First salt water set up

[LNE660]

Hello Im in the process of setting up my first salt water tank and would like to know what you feal to be the best filtration. Its a 55 gallon tank. I plan on starting out with some clowns. Would also like to know any tips on keeping clowns.

Paul S

[LNE660]

I forgot to add that it will be a fish only tank.
Paul S

[gwen_o_lyn]

Originally Posted by LNE660

Hello Im in the process of setting up my first salt water tank and would like to know what you feal to be the best filtration. Its a 55 gallon tank. I plan on starting out with some clowns. Would also like to know any tips on keeping clowns.

Paul S

The best filtration is live rock and sand- biological filtration. In the beginning you really don't need chemical filtration like carbon. However a skimmer is great to filter out your tank. Also some sponges (mechanical filtration) to catch stuff floating in the tank helps. So for a basic setup, I would recommend live rock, sand and a skimmer.

Clown fish are pretty hardy- a good newbie fish! I bought a pair of baby perculas and they mated which I think is cool. The more aggressive one will become the female- I think they are all males when they are babies, but not 100% sure on that. Clown fish can be very territorial. Also they don't need an anenome to host- they can survive without one. Sometimes they will host with other corals or even the walls, or equipment of your tank. I would plan on getting either one clown fish or a pair because they can be aggressive.

hope that helps,
gwen

[Rob]

Gwen, all great info. i am going to add my comments below

Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn

The best filtration is live rock and sand- biological filtration. In the beginning you really don't need chemical filtration like carbon. However a skimmer is great to filter out your tank. Also some sponges (mechanical filtration) to catch stuff floating in the tank helps. So for a basic setup, I would recommend live rock, sand and a skimmer.

i totally agree here.. live rock 1-2Lbs per gallon, and a nice DSB, about 1-2 LBS per gallon. enough o achieve a 4-6 inch deep sand bed.

Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn

Clown fish are pretty hardy- a good newbie fish! I bought a pair of baby perculas and they mated which I think is cool.

Qwen, congrats, im still trying to get my pair to spawn.. lol

Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn

The more aggressive one will become the female- I think they are all males when they are babies, but not 100% sure on that.

yes, the more aggressive will be the female. but, all clown fish start as "juvenile" they are sex-less. The most dominant will become female, the second most dominant will be come male. if the female is lost the male will become the female, and the most dominant juvenile will become male... and so on.

If you are going to attempt breeding ever in the future, do not try to start with multiple juveniles, this will delay the process a very long time. simply start with a "pair" or 2 juveniles.

Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn

Clown fish can be very territorial.

as with all damsel fish, this is true. they can be aggressive and territorial. the Amphiprion genus (ie. Percula, Ocelalris, tomato) tends to be less aggressive and territorial, the Premnas Genus (ie. Maroon), tends to be much more territorial and aggressive. this is even more try once you have a "bonded pair".

Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn

Also they don't need an anenome to host- they can survive without one. Sometimes they will host with other corals or even the walls, or equipment of your tank.

this is great advice. especially for a newbie. Anemones can be difficult to care for, and having one means you need to be equipped to handle a full reef. you need al the additional lights, and filtration measures in place to handle a reef environment.

Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn

I would plan on getting either one clown fish or a pair because they can be aggressive.

yes, do not mix species.. ie, dont get a Percula and a tomato, or a saddleback and a pink skunk. either single or a pair of the same species