Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Clowns clowning.

Yes, the concern would be whether two spawning sets of clowns will be ok in such close proximity without a lot of fighting maybe forcing one set to move away.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I like the various blue (Chrysiptera) damsels. I have several yellow tails. While damsels are aggressive, these seem to get along with other fish much better than the dominos. I also have a 3 stripe damsel. I like the energy level for the blues and stripes, always swimming, and the nips they give when my hand is in the tank are amusing.

Thanks. :)

 

[Miami Reef]

Very easy. Knowing 35 ppt = 1.0264, I first find the ppt ratio of 33.7/35 = 0.963 (or just the conductivity ratio 51.3/53.3) and multiply by 264, giving 254. Put a 1.0 in front of it to give 1.0254. :)

Thank you! You explained it very clearly and now I know it. I appreciate you working out the math so I can visualize it.

Yes, the concern would be whether two spawning sets of clowns will be ok in such close proximity without a lot of fighting maybe forcing one set to move away.

I can ask EatBreakfast. He’s a very experienced user and knows all about fish behavior and compatibility. He’s the one who informed me about the mandarin male size comparison to female for best chances of success.

He’s known as an expert in this field. I’m going to get his input.

So, you have 3 ocellaris in a magnifica anemone and want to add some pink skunks to the LTA that’s in close proximity. Let me figure out if it’s possible, and if so, how many skunks for the optimal chance of success.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So, you have 3 ocellaris in a magnifica anemone and want to add some pink skunks to the LTA that’s in close proximity. Let me figure out if it’s possible, and if so, how many skunks for the optimal chance of success.

That’s the issue, and the advice is almost always to not do it. I had such a setup years ago, but it may have been an anomaly.

In this old picture of mine, you can see the pink skinks in my H. Crispa anemone, and can just make out the pair of ocellaris clowns in the soft coral on the extreme left. Both pairs were spawning for years and did not fight, but reproducing that setup may be asking for too much.

 

[Miami Reef]

He’s asking what size tank and how far apart are the anemones?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

He’s asking what size tank and how far apart are the anemones?

120 gallons. About 18”apart, mostly vertical distance.

 

[Miami Reef]

120 gallons. About 18”apart, mostly vertical distance.

He told me he wouldn’t do it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

He told me he wouldn’t do it.

Thanks. That's the general advice. Whether I take it is another question. lol

But i will at least wait a while for the other clowns to settle in further and the LTA to get larger. :)

 

[tripdad]

That particular anthias can be very challenging. Perhaps with your busy schedule one of the easier ones would be more successful? Love anthias, they say "reef" to me. Also love a group of damsels that exhibit some shoaling behaviour.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That particular anthias can be very challenging. Perhaps with your busy schedule one of the easier ones would be more successful? Love anthias, they say "reef" to me. Also love a group of damsels that exhibit some shoaling behaviour.

Which would you recommend? There seems to be greatly varying opinions on what are "easiest" and some folks said these were not among the hardest. Feeding often is no problem since even when I'm not home the autofeeders dispense at least 8 times a day.

 

[jonelder68]

Which would you recommend? There seems to be greatly varying opinions on what are "easiest" and some folks said these were not among the hardest. Feeding often is no problem since even when I'm not home the autofeeders dispense at least 8 times a day.

Dispars from Dr. Reef

 

[Reefering1]

Thanks. That's the general advice. Whether I take it is another question. lol

But i will at least wait a while for the other clowns to settle in further and the LTA to get larger. :)

Why not move the LTA to the other side of tank?

 

[tripdad]

Which would you recommend? There seems to be greatly varying opinions on what are "easiest" and some folks said these were not among the hardest. Feeding often is no problem since even when I'm not home the autofeeders dispense at least 8 times a day.

I am far from an expert but I am dumb enough to have tried several types. My best luck was with Lyretails. A friend has had good luck with Bartlett's. Some, like purple queen , I have found absolutely impossible.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why not move the LTA to the other side of tank?

That’s possible, but detaching it will be a chore and might damage the foot since it is buried at a rock/sand interface.

Might be easier to get a different anemone to put at the far end, though that location is where the elegance is well situated. :)

 

[rishma]

Why not move the LTA to the other side of tank?

That’s possible, but detaching it will be a chore and might damage the foot since it is buried at a rock/sand interface.

Might be easier to get a different anemone to put at the far end, though that location is where the elegance is well situated. :)

I used a trick I learned here to remove an LTA. I cut a 6” long piece of 2” PVC pipe and propped it at about 45deg over top the anemone so it was inside. The anemone crawled up the pipe toward the light. I simply lifted the pipe out because the foot was attached inside.

I have seen an example where a hole is cut in a sponge and the pipe is inserted through the hole. The sponge is against the rock and blocks light at the base. It also makes it easier to hold the pipe in place. Same idea, the anemone crawls up the tube. I didn’t use a sponge.

Hopefully the description and this pic make sense.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Interesting, thanks!

 

[rishma]

I am a big fan of azure damsels and would love a group or spawning pair when I have bigger tank. Chrysiptera hemicyanea.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am a big fan of azure damsels and would love a group or spawning pair when I have bigger tank. Chrysiptera hemicyanea.

I had some in the past too, and liked them. I wonder if they will pester the chromis? I had both, but I'm not certain I had both at the same time.

 

[rishma]

I am a big fan of azure damsels and would love a group or spawning pair when I have bigger tank. Chrysiptera hemicyanea.

I had some in the past too, and liked them. I wonder if they will pester the chromis? I had both, but I'm not certain I had both at the same time.

Not a fish expert but I think it would be fine. They are pretty mild and more likely to be aggressive with others of the same genius in a tank your size.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Not a fish expert but I think it would be fine. They are pretty mild and more likely to be aggressive with others of the same genius in a tank your size.

How many would you put in a 120 with lots of rock?