Breeding tomato clowns

Discussion in 'Breeding Tropical Fish' started by Rpratt, Dec 24, 2011.

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  1. Rpratt

    Rpratt Astrea Snail

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    Ok so about 6 months ago I bought a breeding pair of tomato clowns from my LFS and a bubble tip for the wife. Then about 2weeks after that I bought a mated pair of black and white clowns. I have them in a 75gal tank with hermit crabs snails and a cromis (was starter fish for first saltwater aquarium, has been around for 3years now). My black and white clowns will not host to their bubble tip on the right of the tank. The tomato clowns have hosted to the other bubble tip on the left of the tank. The tomatoes have laid 2 times in the past month neither time did I try to keep any of the eggs. Now the wife wants to keep and raise the fry.

    I have built a grow out system. The system is 4 (10 gallon) tanks, a 20g tall wet dry filter with a protein skimmer, and a 20g Long almost the whole thing is a refugium. All 4 tanks on top have a ball valve to control the inlet of water from the sump. There will be 1 (75w) heater and a bubble bar in each tank. There will be a thermometer on each tank.

    I'm not sure what plants would help the best or what else to add to the refugium. I know the fry produce a lot of ammonia but other then that I'm not sure.

    I would post pics but I can't upload them from my iPad. If anyone has an e-mail I can send them to and is willing to upload them to this thread for me it would really help.
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    We have a number of members that have successfully raised the fry.

    This is where I would start with this first thread. Pickle has been doing for some time.

    http://www.3reef.com/forums/breeding-tropical-fish/pickles-clowns-110540.html

    Next I would look at this thread.

    http://www.3reef.com/forums/breedin...-raising-journal-update-10-9-11-a-103318.html

    I maybe wrong but I believe you will not be needing a skimmer nor would you want one, nor a wet/dry.

    I will be happy to upload your images and sent a pm with my email.

    Good luck on your clown fish adventures.
     
  4. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Ok well scratch that, I am unable to leave any type of message to your profile, nor can I send a pm.
     
  5. Rpratt

    Rpratt Astrea Snail

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    Well my e-mail is [email protected]

    If you send me an e-mail I can send you pics the pics
     
  6. sticksmith23

    sticksmith23 Giant Squid

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    You should really take a look at Pickles thread on breeding. He is mainly on NR though along with some other really successful breeders. That is where I go for all my breeding questions lol. Also, you want to separate those clown pairs, or only one pair will lay eggs. At least that is my understanding. I'm guessing your B&W's haven't laid yet?

    You want the first tank that you will the fry to to be completely blacked out. Just paint the whole outside of the tank with black spray paint. The next tank should be a stand alone system as well. The other tanks I would plumb into a sump with a skimmer. You want a skimmer in order to keep your water quality up. You will be over feeding and the bigger the sump the better of course. The more total water volume you get the better for you water quality. I would not connect all the tanks together.
     
  7. sticksmith23

    sticksmith23 Giant Squid

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  9. sticksmith23

    sticksmith23 Giant Squid

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    Here are your pics for you:

    Pic #3: Valves on each tank allow control of water flow for each tank.

    Pic #4: 20 gal long will be refugium. Plexiglas on each end to slow water flow and keep pump separate

    Pic #5: Wet/dry filter. Lines drawn will be plexiglas. The "X" will be bio balls.
     

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  10. sticksmith23

    sticksmith23 Giant Squid

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    And the last one:

    The drain pump will return back to the drain to relieve pressure on pump when the top 4 tanks have no flow during the beginning stages
     

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  11. Rpratt

    Rpratt Astrea Snail

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    Thanks smith.

    I'm planning on:
    1) painting all 4 top tanks black
    2) adding sponges to the drains
    3) add heater to each tank (top and bottom)
    4) add bubble bar to each top tank
    5) single cool white led (read that having full lighting is too bright for the fry)
    6) 15 natural white LEDs on dimmer (separate circuit from single led so I can turn them on separate when fry get bigger)


    This will allow me to turn off a tank on top, drain all the water out of that tank. Then add 4-6 gallons of water from my main tank. Then move the fry eggs to the tank the day of the hatch. Then I can slowly open the valve to add water for water changes/filtration. This will allow me to keep the water at best quality without harm to the fry and ability to run the same system for grow out.
     
  12. Rpratt

    Rpratt Astrea Snail

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    I read Pickles thread a lot of good info. Would recommend that thread to anyone.