really despise the site, but love the classifieds section)... if you really want to keep anenomes (and i really think that your tastes will change in the long run) you want to get at least a dual 150w metal halide setup, I just don't think you will be able to fit enough T5HO's over that tank for light loving creatures being a bowfront...

This is the best advice I can give you... buy high quality equipment first and it will save you money later.

[reef-rookie]

can you copy me the link to this "classified" section? I cant seem to find it, even after trying the search.

Thanks again for all the help you and especially Reeftanker have given me. I think everybody who starts a tank like this, needs a mentor of sorts. I'll be sure to help people out later, once I know WTF im talking about.

[Reeftanker3295]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd....php?forumid=2
There ya go and for future refference you go to forums then scroll down to where it says selling drygoods and equipment or something like that. Good luck and take it nice and slow

[Fat Tony]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd....php?forumid=2
There ya go and for future refference you go to forums then scroll down to where it says selling drygoods and equipment or something like that. Good luck and take it nice and slow

Thanks for adding the link... and wise advice for such a young guy... slow and steady is the only way a reef tank makes it.. your patience is directly related to how successful your tank will be.

[reef-rookie]

After finding out it wil be a while before I can afford the proper light system I went ahead and got my little clowns! Here is a pic of my two new members to the tank.

[Reeftanker3295]

Congratulations! Theyre awsome, did you get them as a pair? Are they fighting?

[reef-rookie]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Congratulations! Theyre awsome, did you get them as a pair? Are they fighting?

I did buy them as a pair and I was told that I most likely wouldnt be able to add any other type of clown. (which is OK with me) They have been getting along great but the tank just still seems so empty. Im looking forward to adding more fish in the next couple days and will eventually be adding the light and LTA/BTA.

Thanks again for the help and I think I will be going with the halide lighting system, just have to wait for the right time.

One more lighting question if you have time... I have been reading that anything over 10k is overkill and that ther is no such thing in real life. Is this correct or will going over 10,000 just speed up the natural groth rate?

[Reeftanker3295]

Well many people dont use 10k on their reefs.. Some people use 14k, 12k and others as well but id just try a halide fixture with built in T5's or actinics to give it a blue look and you should be just fine with 10K's. By the way your probably going to have trouble adding other fish, maroon clowns are EXTREMELY aggressive, the most aggressive of all the clowns so just watch out.

[reef-rookie]

since you mentioned that. What do you think about the addition of a picasso puffer and a flame hawkfish. I was also considering some sort of tangs, but dont want to overload the tank. Oh and I will be adding a cleaning crew with as wide a variety of species as i can without cuasing any of the other species problems. I dont mind stuff getting eaten, as long as its the cheap stuff!

[Reeftanker3295]

Even small tangs need 75 gallon tanks so no tangs.. Puffers eat corals. Id reccomend some gobies and something else.

[Reeftanker3295]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIjV5...eature=related
You can see them fighting at 28 seconds and 48 seconds.

[Reeftanker3295]

By the way when you add corals id reccomend glueing them down if its a small rock, maroon clowns will push over rocks or throw them if they are in their territory. Heres Elegance Coral's GSM getting mad at him for putting rocks in its territory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KMOc...eature=related

[reef-rookie]

thanks again Tanker!

I used to have an african ciclid tank and recognize that fighting. The two clowns I have are getting along great and follow each other everywhere.

The videos made me notice another thing I have been reading about breeding clowns. Not that im trying, at this point, but I have live sand at the bottom of my entire tank. MOst everything i have read says you need a flat slick surface for these fish to lay thier eggs on? It suprises me since I wouldnt think that there are very few places in the wild that would fit this criteria. Do you know anything about this?

[Reeftanker3295]

Most people take part of a vase or something flat thats rock like in your house and put it near the anemone or territory of the clowns and the clowns will always lay their eggs on that piece of flat object and then you remove it and put it in your tank for raising the babies

[reef-rookie]

hmm... may have to rethink that NOT breeding these guys and put the 35 or 15 gallon tanks in the garage to use!

BTW.. Im starting to think Im addicted to this tank! Im constantly starring at the thing and when im not Im on here talking to you about it!