Any advice / pointers would be appreciated, new and willing to learn!

Safi131183 · 03/07/2014, 01:05 PM

Hi All

I bought a 90 litre tank as a starter to see if I can do it.

It's been 8 weeks so far and last week we added two clown fish (not sure what they're called).
They seem to be settling in and one is already displaying more dominance toward the other and the smaller one seems to be submitting.
I want to add a midas blenny but I've read some bad stories online of people having angry clown fish that attack these.... Is this common, if so is there a better type of fish to introduce?
I get that I'm limited due to size of tank so am I better of leaving the clown fish on their own and getting shrimp and snails?
Any advice would be great :-)

Nace · 03/07/2014, 01:51 PM

We would need to know what type of clown fish you have. Some are much more aggressive than others, and also some get much larger then others.

I have had ocellaris clowns with a midas blenny and had no issue.
A maroon clown hates everything and would be a potential problem.

Safi131183 · 03/07/2014, 02:25 PM

Thanks for the reply, I've found out their name. They are Mocha Clown fish. They seem pretty young as one is about an inch long and the other is only slightly bigger but then I'm not sure!

Fizz71 · 03/07/2014, 02:41 PM

Clownfish are a damselfish..some of which are VERY territorial and very nasty. Mocha's are just specially bread ocellaris--the ocellaris species of clownfish are relatively friendly. They are territorial, but not as outwardly violent as other clownfish.

Like Nace said it's the maroon clownfish that tend to act more like their damselfish relatives and hate everybody.

Safi131183 · 03/07/2014, 02:52 PM

Awesome thanks, so I'll introduce one this weekend, is that enough time for the clowns to have settled (1 week)? Also on a side note, I noticed each of the two's first (or first I noticed) poop and it's white... It this bad? They are swimming around happily and seem to eat even if it isn't as much as I was expecting.... Maybe about 5 or so bites... Or is me sitting watching them while they eat stop them? I'd ask my local store but it's not that local and closes before I finish work :-(

Fizz71 · 03/07/2014, 03:29 PM

In your case waiting one week wouldn't be a matter of the clowns settling end, but rather your live rock catching up. I don't know how hard you pushed your rock during your cycle or how much you have, but 3 fish in 2 weeks might be pushing it. Keep an eye on your ammonia...it should NOT come back. If it does...you've moved too fast. Clownfish can handle some ammonia short term since they are damselfish but others aren't so hardy.

Safi131183 · 03/07/2014, 03:48 PM

Ah, I see. In that case I need a refill of water so will get it tested and wait another week before adding anything else. Is it best to order it like clown fish, then blenny then shrimp? And what do people think about the poop comment, would that be linked to things like ammonia etc? I might invest in an accurate tester unless the strips are adequate? Sorry to sound so nubey at this but there is only one good contact at the fish store and they are never there when I can make it!

Jopalmighty · 03/07/2014, 03:49 PM

Just for my chime in I've got 2 black ice (ocellaris) species and a Midas blenny currently in my 75g tank and they do great together. Never shown any aggression.

Safi131183 · 03/07/2014, 03:50 PM

Also there is 11 kilos of rocks that went in two weeks after the water and sand went in and then both water and rocks and sand cycled for another 5 weeks and now the 8th week is the first week with life being the two clowns....

Safi131183 · 03/07/2014, 04:13 PM

Thanks jopal, I'm just concerned that mine is only 20g?

julie180 · 03/08/2014, 05:16 AM

Unless the poop is stringy, I would not worry. Invest in some test kits of your own. Strips are not the best.

03/07/2014, 01:05 PM	#1
Safi131183 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 10	Any advice / pointers would be appreciated, new and willing to learn! Hi All I bought a 90 litre tank as a starter to see if I can do it. It's been 8 weeks so far and last week we added two clown fish (not sure what they're called). They seem to be settling in and one is already displaying more dominance toward the other and the smaller one seems to be submitting. I want to add a midas blenny but I've read some bad stories online of people having angry clown fish that attack these.... Is this common, if so is there a better type of fish to introduce? I get that I'm limited due to size of tank so am I better of leaving the clown fish on their own and getting shrimp and snails? Any advice would be great :-)

03/07/2014, 02:41 PM	#4
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	Clownfish are a damselfish..some of which are VERY territorial and very nasty. Mocha's are just specially bread ocellaris--the ocellaris species of clownfish are relatively friendly. They are territorial, but not as outwardly violent as other clownfish. Like Nace said it's the maroon clownfish that tend to act more like their damselfish relatives and hate everybody. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

03/07/2014, 03:29 PM	#6
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	In your case waiting one week wouldn't be a matter of the clowns settling end, but rather your live rock catching up. I don't know how hard you pushed your rock during your cycle or how much you have, but 3 fish in 2 weeks might be pushing it. Keep an eye on your ammonia...it should NOT come back. If it does...you've moved too fast. Clownfish can handle some ammonia short term since they are damselfish but others aren't so hardy. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

03/07/2014, 01:51 PM	#2
Nace Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 72	We would need to know what type of clown fish you have. Some are much more aggressive than others, and also some get much larger then others. I have had ocellaris clowns with a midas blenny and had no issue. A maroon clown hates everything and would be a potential problem.

03/07/2014, 02:25 PM	#3
Safi131183 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 10	Thanks for the reply, I've found out their name. They are Mocha Clown fish. They seem pretty young as one is about an inch long and the other is only slightly bigger but then I'm not sure!

03/07/2014, 02:52 PM	#5
Safi131183 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 10	Awesome thanks, so I'll introduce one this weekend, is that enough time for the clowns to have settled (1 week)? Also on a side note, I noticed each of the two's first (or first I noticed) poop and it's white... It this bad? They are swimming around happily and seem to eat even if it isn't as much as I was expecting.... Maybe about 5 or so bites... Or is me sitting watching them while they eat stop them? I'd ask my local store but it's not that local and closes before I finish work :-(

03/07/2014, 03:48 PM	#7
Safi131183 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 10	Ah, I see. In that case I need a refill of water so will get it tested and wait another week before adding anything else. Is it best to order it like clown fish, then blenny then shrimp? And what do people think about the poop comment, would that be linked to things like ammonia etc? I might invest in an accurate tester unless the strips are adequate? Sorry to sound so nubey at this but there is only one good contact at the fish store and they are never there when I can make it!

03/07/2014, 03:49 PM	#8
Jopalmighty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 95	Just for my chime in I've got 2 black ice (ocellaris) species and a Midas blenny currently in my 75g tank and they do great together. Never shown any aggression.

03/07/2014, 03:50 PM	#9
Safi131183 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 10	Also there is 11 kilos of rocks that went in two weeks after the water and sand went in and then both water and rocks and sand cycled for another 5 weeks and now the 8th week is the first week with life being the two clowns....

03/07/2014, 04:13 PM	#10
Safi131183 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 10	Thanks jopal, I'm just concerned that mine is only 20g?

03/08/2014, 05:16 AM	#11
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Unless the poop is stringy, I would not worry. Invest in some test kits of your own. Strips are not the best.