Getting a tank with clowns started... need advice

[Anonymous]

Are star fish coral safe, or will they snack on them? And are they okay with clowns?

Most of the thick-legged starfish (chocolate chip, red general) are not reef safe.

Thin legged stars that aren't brittle or serpent (linknia, fromia) are reef safe, and are usually the most spectacularly colored.

Brittle or serpent stars are a 50-50. I had a green one once that devoured a whole xenia overnight, while others have had no problems. Red ones are geneally reef safe, but when they get big may snag fish. If a brittle star has spines sticking stright up from it's legs, it's a fish-eater.

Hope this helps ya...

Peace,

Chip

 

[bc-matty]

Thanks for the insight Marillion into the star fish! It looks as if I may stay away from them at the moment after reading your informative advice. Although I am fascinated by them, but I would much rather focus on my clowns and corals for my future tank. I never really thought of clowns snacking on fish, thought that they were too slow to catch them. But now I have learned something new and interesting! My Clown fish book suggests buying Brittle Stars and Serpent Stars for the tank to use as scavengers, but it sounds like you have had a few mishaps with them... so I may pass on the whole star thing.

I may though consider a Giant Clam like Tridacna squamosa or Tridancna crocea.. once my tank is well established. How are clams with corals and clown fish... anything I shouldn't do when combining a tank with the three?
Last thought for the moment, how do tubeworms mix in a clown tank with corals? Thanks again guys... my list is narrowing in on my selections with all of your help!

 

[fishfanatic2]

bc-matty wrote:

I may though consider a Giant Clam like Tridacna squamosa or Tridancna crocea.. once my tank is well established. How are clams with corals and clown fish... anything I shouldn't do when combining a tank with the three?

Giant clams are great clams which will not be bothered by clowns, and make good reef tank specimens. T. Crocea needs a very large amount of light, while T.Squamosa and T. Derasa need a little less so. Under normal reef lighting, T.Croceas would be good. However, if I were you, I'd start with a lower-light species and then graduate to the T. Crocea's and T. Maxima's (another high light species).

Last thought for the moment, how do tubeworms mix in a clown tank with corals? Thanks again guys... my list is narrowing in on my selections with all of your help!

By tube worms I assume you mean the feather dusters, since they are often called that. Feather dusters are beautiful and make great additions to any tank IMO, and as long as you get a good specimen and make sure either your water has enough or you supplement with plankton, feather dusters would be an excellent first-invert to your tank.

Hope this helps!

 

[bc-matty]

Hi everyone again!

Thank you all once again for the insight. I am feeling 100% confident about my future reef tank. Your advice fishfanatic2 was great! In fact my clown fish book said what you said about the Giant clams, start with the low light ones first. So I will be on the look out for a squamosa and or a Derasa.

Just wondering, do clams fight amongst themselves, meaning is it okay to combine several types in the tank? Sorry that might be a dumb question, but you never know until someone tells you, and I am just a newbie! Thanks everyone!

 

[fishfanatic2]

Clams do not fight among themselves since they can't move and do not have any 'weapons'. Once a clam is settled, it attaches itself with byssal strands (like a mussel) to the rock or substrate. So yes, you can keep many types of clams in a tank as long as there is not too much competition.

Hope this helps!

 

[Anonymous]

Clams can't move? Someone needs to tell my clams this!

 

[bc-matty]

Hi there guys! Just me with yet another question!
I am still out and about pricing tanks. Anyhow I have narrowed my choice down to a few. My question is, are plastic tank (canopy) lids bad for salt water. Meaning that over time, will the salt wear it down. I was wondering this because a tank that I am interested in from Oceanic has a glass lid that seals tight when you close it.

Also another tank didn't have a "glass barrier" between the tank water and the lights, meaning direct exposure to the water. All of the other tank lights have a piece of glass (glass insert that goes over the tank).

I guess what I am getting at, is there anything I should watch for ( do's and don'ts) when looking at tank lids.

 

[bc-matty]

Hey all! Happy to report that I purchased my tank the other day and everything is going great.. so far. Anyhow I have a couple of more questions.. sorry still a newbie with a desire to learn and learn..

Anyhow the store I bought my tank from, gave me a start up kit. They didn't have any protein skimmers.. not sure if this store ever does. I wanted a decent filtre system so I upgraded the filtre for a fluval 304 ( looks like a little waste bucket that sits in my stand with tubes going to the tank) My tank is only a little one at 30g. Should I be okay with the Fluval in my tank system?

Also how long should I wait before adding live rock? A few days, weeks? I am sure that this was answered already.. just not sure where?
Thanks guys again! Hope I didn't goof with the Fluval?!

 

[fishfanatic2]

I don't think you necesarilly goofed wit the Fluval, but I'm not sure. you can start up the tankand after a few days to make sure it doesn't leak, add the rock. A little while after you can add the sand. Actually, you can probably add the sand whenever. Are you keeping anemones in the tank?
Hope this helps/Good luck!

 

[bc-matty]

Thanks for the vote of confidence fishfanatic2. I have actually already put the sand in my tank, and everything is running great. I think tomorrow I will head out to the pet store and purchase my live rock. Some folks say what two weeks, others say a day or so before adding it in. I have been waiting at least 4 days now, and checking my salt density like a crazy scientist. So either tommorow or this coming week I will add my live rock.

Um... why the anemone question? Do they not like sand? I wasn't planning on keeping one, it is up for debate. They seem hard to keep, or so I hear. If anything I will keep a simple beginners one, but not sure yet. Have to make sure that my clowns like it.

Thanks again for the advice and reassurance!

 

[fishfanatic2]

I was just curious since anemones need bright light, so if you wanted to keep one you'd have to make sure you have the right intensity now or be ready to upgrade later. They are difficult, so starting with the clowns first is a good idea.