Tips for a nem/clown only tank?

[lastlight]

The idea of keeping my Solana running in the kitchen after I transfer my sps to the bigger tank has really grown on me. Now I want to keep some type of anemone and a pair of black clowns...not sure what type yet.

What sort of things should I consider and how much flow will I need for say a RBTA or something?

The tank is 34g, will have a tiny bit of sand, few rocks, 150 mh, Tunze 9002. What I was thinking of doing is do my water changes from the big tank. Rather than toss out my 10 gallons every week or two...use those gallons to do a water change on the Solana. I figure SPS require the more pristine water but maybe I am wrong there? The 9002 does not perform well in my opinion...might that be an issue?

I have a couple mj1200s I'd want to use for flow and had an idea to attach a piece of 1/2" pvc to the intakes of each. pvc extends to the bottom of the tank and has a ton of holes drilled. This should be a very nem-friendly tank then shouldn't it?

Any advice or ideas...please share!

[Delphinus]

I'm not sure I'd recycle tank water but otherwise the idea of your Solana for an anemone species tank is full of win. Some of the greatest minds in this hobby and handsomest people I have ever known have known to run anemone tanks and doing so can only improve your standing in the world.

Skimmer being sucky is probably not as much of a concern given that anemones, when healthy, can tolerate elevated levels of nitrate but that said it's better not to test the limits. You could always start with the 9002 and see how it goes and upgrade later if need be.

The rest of the setup sounds fine. I've found that of all the anemone species I've kept, they've appreciated an alternating surge/slack cycle. Not necessary, a static flow condition will do fine but whoosh-pause-whoosh-pause simulates wave action better at the zones they typically occupy. This might not apply to all species.

[lastlight]

Where are you? I'm sitting here staring at your grayed out name on msn. What ever happened to us man? I mean...this is NEMS I'm talkin' bout :sad:

[reefwars]

You could always alternate one from tank one mixed new you'd save in half your salt purchases, light has always been the issue for me for moving overall my long tentacle loves direct light on a flat surface while my bta's tend to take to slopes. If theyarent happy with flow most will move anyways and a good skimmer is essential as their buddy clowns make a ness of food and some other tankmates will steal food from slower nem's stirring up a mess. Watch the fingers on your overflow if you have one like that mine gotbit like that not easy to get off lol:) what kind of nem ya gettin ????

[lastlight]

Not sure what kind would be well suited for this tank. I'm thinking the new and clowns would be all that live in there but maybe a few softies and things I don't want to risk in the sps tank? I'm sure I can just skim wetter and get more performance out of the 9002 than I've had thus far. Once I knew I was transferring it all out I gave up on the skimmer and have just relied on water changes for the last few weeks.

[Delphinus]

I think your Solana would make a wicked setup for a RBTA and then whatever clowns you prefered. Softeys like zoanthids and yellow polyps would fill it out super sharp and maybe a few smaller LPS like maybe blastos or a couple acans would all do fine together methinks.

[lastlight]

Wicked man. I'll be over with a styro box and a bucket in 20 min :biggrin:

[Myka]

Good idea! I recycle the water from my 90 into my 20 Zoa tank, and it works well. In my case, the 20 stays too clean with just the Zoas in there, so the addition of "used" water really helps them. In your case, the anemone will make tonnes of waste, so that shouldn't be an issue.

[lastlight]

With a BTA will running BB work? I want to be able to vacuum detritus out and that doesn't work too well with a sandbed.

[reefwars]

cant see why not, they like the rocks anyways and their food comes from light and target feeding, ive never had one with a barebottom tank so its just speculations i could be way off lol:) you gettin a rose???

[lastlight]

Yeah I think so. I tried a nem years ago in my first tank which was BB and failed. But trust me that was for many other reasons so I wanted to ask about the sand issue. I suppose a really light layer of it for looks may be ok too.

I'm not sure when I could add one tho. The tank I think is mature enough but here's the issue. All that rock that's been in it has frags mounted to it. It's all going to the new tank which is full of a few live pieces and mostly stuff that was stored damp so it's nasty. When the big tank is done cycling and i toss a few pieces from it into my Solana...I guess the Solana is a NEW tank again which means no nem. All I want in there is a nem and clowns so should I just run the tank empty for a month and then add my clowns? Then run that for a few months then a nem?

[Lance]

With a BTA will running BB work? I want to be able to vacuum detritus out and that doesn't work too well with a sandbed.


Nah, the Nem doesn't care what's on the bottom. As long as he has a rock where he wants it he's fine.
Sounds like a good idea Brett. Go for it! A pair of designer clowns with an RBTA would be pretty slick in that tank.

[lastlight]

Designer clowns lol. That's what some call us web developer types!

I am not down with 99% of these designer fish...I want me a nice pair of black clown but type will depend on whatever I see first lol.

[Lance]

Designer clowns lol. That's what some call us web developer types!


Well, at least you get the "Designer" moniker. I'm just called a "regular" clown. :mrgreen:

[Myka]

With a BTA will running BB work? I want to be able to vacuum detritus out and that doesn't work too well with a sandbed.

BTAs don't care about sand.

I also like the idea of "designer" clowns. It's something different. Not being "down" with the designer clowns is a whole different topic, but I could come up with a million examples of similar practices that you likely support in some way or another. :p Designer clowns at least occur naturally without laboratory genetic modification.

[lastlight]

Oh I was under the impression they occurred naturally. I don't like the way they look =) if we are talking about those picassos etc.

[Myka]

Oh I was under the impression they occurred naturally. I don't like the way they look =) if we are talking about those picassos etc.

Ah ok, well that's just taste then. Many people are concerned about how the color was "developed" when nature itself did the work. :)

[reefwars]

heres some nice ones i liked :

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http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTK6yx61bvgAmP3sOkp0Vst5VWA4qS45 Vv73wv8Y4IwHk2-RJQ&t=1&usg=__zMFiYxtt7HGdfT1KUXyWN-kBKUg=


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http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQgvEA1fBqhJKcCbw-YMCLZIG1Te4EUVB-woJcQyH6vhOZMHiw&t=1&usg=__VOX32nc-FpFPtCaLr6MWUbgs8Ac=




http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ5S5ApIob0lS9lUZipLCUdgqG9Sl_pq rVhw1y8LerR2sOCUiE&t=1&usg=__wGz6Oy-VODTKjeNIBUngRZPczbA=

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http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDSvcfpGhcXuCZu_TnbKStw4-oOJyDbdu5R6vlZUyBC4nzMKc&t=1&usg=__xOqnvKoPbti4HfV-4Q7fZDFyg6Q=


http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQr5y-AvJkMDbcru-JDwFKmv-qAg8VWb5mKk8oFXq9DpDqmpyQ&t=1&usg=__Eosge5z_fiVBBrOC4Qi07AciaDI=



hopes this gives you some ideas for your tank i would love any of these:)

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I've been recycling my reef water into the fowlr for a couple of years no problem. Your reef is probably a lot cleaner & with a lower bioload with far more frequent wc so I think it should be fine. I use a HK2 in my wife's anemone cube tank with the rocks in the center & nems away from the ph.

[ponokareefer]

I've actually got my RSM130 set up as an anemone/clown tank, just haven't found an anemone yet. I ended getting a pair of Clarkii clowns, as they host a very wide variety of anemones, and found a pair going crazy in a BTA at the pet store, so I know they like anemones. Clarkii's get quite black as well.
Your setup sounds really good thus far. I have a MJ1200 for additional flow as well, but would love an MP10. The anemone proof powerhead sounds like a good idea as well. One thing about BTA's though, they can move around a lot sometimes and so any corals are at risk for being killed. Also, they can find their way into overflows easily as well. For this reason, I have decided to stay away from BTA's.
Long tenacle anemones are another option, as they like the sand, so they don't tend to move around as much area. They can, but not as much typically.
I've actually decided to go with a haddoni anemone. They are the smallest of all carpets, require the least light and are good with lower flow. They live in the gravel, so the likelyhood of them going into an overflow or powerhead is reduced as well. I've done a fair amount of research on them, and they seem to actually be quite hardy, for anemones. They definitely will be the only thing in the tank, and no other fish can be in their either, so it works great as an anemone/clownfish setup.