Need Idea's for Semi-new tank

[blocky]

hey,
I am getting my old 55 gallon tank back from an old roomate, after giving it too him a few years ago. I have some idea for want I want to use it for, that being(in this order); I am going to place four or five O.C. Clowns in the tank and just let them live thier for a few months. Then, possibly add (suggestions here please) a tang, maybe a goby and a cleaner shrimp. Lastly I would replace the poor lighting it came with, and attempt a rose bubble anemone.
I side goal of mine would be that the Clowns would mate and I could set up system for breeding them correctly.
Please tell me if this is at all fesable, and if so what things to buy, outside of the normal aqua stuff (exculding the CF breeding), and what to watch out for.
Thanks.

 

[chickadee]

well, i would nix the tang. They really need a larger tank than that, altough you will get a lot of controversy about this... i just like to quote finding nemo for this one "you can't fight evolution, we're built for speed"... they like to swim a lot, and getting as big as they do, a 55g tank doesn't provide them with much swimming space.
clowns can be very aggressive toward eachother. I don't think you should have more than 2 clowns in a tank, and those two better be a male/female pair, or you could lose one. Even if they're a male/female pair, you could still lose one, as females LOVE to pick on their male counterparts...
a BTA will require some good lighting, so if you have the funds, why stop at the BTA? would you consider doing a full-blown reef tank? They're very rewarding, IMO. If you do want that, let me know what your filter setup and whatnot is, and we'll take it from there. hope this helps!!!
after a few years, i'm sure things have changed, but let me point out two things you don't want to do: an undergravel filter and crushed coral. Use a sump/fuge/wet-dry/canister filter, but not an undergravel one, and definately use sand!

 

[dmjordan]

if you plan on breeding clowns make sure you do alot of research on it. a co-worker of mine has a mated pair of clowns and has found out it is very difficult to do. the eggs hatch at night (after the tank lights have gone out) and you have to put in some live rottifers into your tank as the hatch. you then need to scoop out the newly born clowns in a bowl of tank water and place into cycled qt tank with same parameters of main tank. you need to do this as quick as possible as the other fish in your tank will begin a feeding frenzy on the hatching fish. and i believe that only like 25% of the fish will survive which means you will need to stay on top of removing any dead fish so your ammonia doesn't spike. i am only going on my co-workers exprience...my clowns are not a mated pair but i love them all the same.

 

[michaeltx]

I would skip the tang to.
also do a search for bang guys threads on his breeding of clowns loads of good information on them form him.
Mike

 

[blocky]

Thanks for the help.
So i should only put 2 clowns in the tank? Does this hold true for False Precs. and O.C. as well? I thought they lived in harlet packs in the wild.
Futher, how about Bannerfish or a yellow tang? would that work in a 55? Maybe if they got to big i could move them the 90G i have downstairs.

 

[chickadee]

a 90g is good for those two fish, so if you'd like to get them as babies in your 55g and then move them to the 90, that's fine, but why get them for the 55 when you're just going to move them to the 90? why not just put them in the 90 right now?..... unless the 90 isn't setup yet.. ?? and while oscellaris are the more peaceful clown, they're still aggressive toward other damsels, especially other oscellaris'

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Blocky
Thanks for the help.
So i should only put 2 clowns in the tank? Does this hold true for False Precs. and O.C. as well? I thought they lived in harlet packs in the wild.

False Percule is one of the common names for Ocellaris Clownfish. A bad name IMO.
Of all of the Clownfish, Ocellaris have the best chance of living as a group with One Female, one Male, and immature Clowns. Although this is common in the wild it doesn't last long on captivity. I believe it's because as the immature fish grow up they are kicked out of the group. Immature Clownfish seem to be mostly ignored so I'm sure new one show up from time to time.
The problem with a 55 is that when the immature Clownfish matures the pair will attempt to kick it out of the group but there's noplace for it to go. Often the pair will kill it. Other times it will find a corner of the tank and live in fear.
I'd suggest keeping just a single pair if your goal is to breed them.
For a centerpiece fish I'd suggest one of the pygmy angelfish like a Flame or a Coral Beauty. They will do fine in a 55.