Nest leftover eater for newly cycled Fluval Evo 13.5 ?

[Idech]

Hello !

(sorry I can’t edit the title. I meant « best »).

My Fluval Evo 13.5 gallons finished cycling a few days ago and I got two little oscellaris clowns as first inhabitants.

In 1-2 weeks, I’d like to add something to take care of leftovers, as the little clowns aren’t the best at picking up every little pieces of food. Something that is good for beginners and that won’t suffer if parameters aren’t always perfect. I take good care of my tanks but I’m new to saltwater.

If it can add color to the tank it would be a plus.

Thank you !

 

[Spare time]

Conchs, hermits (blue legs are nice as they are small), and nassarius

 

[mdb_talon]

Assuming you have sand I would vote nassarius for sure. Very hardy in my experience and have a remarkeable ability to get all food that makes it to bottom. They never bother corals if you add in the future(i wont do hermits anymore as they liked to tear open my acans mouths to steal their food)

 

[Idech]

Assuming you have sand I would vote nassarius for sure.

I have CaribSea aragonite sand (special grade). I’ll look into nassarius, thanks. I’d like to get corals eventually.

Are they able to reproduce alone and fast ?

 

[Spare time]

I have CaribSea aragonite sand (special grade). I’ll look into nassarius, thanks. I’d like to get corals eventually.

Are they able to reproduce alone and fast ?

No there are not many snails and such that can reproduce successfully in our tanks.

 

[Idech]

No there are not many snails and such that can reproduce successfully in our tanks.

Unlike in freshwater tanks then, thank you !

 

[davidcalgary29]

My trochus snails are breeding successfully in my 4 month old Evo: I get about one new baby a month. And that's with an orchid dottyback, firefish, a Halloween crab, a peppermit shrimp, bristleworms, two nassarius snails, and a diamond goby to eat the eggs.

+1 on the nassarius snails. The Halloween hermit also does a great job of eating detritus (not just algae) and other pests. I'd also recommend a peppermint shrimp.

 

[Sarcazian]

Are you feeding your clowns pellets? I have 3 small (1-1.25 I suspect) in my evo 13.5 and I need push the pellets down in hopes of the hermits or shrimps getting some food. I feed at least once a day sometimes 2-3x and maybe 15-30 small pellets.

I could see flakes maybe being an issue.

 

[Spare time]

Are you feeding your clowns pellets? I have 3 small (1-1.25 I suspect) in my evo 13.5 and I need push the pellets down in hopes of the hermits or shrimps getting some food. I feed at least once a day sometimes 2-3x and maybe 15-30 small pellets.

I could see flakes maybe being an issue.

The way I get flakes to work is the place the flakes under water so they "swim" around rather than float. This works really well for me.

 

[Sarcazian]

The way I get flakes to work is the place the flakes under water so they "swim" around rather than float. This works really well for me.

IDK, flakes seem like too much of a mess to me. As long as I turn off the overflow first the pellets float until everything has gobbled them up.

 

[Spare time]

IDK, flakes seem like too much of a mess to me. As long as I turn off the overflow first the pellets float until everything has gobbled them up.

I've had good luck with PE flakes holding consistency but I completely understand what you mean.

 

[Idech]

Are you feeding your clowns pellets?

No, I’m feeding flakes. When I feed I turn on the power head and the flakes just fly around. The clowns have to chase them and they seem to like it and it’s good exercise !

The way I get flakes to work is the place the flakes under water so they "swim" around rather than float. This works really well for me.

Yes, same here.

 

[Sarcazian]

No, I’m feeding flakes. When I feed I turn on the power head and the flakes just fly around. The clowns have to chase them and they seem to like it and it’s good exercise !

Yes, same here.

I guess I got lucky with 3 active clowns since they are always swimming like crazy. Plus, I have a ~500GPH powerhead that comes on from 8am-9pm for 5 minutes each hour. That keeps everything in the tank on their toes.

 

[terraincognita]

Are you feeding your clowns pellets? I have 3 small (1-1.25 I suspect) in my evo 13.5 and I need push the pellets down in hopes of the hermits or shrimps getting some food. I feed at least once a day sometimes 2-3x and maybe 15-30 small pellets.

I could see flakes maybe being an issue.

Uh-Oh.

Those clowns may be friendly for now, but you're gonna have to rehome one of them.

They will eventually pair off and kill the third.

Sorry, but 100% Guaranteed.

 

[terraincognita]

No there are not many snails and such that can reproduce successfully in our tanks.

I had snails reproduce last month.

They absolutely can in salt water, if you get enough of the same species you're bound to get some reproduction in a healthy system.

They had about 8 babies that only successfully made it to live though, they definitely don't overpopulate like Freshwater.

Here’s a baby about the size of a dime.

was about diameter of a cigarette 2 weeks ago.

Maybe a suspected parent he’s about the size of a half dollar.

tanks been up for 8 months and I haven’t bought snails in 8 months.

so def birthed inside

sorry lights are off lol

 

[Sarcazian]

Uh-Oh.

Those clowns may be friendly for now, but you're gonna have to rehome one of them.

They will eventually pair off and kill the third.

Sorry, but 100% Guaranteed.

I know that you are right, but the tank is in the office where I spend at least 11 hours a day. So, if/when things get bad the other will end up rehomed. I always have a QT up and running.

Two of the clowns are Ocellaris and the largest (by quite a bit at maybe 0.25-0.50") is a Darwin. That was intentional in hopes of having one of each. The two Ocellaris appear a bit younger, but all were very small and the youngest is showing signs (minor tail damage) of being bullied by the female (guess).

Also, I have seen the middle one act submissive to the small one. That doesn't really make sense, but it will go after the small one and then swim in the normal submissive pattern.

 

[terraincognita]

I know that you are right, but the tank is in the office where I spend at least 11 hours a day. So, if/when things get bad the other will end up rehomed. I always have a QT up and running.

Two of the clowns are Ocellaris and the largest (by quite a bit at maybe 0.25-0.50") is a Darwin. That was intentional in hopes of having one of each. The two Ocellaris appear a bit younger, but all were very small and the youngest is showing signs (minor tail damage) of being bullied by the female (guess).

Also, I have seen the middle one act submissive to the small one. That doesn't really make sense, but it will go after the small one and then swim in the normal submissive pattern.

Darwin Clownfish is an Ocellaris clown just black .

They'll probably only co-exist for another 6 months or so. You'll probably have only a day of warning before they bully it to death where you'll notice fin damage.

Sometimes though they can just make it starve by not letting it eat .

 

[Sarcazian]

Darwin Clownfish is an Ocellaris clown just black .

They'll probably only co-exist for another 6 months or so. You'll probably have only a day of warning before they bully it to death where you'll notice fin damage.

Sometimes though they can just make it starve by not letting it eat .

Wow, that is sad to hear and I was hoping that it would eventually get to the point with more and more damage so that I could pick up on progression.

In terms of starving that's unlikely because I hand feed pellets 1-3x a day and they are the only fish. Again, something to be mindful of though if one is no longer coming to the top to accept food. Thank you!

 

[Sarcazian]

back on topic, I know that a peppermint shrimp was recommended, but don't discount a cleaner shrimp. They can be a bit aggressive with taking food from corals, but they are an awesome addition to the evo.

I have a peppermint and cleaner shrimp and of the two the cleaner has a lot more personality. This has always been the same in other tanks I had as well. I don't remember how efficient they are at eating flakes, but my cleaner will steal 3-5 pellets from water surface if it gets the opportunity. If I sink the pellets it will dive after them as well.