Fishfreak2009's Fluval Flex 9 Gallon

[Fishfreak2009]

Started this tank up as a simple breeding tank for a pair of clowns. Picked up a really nice proven pair of picasso percula clowns, and set it up as a very simple breeding tank.

Running stock filtration and stock lighting (which seems to grow a clump of Caulerpa pretty well for biofiltration), and running the tank bare bottom with a clay pot for breeding. Also threw in a plastic plant to help make them a little more comfortable.

Frequent feedings of both frozen and pellets to keep the fish conditioned for breeding, just like my other setups, but regular large water changes to combat nitrates.

Also set up just like my other tanks with Microbacter7 and Biospira.

 

[blaxsun]

Ah, a glorified fish treadmill (the pot).

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Not much changed but the Caulerpa is growing nicely! They still haven't spawned yet but they love the Rod's food and frozen mysis, so here's hoping. The female is definitely fatter than when I brought them home.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Tomorrow is tank cleaning day, but figured I'd throw a quick pic of the pair on here

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Did a deep cleaning today, hence the cloudy water.

 

[The_ReefB0y_FOX24]

I would love to get into clownfish breeding. Any tips?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I would love to get into clownfish breeding. Any tips?

Keep the water clean and keep them well fed with a high quality mix of various frozen and pellet foods.

I think they do better in a more natural cage as well, so I will be adding live rock and live sand to this setup. I have also decided that I'm going to keep my camel shrimp trio and sponge decorator crab in this tank, as they don't need bright reef lights and won't bother the fish. The clowns should easily be able to protect their nest from the inverts. I may add a few astraea snails as well.

Pic of one of the camel shrimp (Rhynchocinetes uritai) and of the Red Sponge Decorator Crab (Macrocoeloma trispinosum).

 

[The_ReefB0y_FOX24]

do you know why the fluval flex 9 is so expensive?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

do you know why the fluval flex 9 is so expensive?

No idea. Got mine half off on clearance when I bought it. The store I got it from was closing.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Added about 2" of aragonite to the tank today, removed the clay pot, added a large chunk of live rock I got from a fellow reefer (hence the bleached zoas and aiptasia), and moved the sponge crab, camel shrimp trio, and mexican turbo snail over. I'll let it settle a few weeks, then move the pencil urchin as well.

We are considering adding a shrimp goby and tiger pistol as well, just have to find the right one. We will also be adding a couple peppermint shrimp to hopefully eat the aiptasia.

 

[The_ReefB0y_FOX24]

have you got them to spawn yet?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

have you got them to spawn yet?

They've laid eggs once for me, but I had no rotifers or pods going. They've spawned multiple times for their previous owner.

 

[The_ReefB0y_FOX24]

I believe in you!

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Some pics from last night

 

[Fishfreak2009]

A couple quick pics after a water change today. Still need to grab a couple peppermints to finish off the aiptasia. I also glued some extra green star polyp to the rock, going to see if it grows under the stock lighting.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Tank is doing well! The GSP has opened up and is growing nicely, even under the stock lighting. The zoanthids are starting to get their color back, and the resident Aiptasia is as large as it has ever been. Still hasn't multiplied though. Hoping to get the clowns spawning soon! And the sponge decorator crab completely consumed all the Caulerpa.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Here's a quick video from today

 

[The_ReefB0y_FOX24]

too bad they havent spawned yet

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Unfortunately all of the shrimp and the crab slowly died off until none were left. Not sure what happened. Corals continue to do fine, and they got plenty of food.

Did a huge water change today (75%), and thoroughly turkey basted the rock to get all the debris out of it, as I was starting to get some cyano on the back of the rock structure.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Well, this tank has officially been taken down. Unfortunately the female picasso percula clown continued to lose weight, even though she ate well and had been dewormed with a few different dewormers and ran through a course of metronidazole. She oassed away a couple days ago.

We decided to use the rock for our 180 gallon build. The koran angel, cream angel, and aiptasia filefish devoured all the bleached zoas, the aiptasia, and even the GSP and colonial hydroids, so it will definitely be a fowlr tank.

The male picasso percula was moved into our 30 gallon seahorse reef, and is now paired with a tailless juvenile brown saddleback clownfish. We are hoping they continue to get along with one another as time goes on.

Here's a pic of the male from today and a pic of him in the 30 gallon tank. He seems much happier in here as well.