arrrgh too much information!

sheamurai · #1 12-31-2009, 05:58 PM

Great! thanks everyone for their responses. Its nice to ahve confirmation on things.
The filter is on more for extra flow than anything else. All I am running in it is floss to catch the big floaties.
Its amazing to find out that I can keep everything I want in my tank, with a bit of research into specific species. I'm so used to finding out that a certain critter is an absolute no-go compatibility or size-wise.

Do anemones/corals count towards the bioload of the tank like fish do? In a 40g I'm expecting to be able to keep 4-6 fish depending on size (excluding hermits/shrimp) - do corals detract from that?

PoonTang · #2 12-31-2009, 06:08 PM

Welcome to Canreef
Your on the right track by asking questions before you take the big plunge.
The only thing I would like to add is that in my opinion Hermits=Bad , Snails=Good. Also rather than trying to get an Anemone why not just get a Frogspawn coral. Much easyer to care for, Less lighting, feeding required etc. and the clowns absolutely love them.

sheamurai · #3 12-31-2009, 06:32 PM

if clowns absolutely love them, nothing at all except ignorance, lol.
thanks for the tip, I will look into them...

Millepora_Maniac · #4 12-31-2009, 09:32 PM

Welcome to our community!! I'd hate to already start contradicting what people are saying, but...I have to say that using a Skimmer is NEVER a bad Idea. I would keep using it, i't definately won't harm anything! Also, as for the frogspawn idea, A frogspawn is a coral, not an anemone. So if you get clownfish and get them to host in it, it won't benefit the coral at all! The constant thrashing of the clownfish into the host can really be hard on the flesh of the coral. My maroon clown will push so hard against his host that he squishes it flat! I would advise to use an anemone, they're just as easy to care for as a frogspawn or torch, and really, you should be target feeding both lps corals and anemones so there is no extra benefit to using a coral to hold a clownfish. I hope this helps steer you in the right direction

Cheers-MM

simplycoral · #5 12-31-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millepora_Maniac

Welcome to our community!! I'd hate to already start contradicting what people are saying, but...I have to say that using a Skimmer is NEVER a bad Idea. I would keep using it, i't definately won't harm anything! Also, as for the frogspawn idea, A frogspawn is a coral, not an anemone. So if you get clownfish and get them to host in it, it won't benefit the coral at all! The constant thrashing of the clownfish into the host can really be hard on the flesh of the coral. My maroon clown will push so hard against his host that he squishes it flat! I would advise to use an anemone, they're just as easy to care for as a frogspawn or torch, and really, you should be target feeding both lps corals and anemones so there is no extra benefit to using a coral to hold a clownfish. I hope this helps steer you in the right direction

Cheers-MM

I think he mean't to remove the HOB Filter.. and that the Live rock would be enough filtration...

S.

sheamurai · #6 12-31-2009, 11:04 PM

ya, I figured...nobody ever suggested not using a skimmer here, lol.
Still researching the anemone vs frogspawn issue tho...seems like frogspawn are easier to find...there's someone parting out a 20gal tank right now and has frogspawn for sale...my tanks not ready!!! OY!

christyf5 · #7 12-31-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheamurai

ya, I figured...nobody ever suggested not using a skimmer here, lol.
Still researching the anemone vs frogspawn issue tho...seems like frogspawn are easier to find...there's someone parting out a 20gal tank right now and has frogspawn for sale...my tanks not ready!!! OY!

LOL don't worry about that. Theres always someone selling corals on here. One will come along when you're ready.

One thing about the CUC, start slow and only get a few critters to start with. When I speak of a CUC I think of snails and hermits. Most of the others are there for show only and don't really do as much as snails and hermits do (in my opinion anyways). If you start out with a couple of snails and a couple of hermits, chances are, when they've done all their dirty work of cleaning up algae and such (which will be there once the tank gets going) you want to make sure that you have enough to sustain them. Lots of people start out with a large group of snails and hermits, only to find that they die off after awhile due to starvation.

I'm also of the mind that hermits are a pain in the butt. All they ever did for me was eat my snails. Currenly I only have snails in my tank and they get the job done just fine

Also with your HOB filter that you're running floss in, be sure to keep on top of that and change out the floss often (ie weekly or so). Filter sponge and floss can often harbour nitrate producing bacteria which can skew your parameters and make it difficult to keep some corals.

PoonTang · #8 01-01-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millepora_Maniac

Welcome to our community!! I'd hate to already start contradicting what people are saying, but...I have to say that using a Skimmer is NEVER a bad Idea. I would keep using it, i't definately won't harm anything! Also, as for the frogspawn idea, A frogspawn is a coral, not an anemone. So if you get clownfish and get them to host in it, it won't benefit the coral at all! The constant thrashing of the clownfish into the host can really be hard on the flesh of the coral. My maroon clown will push so hard against his host that he squishes it flat! I would advise to use an anemone, they're just as easy to care for as a frogspawn or torch, and really, you should be target feeding both lps corals and anemones so there is no extra benefit to using a coral to hold a clownfish. I hope this helps steer you in the right direction

Cheers-MM

True enough for the larger species of clowns but for Perculas i have never had an issue with the frogspawn getting upset. Infact mine thrived because my clowns kept feeding it.

fishytime · #9 01-01-2010, 03:35 AM

Welcome to canreef... Sometimes you can have both an anemone and frogspawn(etc) in the tank and your clowns will host in a powerhead....nothing is a 100% guarantee for clowns to host in...The best relationship for a clown is with an anemone....Ive seems clowns with burn marks from being stung from coral and Ive seen clowns love coral to death...

viperfish · #10 01-01-2010, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

Welcome to canreef... Sometimes you can have both an anemone and frogspawn(etc) in the tank and your clowns will host in a powerhead....nothing is a 100% guarantee for clowns to host in...The best relationship for a clown is with an anemone....Ive seems clowns with burn marks from being stung from coral and Ive seen clowns love coral to death...

My two clowns loved my torch so much they have destroyed three of the heads from rubbing themselves against it!