Lights and anemones

Hi all;

I purchased a halide/PC fixture for my tank. 2x175 HQI Halides @20,000K and
2x96 Watt Actinic Power Compacts. I was thinking of replacing the Actinics
with 50/50 bulbs. Power Compacts are on one circuit, Halides on another, so
I can set timers differently for these lights. I have an 80 gallon bow front
tank. It has a footprint like a "regular" 55 gallon, so its about 1.5 times
the height of a "regular" 55 gallon.

So, what I was wondering was, would this be enough light to support one of
the more light demanding anemones, or should I stick with a bubble tip? I'm
not sure of how ocellaris like a bubble tip. I've heard mixed results. I'd
rather have a few ocellaris than 1 or 2 clarkii clowns, but could live with
either choice.

Also, how would one set the timers? 12 hrs for the PC's and 8 for the
halides? (Assuming a switch to 50/50's). Or just leave the full actinics and
blast the fish with full light all at once and turn them off all at once?
That seems a little harsh.

Thanks, Mike

Yes that's enough light. That gives you 6.775 wats per
gallon. I would have the pcs turn on 30 minutes before mh,
and turn off 30 minutes after mh. Have both the mh and the
pc run at the same time for about 12 hours.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



August West wrote on 7/6/2006 12:01 AM:
Hi all;

I purchased a halide/PC fixture for my tank. 2x175 HQI Halides @20,000K and
2x96 Watt Actinic Power Compacts. I was thinking of replacing the Actinics
with 50/50 bulbs. Power Compacts are on one circuit, Halides on another, so
I can set timers differently for these lights. I have an 80 gallon bow front
tank. It has a footprint like a "regular" 55 gallon, so its about 1.5 times
the height of a "regular" 55 gallon.

So, what I was wondering was, would this be enough light to support one of
the more light demanding anemones, or should I stick with a bubble tip? I'm
not sure of how ocellaris like a bubble tip. I've heard mixed results. I'd
rather have a few ocellaris than 1 or 2 clarkii clowns, but could live with
either choice.

Also, how would one set the timers? 12 hrs for the PC's and 8 for the
halides? (Assuming a switch to 50/50's). Or just leave the full actinics and
blast the fish with full light all at once and turn them off all at once?
That seems a little harsh.

Thanks, Mike

"August West" wrote on Thu, 06 Jul 2006:
I'm not sure of how ocellaris like a bubble tip. I've heard mixed
results.

Mixed results is the correct answer. Ocellaris/quadricolor matches aren't
observed in nature, but sometimes happen in captivity. But hard to count on
it if you want to be sure.

I'd rather have a few ocellaris than 1 or 2 clarkii clowns, but
could live with either choice.

E. quadricolor (aka bubble-tip) anemones probably have the widest variety of
natural hosting clowns of any anemone. So you've got a lot of choices if you
get a bubble tip. Unfortunately, the most common clown (ocellaris) and the
most common anemone (bubble-tip) are _not_ natural partners.

Still, you might get lucky. (On the other hand, I had four ocellaris and
three rose [bubble-tip] anemones for a year in a tank, and the clowns never
showed the slightest interest in the anemones. I eventually swapped out the
ocellaris clowns for a maroon clown, who dove into the anemone within about
five minutes of getting in the tank.)

-- Don
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Don Geddis http://reef.geddis.org/
A man doesn't automatically get my respect. He has to get down in the dirt and
beg for it. -- Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey

Thanks, Wayne.

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Yes that's enough light. That gives you 6.775 wats per gallon. I would
have the pcs turn on 30 minutes before mh, and turn off 30 minutes after
mh. Have both the mh and the pc run at the same time for about 12 hours.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



August West wrote on 7/6/2006 12:01 AM:
Hi all;

I purchased a halide/PC fixture for my tank. 2x175 HQI Halides @20,000K
and 2x96 Watt Actinic Power Compacts. I was thinking of replacing the
Actinics with 50/50 bulbs. Power Compacts are on one circuit, Halides on
another, so I can set timers differently for these lights. I have an 80
gallon bow front tank. It has a footprint like a "regular" 55 gallon, so
its about 1.5 times the height of a "regular" 55 gallon.

So, what I was wondering was, would this be enough light to support one
of the more light demanding anemones, or should I stick with a bubble
tip? I'm not sure of how ocellaris like a bubble tip. I've heard mixed
results. I'd rather have a few ocellaris than 1 or 2 clarkii clowns, but
could live with either choice.

Also, how would one set the timers? 12 hrs for the PC's and 8 for the
halides? (Assuming a switch to 50/50's). Or just leave the full actinics
and blast the fish with full light all at once and turn them off all at
once? That seems a little harsh.

Thanks, Mike

Thanks, Don.

I'm a bit leery of the maroon clowns since what I read says they are among
the most territorial of the clowns. They sure are beautiful, though. I am
trying to keep the tank as peaceful as possible (no purple tang, sigh). I
have seen tanks full of aggressive (freshwater) fish before, and known
people that successfully kept agressive (freshwater) fish, but every time I
tried it, they always killed each other and I lost some fish and others just
got bullied until I could get the store to take them back. It was tragic.
Fresh water cichlids, both African and Central American. I read up
extensively on both before setting the tanks up, too.

If anyone has maroon clowns with other very peaceful fish, please let me
know. If any one has maroon "bullies" please let me know that aswell.

Thanks again.

"Don Geddis" wrote in message
...
"August West" wrote on Thu, 06 Jul
2006:
I'm not sure of how ocellaris like a bubble tip. I've heard mixed
results.

Mixed results is the correct answer. Ocellaris/quadricolor matches aren't
observed in nature, but sometimes happen in captivity. But hard to count
on
it if you want to be sure.

I'd rather have a few ocellaris than 1 or 2 clarkii clowns, but
could live with either choice.

E. quadricolor (aka bubble-tip) anemones probably have the widest variety
of
natural hosting clowns of any anemone. So you've got a lot of choices if
you
get a bubble tip. Unfortunately, the most common clown (ocellaris) and
the
most common anemone (bubble-tip) are _not_ natural partners.

Still, you might get lucky. (On the other hand, I had four ocellaris and
three rose [bubble-tip] anemones for a year in a tank, and the clowns
never
showed the slightest interest in the anemones. I eventually swapped out
the
ocellaris clowns for a maroon clown, who dove into the anemone within
about
five minutes of getting in the tank.)

-- Don
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Don Geddis
http://reef.geddis.org/
A man doesn't automatically get my respect. He has to get down in the
dirt and
beg for it. -- Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey

"August West" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Don.

I'm a bit leery of the maroon clowns since what I read says they are
among the most territorial of the clowns. They sure are beautiful,
though. I am trying to keep the tank as peaceful as possible (no purple
tang, sigh). I have seen tanks full of aggressive (freshwater) fish
before, and known people that successfully kept agressive (freshwater)
fish, but every time I tried it, they always killed each other and I lost
some fish and others just got bullied until I could get the store to take
them back. It was tragic. Fresh water cichlids, both African and Central
American. I read up extensively on both before setting the tanks up, too.

If anyone has maroon clowns with other very peaceful fish, please let me
know. If any one has maroon "bullies" please let me know that aswell.

Thanks again.

I've had two maroon clown fish for many years (one is 15 years old, at
least) with other fish Yellow tangs, among them), and haven't had very many
problems with them. They appear to be a healthy, adaptable species. They
can be agressive, but I've found that if you add fish to your tank, the
best way to prevent aggressive behavior is to rearrange the rocks in the
tank when you introduce new fish. That way territories have to be
re-established, and will give the new fish a chance to more amiably compete
for space.

George

I also have a maroon clown. I just got a BTA for him, that has made him
a little bit more aggressive(he likes to protect his home and about 3"
around it, mainly just chases them out of the "zone"). But no problems
to speak of. I do have some peaceful species with him, and he's not
caused an issue. Prior to the anemone he did a lot of hiding, no
territoriality at all. I was a little scared about it too, but no
problems at all.

George wrote:
"August West" wrote in message
...

Thanks, Don.

I'm a bit leery of the maroon clowns since what I read says they are
among the most territorial of the clowns. They sure are beautiful,
though. I am trying to keep the tank as peaceful as possible (no purple
tang, sigh). I have seen tanks full of aggressive (freshwater) fish
before, and known people that successfully kept agressive (freshwater)
fish, but every time I tried it, they always killed each other and I lost
some fish and others just got bullied until I could get the store to take
them back. It was tragic. Fresh water cichlids, both African and Central
American. I read up extensively on both before setting the tanks up, too.

If anyone has maroon clowns with other very peaceful fish, please let me
know. If any one has maroon "bullies" please let me know that aswell.

Thanks again.


I've had two maroon clown fish for many years (one is 15 years old, at
least) with other fish Yellow tangs, among them), and haven't had very many
problems with them. They appear to be a healthy, adaptable species. They
can be agressive, but I've found that if you add fish to your tank, the
best way to prevent aggressive behavior is to rearrange the rocks in the
tank when you introduce new fish. That way territories have to be
re-established, and will give the new fish a chance to more amiably compete
for space.

George

"August West" wrote on Thu, 06 Jul 2006:
I'm a bit leery of the maroon clowns since what I read says they are among
the most territorial of the clowns.

True. Quite a contrast from the peaceful ocellaris, who are so friendly
to the owner and don't bother anyone else in the tank. Maroons are bullies.

They sure are beautiful, though. I am trying to keep the tank as peaceful
as possible (no purple tang, sigh).
If anyone has maroon clowns with other very peaceful fish, please let me
know. If any one has maroon "bullies" please let me know that aswell.

I had a maroon clown _and_ a purple tang in a 55g for a year or two, along
with other peaceful reef fish. No question about it, those two dominated the
tank. That said, everybody "got along" in their place in the hierarchy.
The maroon mostly defended its anemone (and a small space around). The purple
tang wanted to own the whole tank, but was also skittish so it spent most of
its time hiding behind/inside rocks. Unless it was feeding time.

So: both were "aggressive", but not so much as to threaten the lives of the
other peaceful reef fish.

I eventually decided that I preferred a school of friendly ocellaris clowns to
a single maroon, so I traded it back in and now have a small collection of
ocellaris. I don't have the clown/anemone pairing any more, but just the
clowns by themselves are a lot of fun.

-- Don
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Don Geddis http://reef.geddis.org/
I wish my name was Todd, because then I could say, "Yes, my name's Todd. Todd
Blankenship." Oh, also I wish my last name was Blankenship.
-- Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey

"Pat" wrote in message
...
I also have a maroon clown. I just got a BTA for him, that has made him a
little bit more aggressive(he likes to protect his home and about 3"
around it, mainly just chases them out of the "zone"). But no problems to
speak of. I do have some peaceful species with him, and he's not caused
an issue. Prior to the anemone he did a lot of hiding, no territoriality
at all. I was a little scared about it too, but no problems at all.

George wrote:
"August West" wrote in message
...

Thanks, Don.

I'm a bit leery of the maroon clowns since what I read says they are
among the most territorial of the clowns. They sure are beautiful,
though. I am trying to keep the tank as peaceful as possible (no purple
tang, sigh). I have seen tanks full of aggressive (freshwater) fish
before, and known people that successfully kept agressive (freshwater)
fish, but every time I tried it, they always killed each other and I
lost some fish and others just got bullied until I could get the store
to take them back. It was tragic. Fresh water cichlids, both African and
Central American. I read up extensively on both before setting the tanks
up, too.

If anyone has maroon clowns with other very peaceful fish, please let me
know. If any one has maroon "bullies" please let me know that aswell.

Thanks again.


I've had two maroon clown fish for many years (one is 15 years old, at
least) with other fish Yellow tangs, among them), and haven't had very
many problems with them. They appear to be a healthy, adaptable
species. They can be agressive, but I've found that if you add fish to
your tank, the best way to prevent aggressive behavior is to rearrange
the rocks in the tank when you introduce new fish. That way territories
have to be re-established, and will give the new fish a chance to more
amiably compete for space.

George

I have a breeding pair (the female being much larger than the male), and
even so, they don't cause any problems. My anemone died a few years ago,
and so they took up residence in a "cave" I built in the reef. They
practically only come out during feeding time, and the male is quite timid
(but protective of the lair), and always has been. They both get along
with everything in the tank, that is, unless something tries to take over
their cave. But like I said earlier, even this aggressive behavior can be
broken if you re-arrange the tank when introducing new fish.

George