Large tank, multiple pair, multiple anemone possibilities?

sonofgaladriel · 11/10/2006, 09:40 AM

I'm having a new tank built this Spring to replace my 240 cube. It will either be a 72"x72"x36"tall or a 72"x36"x48" tall tank. Not sure which dimensions just yet. Each offers some really nice aquascaping possibilities. Either tank will be lit by 400 watt halides and be super skimmed. Tunze 6100s on a controller and wavy seas for random flow patterns.
It will be a heavily planted softy/anemone tank for sure.
My question is this: In a tank this size, would it be possible to have several anemones and a few different species of clowns safely cohabitating?
Here's what I'm picturing: A few haddoni on the sand bed, several of my captive rose and green BTA's along with a few H. crispa's in the rockscape, and my purple doreensis where ever it decides to plant itself

. I would like to see several pairs of ocellaris (orange and black), a pair of pink skunks, pair of orange skunks, and maybe a pair of fire or tomato clowns.
If each pair of clowns has its own host, sufficiently far enough away from the others, are the odds good that they will feel comfortable and secure enough to spawn?
Am I pushing it with this many nems and clowns, even considering a tank of 500 to 600 gallons?
I must say I am hooked on nems and clowns, but I just can't do the small isolated specific tanks, it has to be big and mixed with lots of variety.

1jared1 · 11/10/2006, 10:15 AM

If your going to do it, introduce all the clowns into the tank at the same time. I use to have a spawning pair of Ocellaris and a spawning pair of Gold-Striped Maroons in a 55 gallon tank, so I know it's possible for them to co-exist. Good luck!

BonsaiNut · 11/10/2006, 10:18 AM

I have kept 3 species of clowns in 3 separate anemones in a 135 long before. It seemed to work well with the different anemones - the clowns used the anemones to setup clearly defined boundaries.

Note that this tank was setup next to a large south-facing window and you could walk all the way around it. Therefore the aquascaping was a ridge of rock right down the middle of the tank with open swimming area front and back. I think increasing the swimming area with lots of visual blocks (i.e. plenty of canyons on bonnies) helps versus just having a rock wall.

illcssd · 11/10/2006, 01:21 PM

the only thing i would be wary of is the tomato/fire clowns, they are pretty aggressive and may prove to be a problem. Other than that with the right aquascaping and all having they're own hosts, you should be okay.

mwood · 11/10/2006, 01:50 PM

If you can place the nems at different locations in the tank so the clowns stay to their area , by their nem, they will generally leave each other alone.

My tomato's are near the middle and don't bother my GSM that stays near his sebae. They scuffled at first until they all established.

TheUltimateNoob · 11/10/2006, 02:12 PM

would this tank be viewable from all sides? i only ask because if the tank is 6' by 6', you may not see much of many of the tanks inhabitants if the anemones and clowns are towards the back of the tank.

BonsaiNut · 11/10/2006, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by illcssd
the only thing i would be wary of is the tomato/fire clowns, they are pretty aggressive

At the time I had this setup, I kept spawning pairs of A. melanopus, A. clarkii, and A. ocellaris. I even had a pair of A. sandaracinos that were MEAN suckers considering their small size. I gave them away to a breeder and they are still spawning like clockwork - something like 15 years later.

illcssd · 11/10/2006, 11:33 PM

BonzaiNut:
Maybe I'm wrong then, i can admit that, you have ALOT more experience than me and your word>mine. Is it not true that fire clowns and maroons are generally more aggressive than the other ones?

Dan · 11/11/2006, 06:20 PM

I have kept mixed clowns and anemones for years. The trick is to landscape in such a way that the fish can establish territories. It helps if they were with their anemone in another tank, then move all at once.

Dan

BonsaiNut · 11/11/2006, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by illcssd
Is it not true that fire clowns and maroons are generally more aggressive than the other ones?

I'm sure there are exceptions to every rule. Generally I have found that maroons > tomato complex > clarkii complex > saddlebacks/sebaes > ocellaris/perculas. Skunks are kind of a wild card. I have seen some real docile skunks, and some really mean ones.

I don't know if anyone will argue with the quote "hell hath no fury like a bothered female maroon" though

55semireef · 11/11/2006, 10:55 PM

I have 3 anemones in my 55 and not one problem.

sonofgaladriel · 11/12/2006, 11:45 PM

Thanks for all the tips guys. I'm going to give it a try when things are in place. I'm still planning the new tank so it will be awhile but glad to know the idea is doable.
I'm leaning more towards the 72"x36"x48"tall. I will have to put it against a wall, so this would make a better display tank. However, my dream has been the 72"x72"x36" with 3 or 4 sided viewing, however I just can't find the right place to put this tank.

11/10/2006, 09:40 AM	#1
sonofgaladriel Shiny! Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,670	Large tank, multiple pair, multiple anemone possibilities? I'm having a new tank built this Spring to replace my 240 cube. It will either be a 72"x72"x36"tall or a 72"x36"x48" tall tank. Not sure which dimensions just yet. Each offers some really nice aquascaping possibilities. Either tank will be lit by 400 watt halides and be super skimmed. Tunze 6100s on a controller and wavy seas for random flow patterns. It will be a heavily planted softy/anemone tank for sure. My question is this: In a tank this size, would it be possible to have several anemones and a few different species of clowns safely cohabitating? Here's what I'm picturing: A few haddoni on the sand bed, several of my captive rose and green BTA's along with a few H. crispa's in the rockscape, and my purple doreensis where ever it decides to plant itself . I would like to see several pairs of ocellaris (orange and black), a pair of pink skunks, pair of orange skunks, and maybe a pair of fire or tomato clowns. If each pair of clowns has its own host, sufficiently far enough away from the others, are the odds good that they will feel comfortable and secure enough to spawn? Am I pushing it with this many nems and clowns, even considering a tank of 500 to 600 gallons? I must say I am hooked on nems and clowns, but I just can't do the small isolated specific tanks, it has to be big and mixed with lots of variety. __________________ Its not who you are, but what you do that defines you.

11/10/2006, 10:18 AM	#3
BonsaiNut Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 4,629	I have kept 3 species of clowns in 3 separate anemones in a 135 long before. It seemed to work well with the different anemones - the clowns used the anemones to setup clearly defined boundaries. Note that this tank was setup next to a large south-facing window and you could walk all the way around it. Therefore the aquascaping was a ridge of rock right down the middle of the tank with open swimming area front and back. I think increasing the swimming area with lots of visual blocks (i.e. plenty of canyons on bonnies) helps versus just having a rock wall. __________________ "You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!" - The Hobbit; J. R. R. Tolkien

11/10/2006, 01:21 PM	#4
illcssd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,295	the only thing i would be wary of is the tomato/fire clowns, they are pretty aggressive and may prove to be a problem. Other than that with the right aquascaping and all having they're own hosts, you should be okay. __________________ --Austin 60g Ecotech anemone cube;

11/10/2006, 11:33 PM	#8
illcssd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,295	BonzaiNut: Maybe I'm wrong then, i can admit that, you have ALOT more experience than me and your word>mine. Is it not true that fire clowns and maroons are generally more aggressive than the other ones? __________________ --Austin 60g Ecotech anemone cube;

11/11/2006, 06:20 PM	#9
Dan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 558	I have kept mixed clowns and anemones for years. The trick is to landscape in such a way that the fish can establish territories. It helps if they were with their anemone in another tank, then move all at once. Dan __________________ "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is." - Yogi Berra Current Tank Info: 90 and 45 gallons

11/10/2006, 10:15 AM	#2
1jared1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 65	If your going to do it, introduce all the clowns into the tank at the same time. I use to have a spawning pair of Ocellaris and a spawning pair of Gold-Striped Maroons in a 55 gallon tank, so I know it's possible for them to co-exist. Good luck!

11/10/2006, 01:50 PM	#5
mwood Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Winterset, IA 50273 Posts: 2,299	If you can place the nems at different locations in the tank so the clowns stay to their area , by their nem, they will generally leave each other alone. My tomato's are near the middle and don't bother my GSM that stays near his sebae. They scuffled at first until they all established.

11/10/2006, 02:12 PM	#6
TheUltimateNoob Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vienna, VA Posts: 1,657	would this tank be viewable from all sides? i only ask because if the tank is 6' by 6', you may not see much of many of the tanks inhabitants if the anemones and clowns are towards the back of the tank.

11/11/2006, 10:55 PM	#11
55semireef Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 5,322	I have 3 anemones in my 55 and not one problem.

11/12/2006, 11:45 PM	#12
sonofgaladriel Shiny! Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,670	Thanks for all the tips guys. I'm going to give it a try when things are in place. I'm still planning the new tank so it will be awhile but glad to know the idea is doable. I'm leaning more towards the 72"x36"x48"tall. I will have to put it against a wall, so this would make a better display tank. However, my dream has been the 72"x72"x36" with 3 or 4 sided viewing, however I just can't find the right place to put this tank. __________________ Its not who you are, but what you do that defines you.