What is needed to keep a pair of clownfish?

Question

I have raised freshwater before and want to start again with clownfish. I know they are salt water and I have mixed the salt into the water. I have a heater, thermometer, and the tank is about 30 litres. What else is needed? I only want 2 fish... The guy at the pet store said they like bubbles, but my filter bubbles at the top. Any advice on what is needed would be great from anyone who knows!!!

I also know you need to monitor the salinity, pH and nitrates. But i also heard that clownfish are hardy and can cope with slight changes... Different websites contradict each other!!!

Ok so:
- Need to get live rock... Is that just from the pet shop?
- Are flourescent lights necessary or will natural sunlight do?
- So cycle the tank for a while and keep checking...

What i have done so far is added the dechlorinater to the water and im waiting for it to cycle. Then adding the salt and then live rock...? Right? I hope these clowns like their new home dammit...

Answer 1

Fill a tank with salt water ( specific garvity should be around 1.021 - 1.025 and a filter that moves at least 300 liters/hour. Use only Reverse Osmosis cleaned water, regular water (even dechlorinated) will cause huge slime and algae blooms.
-Add a few inches of crushed aragonite, shells or sand
-Add at least 5 pounds of live rock (cured is best, you can tell if it isn't if it has a stong smell) for about a 10 gallon tank
- You will need to have floescent lights (one floescent and one actinic tube is better and you channge one every six months so that niether is ever more then one year old)
- A heater is probably a good idea
- Test the water daily, Like a freshwater tank the ammonia nitrite and nitrate levels will all take a turn at rising, then subside to normal levels. When the levels are no longer spiking, it is time to start slowly adding fish. This can take a few months to a year - depending on how lucky you are.
- Maintaining a fish-only tank isn't too hard once it is started. You do weekly salt-water changes of about 10% of the water, and replace evaporated water with water only (salt doesn't evaporate).
-Clownfish are very easy to keep as they will eat flake food. They will get along well with a dartfish, and a neon goby or two since your tank is a bit small. Bubbles are not necessary if you have enough water flow.
-Anemones are also not hard to take care of, they only need top be fed about once a week, but you do not need them for clownfish.
- Corals are what makes it a huge expense and challenge as they need metal halide lights, skimmers, refugiums, chillers etc. not too mention the supplements and feeds.
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/sbegin-set...
http://www.bestfish.com/breakin.html.......
http://faq.thekrib.com/sbegin-setup.html...

Answer 2

I'm not 100% sure about salt water tanks but the first few weeks is most crucial when setting up a fresh tank. There are many sites on the web that explain the procedure much better and more thoroughly than I could but I'll have a go. CYCLE THE TANK! Check conditions like pH and temperature preferred by your clownfish. Mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration. DON"T OVERFEED! Vacuum the gravel and replace about a third of the water every two or three weeks. Never be afraid to seek a second opinion.
Hope all goes well.

Answer 3

you need to make sure that your tank has the appropriate bacterial level, let it age for a few months before adding your fish, a protine skimmer, helps to maintain chemical levels in your tank.most clownfish also prefer a host sea anenome as well, but this is not a must have, as most anenomes are difficult to maintain without proper lighting.at least some live rock is beneficial too, it is the perfect breeding ground for beneficial bacterias.they also prefer a live food source, so copepods and amphipods are helpful too, again though, this is not a must because the fish will usually accept frozen mysid or brine shrimp that are relatively cheap and can be stored for quite a long time in the freezer.i hope i've helped you out somewhat.

Answer 4

Your best bet before subjecting any fish to possible harm and suffering is research alot. And when you have done that....research again. Keeping a salt water tank is no easy feat. Even with only 2 fish like you are planning. Its actually easier to keep a larger (more volume) tank tan a Small "nano" tank simply because larger tanks with more water give you a bit more room for error without crashing your tank and killing EVERYTHING in it. Again research is your best friend in this field. I have already purchased a majority of the equipment I will need for my 125gal tank tank. but I am still reading researching everything as I go, haven't set it up yet as planning on moving in next few months. Also a false notion is that clown fish need to have Anemones to survive. when in reality it isn't true. It is really hit and miss whether a clown fish or a pair will host to the Anemone and Anemone are really hard to keep and extra easy to kill. And when they die you will know, they poison water and stink up house...lol So again research one of the best sites I have found is: http://reefcentral.com

Good luck and welcome to your new addiction!

Answer 5

I raised Cichlids for about 6 years now and from what Ive learned from Salt Water you need to keep the water as stable as possible. One wrong move and your whole tank is down-the best thing is to get an Airstone being that they like Bubbles.

Answer 6

You need a hydrometer to measure the level of salt in the water. Be sure than you have a powerful filter, especially if you are not using a protein skimmer.

Answer 7

convinced try to be able to keep both species of clown fish mutually, we had a marine aquarium for a great few years and placed that diverse sorts of fish rubbed alongside fairly fortuitously mutually, without harming one yet another. yet freshwater fish will have a tendency to eat one yet another, specifically Tiger barbs which take after their call and could eat the smaller fish on your tank!!

Answer 8

If they are real clowns you may need a book of jokes to read to them. A bedtime story may just work.

Answer 9

they like a current of water to swim in they will saty at the top near the current all day long
mine loves it

Answer 10

clownfish make each other laugh :D