Clownfish?

[spec33]

Would it be possible to keep a very small clownfish in a 7 gallon tank. It would be the only fish.

 

[morpheas]

I have personally seen them kept in 5 and 3 gallon tanks! Doesn't mean it's ideal but I don't personally see a problem...

 

[spec33]

a percula clown would be the best bet right? Would it eventualy outgrow the tank? Also would a cleaner shrimp work in the tank with the clown?

 

[morpheas]

I would personally go for an ocellaris (maybe a super duper designer midnight clown ) but yes I would't thing he would be a problem. I have mine for over a year now and they definitely haven't grown by a lot.

I don't see a problem with the cleaner shrimp either but like I said I don't have a huge experience with pico tanks. Maybe someone from the [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] will be able to help clarify further. Also, there is a pico forum here which you might be able to find some answers as well.

 

[BoneXriffic]

A clown pair is what I would go with. And the cleaner is fine as well. Plan on an anemone? And how stocked isthe tank going to be coral wise?

Just make sure the water is plenty aerated and you dont over feed too badly

 

[spec33]

Would a pair be too much of a bioload. I want to keep the bioload low hopefully so I was just planning on the clown, a shrimp, hermits, maybe a snail, and possibly an emerald crab or pompom havent decided yet. The light I have isnt really strong enough for anything but softies. Its going to have zoas, mushrooms, hopefully a lot of anthelia(could it possibly host this?) and maybe a leather or something. I plan to only have carbon and maybe biomatrix in a hob. How many gph should I be aiming for?I have a powerhead thats rated 185 gph and an aquaclear 20. Would that be enough flow?

Also the tank is only going to have about 4 pounds of liverock thats why I figured I should use biomatrix.

 

[spec33]

what type of clown stays the smallest?

 

[BoneXriffic]

Personally I think a clown pair is fine. Either perc or occelaris.

 

[reeferfoxx]

occelaris clowns stay smallest compared to perculas. Since it will be by itself, it will become a female. Females are more dominant and will grow to full size.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I would go occelaris personally. Get a baby and it will take a long time to outgrow the tank. Long enough for you to upgrade as all reefer eventually do.

One would be fine. It will turn female over time, so note that when you get another. The hermits and snails and shrimp should be fine too. Sounds like a fun little tank. Good luck!

 

[spec33]

okay thank you everyone! will the clown host a coral or do they only host nems?

 

[DeniseAndy]

They will host anything really. I have seen them try to host in powerheads, corners, hair algae, coral. You will not be ready for a nem for a long time. When you get the lights, you can try a leather coral like kenyan tree or lps like a duncan. Clowns love both of those and they are fairly hardy corals.

 

[reeferfoxx]

okay thank you everyone! will the clown host a coral or do they only host nems?

Sometimes they can host just about anything. Nems are best but too small for that tank unless you got JUST the nem. I had a clown host a Pagoda coral once. That was kinda funny. Seen them host GSP and powerheads too.

 

[BoneXriffic]

They will host anything really. I have seen them try to host in powerheads, corners, hair algae, coral. You will not be ready for a nem for a long time. When you get the lights, you can try a leather coral like kenyan tree or lps like a duncan. Clowns love both of those and they are fairly hardy corals.

Lets not forget that these corals are much less tolerant to a hosting clown than nems. Clowns have been known to smother corals to death.

Bioload wise a 7 will handle a pair. And i reccomend it for the happiness of the fish. A bonded oce pair would be perfect

 

[spec33]

Should I just buy 2 from the lfs and hope they pair? sorry I'm as to how the whole pairing thing works. Also should I cut down on the cuc then because I feel like 2 clowns will be a large bioload.

 

[spec33]

Could they possibly host anthelia without killing it?

 

[BoneXriffic]

In my previous 10g i had 2 clowns and 2 damsels... skimmerless. A condi, 2 pepperment shrimps and about 15 crabs and 10ish snails...worked great for a year before the upgrade

 

[spec33]

In my previous 10g i had 2 clowns and 2 damsels... skimmerless. A condi, 2 pepperment shrimps and about 15 crabs and 10ish snails...worked great for a year before the upgrade

How often did you change the water in it?

 

[BoneXriffic]

I did 1gal per week

 

[DeniseAndy]

Nice. With maintenance you can keep many things alive and a heavier bioload. Get two baby clowns and they will eventually pair up. If under 1inch and in with other clowns, they will not have matured and you can get two. The larger and more aggressive will become female. I would keep it simple with your first tank being a 7g. I would get the hermits, crab, snails, and shrimp with a pair of babies.