Bored, thinking about Nems and Clownfish

[ShawnSaucier]

So my system has been in build limbo, just haven’t had the time to get to finishing the wiring and a few other things. Plus it’s summer in Fl, tank is in the garage for the build out. Once completed it will move inside.
Anyways, had a moment of thinking about stock options and the direction I want to go with the tank. This morning’s moment of daydreaming has been brought to you by Clownfish and Anemones.
I’ve had many tanks over the years, starting in 2000-01 and have kept sebae and BTA in my tanks for clownfish hosts.
This new system I have been undecided on whether or not to add clowns and a host nem.
Looking for some obscure options for clowns, nothing man made through cross breeding and that stays on the smaller side.
Also looking at recommendations for hosting nems. BTA’s can become plague-ish and not a particular option I feel like dealing with.
Tank specs:
48”x30”x30”

Lighting:
4x Kessil A360x
2x AI Blade Grow 40”
2x AI Blade Grow 40”


Flow ( internal not return)
4x XR350 Ghost Gyre
2x on the top of the side panels opposite each other.
2x on the back wall , vertical in opposite corners.
Don’t know how this will be for flow patterns, but there is definitely enough to make a typhoon if needed

Filtration:
60 g sump ( running depth) with UV and Ozone

Rock:
Old Haitian live rock, been maturing in a brute for 12 weeks so far. No light…

Tank plan:
Mixed, heavy on SPS. Tons of small fish with a few medium sized.

 

[lombeard]

Loved my Magnifica and Skunk Clowns.

 

[bradleym]

Agreed with above for the anemone - one difficult but rewarding option is always the Riterri/Magnifica anemone. It’ll take up a big chunk of space and sit at the very top, and they are prone to disease when shipped. BUT they are the quintessential example in my opinion (think Finding Nemo). If you’re looking for the clown/nem combo to be a centerpiece of the tank, this’ll do it. As a bonus, they have the highest success rate for encouraging hosting in percula and occelaris clowns in my experience.

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Agreed with above for the anemone - one difficult but rewarding option is always the Riterri/Magnifica anemone. It’ll take up a big chunk of space and sit at the very top, and they are prone to disease when shipped. BUT they are the quintessential example in my opinion (think Finding Nemo). If you’re looking for the clown/nem combo to be a centerpiece of the tank, this’ll do it. As a bonus, they have the highest success rate for encouraging hosting in percula and occelaris clowns in my experience.

I have been looking into this option quite a bit. Was actually considering creating a mag. shelf with rock to possibly create a space for a Magnifica, trying to keep it out of the main aquascape and higher up. Of course, the effort may be a moot point…

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Loved my Magnifica and Skunk Clowns.

Upper part of my list if I do this

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A large host anemone with (hopefully) a trio of clowns is my plan for a show piece of my current tank.

I did it in the past with a gigantea and ocellaris. Looking this time to maybe do the same with a magnifica.

 

[bradleym]

I have been looking into this option quite a bit. Was actually considering creating a mag. shelf with rock to possibly create a space for a Magnifica, trying to keep it out of the main aquascape and higher up. Of course, the effort may be a moot point…

If their tentacles can touch the glass, they will try to climb it. So if you are trying to keep it isolated, keep this in mind. Otherwise, the shelf is usually pretty effective.

 

[OrionN]

Mine, in my office. Nutrient overload right now. I was on vacation for 1 month and my staff overfeed badly. I am trying to get it back to optimal.

 

[lombeard]

Thanks for starting this thread, now I am looking for nems.

 

[OrionN]

 

[OrionN]

Low tide in my tank

 

[OrionN]

For an SPS tank, Magnifica or Gigantea would be best. If you have a sand bed, a Haddoni would be what I would keep. Don't feed them much and they won't grow too fast.
As for clowns, WC Onyx Percula all the way.

 

[ShawnSaucier]

For an SPS tank, Magnifica or Gigantea would be best. If you have a sand bed, a Haddoni would be what I would keep. Don't feed them much and they won't grow too fast.
As for clowns, WC Onyx Percula all the way.

That last picture is stunning IMO.
So a little reading since my initial post and feeling that if I go Magnifica I may need to dedicate a light to it as far as color temp. I have always run my systems in between the 14K/20k look ( trying to mimic the old Radium/Pheonix halides).
I could be misinterpreting but it seems these anemones prefer and proliferate in the 6500 range. So that to me means creating a spotlight effect for this nem. Hopefully helping it from taking a walk as well. This would mean dedicating a Kessil possibly, utilizing one of the lenses and pinpointing the nem. With adjustment to the par, but giving that whiter look in the area.
I mentioned the thought creating a mag shelf from rock. I envision something with a cave/ crevice for the foot to rest in. BradleyM mentioned if they touch glass they will climb. I assume any vertical surface would cause this reaction. So in design I would be looking at a peak? Basically the nem is the king of the hill? Does that make sense in how I describe this? Or am I over analyzing?
I would like to get a nem in earlier in the planting process and give it time to settle before starting on some of the more choice corals.
This is one of those frustrating animals that can be so unpredictable.
I love the look of the carpet nems as well. There will be a sand bed as well. I am planning on utilizing multiple depths with a slight slope from front to back in the grade. The idea is coming from some of the Igawami style fresh water systems you see online. The hope is to make the scape feel like it’s coming out of the sand. Rock will be elevated off the glass with ceramic footings to keep the scape level and allow burrowing fauna access to 98% of the sand bed with compromising the scape. But I’m still working out this visual concept.
Back to the carpet nem, my concern is real estate. I suppose if I am conservative with the rock, I can create an area for a carpet and still have zones for various other sand dwelling corals without the over crowded look.
I have read that carpets can be a bit more aggressive than some nems. And people loosing fish to these.
I don’t want to limit the fish habitat as well. As I may have mentioned, the hope is for a busy looking reef with many tinier fish and a few medium/larger (i.e smaller Tangs, angels, fox face or a butterfly).
In any of your experiences, have any of you kept multiple symbiotic guests in a single host nem? Clowns and shrimp or clowns and crabs? I assume if breeding, the clowns will get pushy for privacy..

 

[ShawnSaucier]

That last picture is stunning IMO.
So a little reading since my initial post and feeling that if I go Magnifica I may need to dedicate a light to it as far as color temp. I have always run my systems in between the 14K/20k look ( trying to mimic the old Radium/Pheonix halides).
I could be misinterpreting but it seems these anemones prefer and proliferate in the 6500 range. So that to me means creating a spotlight effect for this nem. Hopefully helping it from taking a walk as well. This would mean dedicating a Kessil possibly, utilizing one of the lenses and pinpointing the nem. With adjustment to the par, but giving that whiter look in the area.
I mentioned the thought creating a mag shelf from rock. I envision something with a cave/ crevice for the foot to rest in. BradleyM mentioned if they touch glass they will climb. I assume any vertical surface would cause this reaction. So in design I would be looking at a peak? Basically the nem is the king of the hill? Does that make sense in how I describe this? Or am I over analyzing?
I would like to get a nem in earlier in the planting process and give it time to settle before starting on some of the more choice corals.
This is one of those frustrating animals that can be so unpredictable.
I love the look of the carpet nems as well. There will be a sand bed as well. I am planning on utilizing multiple depths with a slight slope from front to back in the grade. The idea is coming from some of the Igawami style fresh water systems you see online. The hope is to make the scape feel like it’s coming out of the sand. Rock will be elevated off the glass with ceramic footings to keep the scape level and allow burrowing fauna access to 98% of the sand bed with compromising the scape. But I’m still working out this visual concept.
Back to the carpet nem, my concern is real estate. I suppose if I am conservative with the rock, I can create an area for a carpet and still have zones for various other sand dwelling corals without the over crowded look.
I have read that carpets can be a bit more aggressive than some nems. And people loosing fish to these.
I don’t want to limit the fish habitat as well. As I may have mentioned, the hope is for a busy looking reef with many tinier fish and a few medium/larger (i.e smaller Tangs, angels, fox face or a butterfly).
In any of your experiences, have any of you kept multiple symbiotic guests in a single host nem? Clowns and shrimp or clowns and crabs? I assume if breeding, the clowns will get pushy for privacy..

That was long winded to say, beautiful nems

 

[OrionN]

Magnifica like flat up facing rock, like a pedestal. Magnifica often show their column, and a colorful column is great with Magnifica. Gigantea like crevice or hole or irregular attachment anywhere side or top, they hide their column. Both require rather high flow.

 

[OrionN]

I know that you don’t want Man Made clowns, but I love my Black Snowflakes. Designer Clown fish is OK with me as long as they have nice near wild type body shape.