Sw & clown fish idea's and info

[Billythefish]

Hi guys,
Ok so its like this me and the wife went to our lfs today and thay had some beautifal clown fish in a tiny tank, needles to say the wife wants some, question is what do i need to do? I dont want a big tank or any other fish just one clown or 2 if best,
Any surgestions ?

[travie]

Get 15 to 20 gallon tank for 2 clownfish. And it would be best to get Ocellaris or a Percula Clownfish. You will want some form of clean-up crew.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Has basic equipment for a 10g Nano. You would just need to get equipment suited for a 15 to 20g.

[cocoa_pleco]

a 10g, with 10lbs aragonite, 10lbs LR, small HOB filter, heater, is all you really need

if you want corals, you need upgraded lighting and a small skimmer

[Billythefish]

Get 15 to 20 gallon tank for 2 clownfish. And it would be best to get Ocellaris or a Percula Clownfish. You will want some form of clean-up crew.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Has basic equipment for a 10g Nano. You would just need to get equipment suited for a 15 to 20g.
Thanks for the link, off to take a look, ive only had fw tanks befor so whats the deal with salt?

[travie]

He forgot the to mention you need to buy salt.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Another good link. You will need to read up on how to maintain a SW tank, which that link should help a lot.

[Billythefish]

Thanks for the excellent link travie just what i needed, im going to take my time on this there's so much to learn!, what are the clown fish like to keep?

[zackish]

Plan on $300-$400 for everything all said and done. Fish, rock, equipment, substrate, testers. Anything you can think of. I have kept all the receipts for anything I have ever bought for my tank since I started my 10 gal. nano and I can tell you just to get started I spent that much without the $125 light.

[travie]

If you aren't going with corals, you won't need to buy an expensive light fixture. But if you go the coral route, you will need to upgrade to an expensive light fixture.

[Halelorf]

My clownfish is pretty cool. Just hangs around his powerhead and trys to beg for food. I had a problem with it not eating for the first few days because I was trying to get it to eat a pellet food. So I asked what the LFS that I got it from feeds it and walked out with some frozen mysis shrimp. If you want a pair of clowns probably the only ones you could get are the ocellaris or true percula. If they arn't a mated pair I would probably just buy one and let it grow a bit then buy the smallest one you can since they change sex from male to female as the dominant fish. The other clowns unless they are a bred pair I wouldn't try to play match-maker because they will probably hate each other.

[Billythefish]

Well i was thinking of getting that coral that was in finding nemo, you know the one at the start when nemo was a egg, what is it called?
And i dont mined the cash!, the wife's given the ok to spend £500 i think thats about $800ish

[Halelorf]

I can't remember the movie but i'm going to guess it was a anemone. Those require strong lighting and can move around and kill other corals. Clownfish really don't need a anemone to host in although they look really cool if they do host one.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

That not a coral, that's an anemone. Forget it if you don't have good enough lighting. Also, those things are not easy to keep, you need near perfect water conditions. I usually don't like to recommend anemones in tanks under 40gals because of their tendency to wander around till they find a spot they like.

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, anemones are recommended for tanks 55g+ that have matured for a year and have good lighting, most need 7-10wpg

[Billythefish]

I can't remember the movie but i'm going to guess it was a anemone. Those require strong lighting and can move around and kill other corals. Clownfish really don't need a anemone to host in although they look really cool if they do host one.
Haha thats it! Thats what i want it will look excellent!, are clown fish nice to keep? You made yours sound shy, and the ones we see at the lfs were real skitish?

[cocoa_pleco]

some are outgoing, my old oscellaris always was out and about, and sat with my yellow tang. my old skunk clown always sat by my powerheads

[coachfraley]

Once they are used to your tank, they are not shy at all. They are a great fish...they beg for food like puppies.

BTW, I am talking about O. clowns

[Billythefish]

those things are not easy to keep, you need near perfect water conditions. I usually don't like to recommend anemones in tanks under 40gals because of their tendency to wander
:-(ooh, well that thigh slapping happiness didn't last long lol, i don't have the room for a 55g:-(, the wife will have to make do with a plastic one-(she proberly only wanted it because its pink anyway) thanks for the warning!

[Billythefish]

Once they are used to your tank, they are not shy at all. They are a great fish...they beg for food like puppies.

BTW, I am talking about O. clowns
Thats sounds just like my oscar-cool, thanks i was starting to think thay was a real sensitive fish!.

And cocoa is you tang the fish in finding nemo that has a thing for bubbles bubbles bubbles?

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, i only saw a bit of finding nemo so i have no idea, however apparently "dori" is a blue hippo, i have a yellow tang, he looks like this

[Billythefish]

lol, i only saw a bit of finding nemo so i have no idea, however apparently "dori" is a blue hippo, i have a yellow tang, he looks like this
Thats the one i was on about in your pic lol, sorry man my 3 year old boy has that film on all the time!, it sure is a beautiful fish hmmm! And its ok with the clown hmmm!

[travie]

A yellow tang wouldn't be wise in a 10g. From what I've been told fish-wise, only two types of clownfish and gobies are okay to put in a 10g. And then best to have like one clownfish and one goby, or two gobies plus clean-up crew.

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, yellow tangs need 90g+

[Billythefish]

:'( thats a shame lovely fish!,
Cant go 90g dont have the room!

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Yup, there are no Tangs that I would recommend for anthing smaller than a 75g tank. The only one that I would recommend for a tank smaller then that would be the Yellow Eye Bristletooth (aka Kole) Tang. They stay quite small but still need plenty of swimming room and very good water quality. Smallest I'd go with one of those would be a 55.