Adding Barnacles to a New Tank
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CheckeredPants
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I had researched barnacles too when setting up my new tank. Ended up not having room for any, but wish I did. There are folks that sell them as household decorations and others that sell them as tank decorations. The household ones typically use some form of glue to hold them in clusters and the glue is not tank safe, like from hot glue guns. As long as you by them from a saltwater shop you should be ok, but make sure to ask if they are man-made clusters or natural and if they’re glued together ask what they used to glue them.
OP
OP
Thanks. The pieces I bought are relatively small and I looked closely and don’t see any spots that look like they were glued.
When you did your research did you find any info on curing them or sterilizing them before adding them to the tank?
When you did your research did you find any info on curing them or sterilizing them before adding them to the tank?
CheckeredPants
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I did not. I made a list of places that sold them that I was gonna call to see who had the biggest cluster available. My plan was to just rinse/soak and shake them in RO for a day or two. I thought about adding a little bleach, but thought that might strip the color off the barnacles.
All this talk of barnacles has me wanting to make room for some in my tank. Wish I didn’t scrap the list I had. Where did you end up getting yours from?
All this talk of barnacles has me wanting to make room for some in my tank. Wish I didn’t scrap the list I had. Where did you end up getting yours from?
LadyMac
Freshwater sage fish whisperer
When I was given mine I just boiled them. It’s a practice I would do for wood or rocks from people for my fresh tanks, and figured that boiling the barnacles would kill any nasties. I’ve had no issues from them since.
OP
OP
I got mine at a store in Tarpon Springs that sells them to hold tillandsia. But someone said they have them on eBay.
I did soak the others I had in bleach and it did was the color out.
OP
OP
That makes sense. I didn’t even think about that. I soaked them in saltwater overnight, but maybe I will give them a little boil this morning.
CheckeredPants
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The ones I was finding on eBay were decorative and had glue that I didn’t trust. I was gonna go with the ones Reef Cleaners has, but didn’t get around to it. Thinking I will now though.
Do you plan to add any specific fish that’d use them? I want a couple Barnacle Blennies, but fear they’ll get bullied by the established fish I already have.
OP
OP
Ok have been looking up posts on different forums and it seems there a few blennies and gobies that uses them. If they are likely to get bullied maybe I ought to add them first?
CheckeredPants
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That’s the best route to take. They’re shy little guys until they get comfortable with who’s in the tank with them so adding them first lets them establish there home without fear.
I would never boil anything that has been in the ocean. Doing so could aerosolize any organics on it (including toxins) which could be dangerous. I would also worry about it damaging barnacles as they are fairly fragile.
Barnacle blennies spend almost their entire lives perched in their barnacle or hole in the rock looking out at the world. They dart out to grab food and back in a flash! I call them the fastest fish in the ocean for 1 foot. They have amazing personalities and are a delight to keep. I have two panamic barnacle blennies in my nano and 2 eyebrow barnacle blennies in my 72x24 DT. Here's a short video of my panamics at feeding time. Hard to see the barnacles well from this angle due to the zoas over running them.
Barnacle blennies spend almost their entire lives perched in their barnacle or hole in the rock looking out at the world. They dart out to grab food and back in a flash! I call them the fastest fish in the ocean for 1 foot. They have amazing personalities and are a delight to keep. I have two panamic barnacle blennies in my nano and 2 eyebrow barnacle blennies in my 72x24 DT. Here's a short video of my panamics at feeding time. Hard to see the barnacles well from this angle due to the zoas over running them.
CheckeredPants
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That’s it!! I’m sold!! I can see the barnacles in the reflection. So cool!!
OP
OP
I love those. They are so fast!
OP
OP
Me too!
I’m having a new/used Red Sea 260 set up tomorrow and would like to add some barnacles. How do I make sure they are safe to be added to the tank?
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I had a cleaner wrasse that used them, all my other fish are too big. My jawfish does like hiding under them and my lion perches on them. I bought them from my lfs and just rinsed them before adding them, I find that soaking them in water with just a little bleach once a month keeps them looking clean without washing out the color.
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I had a cleaner wrasse that used them, all my other fish are too big. My jawfish does like hiding under them and my lion perches on them. I bought them from my lfs and just rinsed them before adding them, I find that soaking them in water with just a little bleach once a month keeps them looking clean without washing out the color.
My daughter @VKP01 made a tank for her barnacle blennies. I tagged her so maybe she will post a picture 
We picked up a bunch of barnacles after the hurricane moved through a few weeks ago. Still deciding on what to do with them.
We picked up a bunch of barnacles after the hurricane moved through a few weeks ago. Still deciding on what to do with them.
Streetdoc77
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I bought my barnacles off amazon they were the real deal . I just rinsed them off really well and soaked them in RO water for a couple of days .
CheckeredPants
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Do you mind sharing the link for the ones you purchased? TIA!!
LadyMac
Freshwater sage fish whisperer
Streetdoc77
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NW Wholesaler Natural Large Purple Barnacles - Pack of 3 Barnacles - 4-7 Inches Each - for Ocean or Beach Décor, Aquariums, Terrariums, Air Plants and Arts & Crafts Projects
