Wife picked out a maroon clown

[sdsheeks]

It is so cute. She wanted it and that is rare so I had to get it. It will be the first "fish" into the tank. It has so far sat in the tank for 25 minutes to get the temp the same and now it is in a bucket getting dripped on. It should be done dripping around 9:48pm

Dave

[Dubbin1]

You may have just made a mistake. Maroon clowns are very agressive and you may have problems with anything else you put in the tank. This is why I have my pair of GSM clowns in there own tank.

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6827034#post6827034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
You may have just made a mistake. Maroon clowns are very agressive and you may have problems with anything else you put in the tank. This is why I have my pair of GSM clowns in there own tank.

I told her that, but i've also read about them. I've read they can be aggressive to other fish, but often times they are mostly aggressive to a fish of their own kind....

I'll see how it goes. If I have problems in the future I can take him back or sell him. He will be the only fish for at least a month while I monitor the tank.

Drip drip drip he is doing fine.

Dave

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6827034#post6827034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
You may have just made a mistake. Maroon clowns are very agressive and you may have problems with anything else you put in the tank. This is why I have my pair of GSM clowns in there own tank.

This site: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=105

Says water temp 72-78F mine is 81 right now and steady. Should I reduce it or will it be okay?

Dave

[Dubbin1]

81° isnt to bad but 78° would be better.

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6827170#post6827170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
81° isnt to bad but 78° would be better.

I'm lowering it now. I think I can bring it down to 78 in the hour he has left to drip. He is swimming around in the bucket now. Before he was kind of just sitting still wondering ***.

Dave

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6827213#post6827213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sdsheeks
I'm lowering it now. I think I can bring it down to 78 in the hour he has left to drip. He is swimming around in the bucket now. Before he was kind of just sitting still wondering ***.

Dave

I feel like a dork. I was reading the meter wrong. It is 78 and 79 at most.

Dave

[bigbenji]

wow, leaving yourself wide open for someone to agree with you about being a dork isn't wise.:D

[weimers75]

I agree with Dubbin...Maroons are notoriously aggressive. Mine would chase other fish, and he was the last one added. He (or she) would even attack my hand when I put it in there, and it left little welts where it bit. You could even see little teeth in his mouth. I'll stick to my current percs - much nicer:)

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6827272#post6827272 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigbenji
wow, leaving yourself wide open for someone to agree with you about being a dork isn't wise.:D

Doh!

Dave

[bigdaddyadam]

does everyone on here try to keep their temps as low as that? 78? I always keep mine about 80, stuff seems to do much better at that temp, and that is natural reef temp from what I have read, what benefit do you see at a lower temp? just slowing biological processes?

I always figured those 78-79 degree recommends by some places were similar to the 1.23 SG that most salt brands recommend, low for no apparent reason compared to reef natural. SG I keep at 1.26, or really 53 MS I guess because I use a salinity monitor and that's all it reads in. never saw an explanation for lower than natural for this and either and Randal Holmes- Farley recommends standard reef numbers on this.

anyone else? I am interested to know other's para's?

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6827422#post6827422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigdaddyadam
does everyone on here try to keep their temps as low as that? 78? I always keep mine about 80, stuff seems to do much better at that temp, and that is natural reef temp from what I have read, what benefit do you see at a lower temp? just slowing biological processes?

I always figured those 78-79 degree recommends by some places were similar to the 1.23 SG that most salt brands recommend, low for no apparent reason compared to reef natural. SG I keep at 1.26, or really 53 MS I guess because I use a salinity monitor and that's all it reads in. never saw an explanation for lower than natural for this and either and Randal Holmes- Farley recommends standard reef numbers on this.

anyone else? I am interested to know other's para's?

perhaps it is just easier to maintain life at 78 because the oxygen is more available? I don't know. I like the idea of 80 myself, but I'm doing this by the books. I don't want to lose this fish.

He is 30 minutes left in the drip tank and he is doing great.

I just need to find a container to move him in because the sites say not to use a net with this type of fish.

Dave

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6827422#post6827422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigdaddyadam
does everyone on here try to keep their temps as low as that? 78? I always keep mine about 80, stuff seems to do much better at that temp, and that is natural reef temp from what I have read

Actually the temp on a reef varies a whole lot more then you think.

[sdsheeks]

Maroon has been dripped for 2 hours and 15 minutes. I rechecked the aquarium for Ammonia, PH, Nitrates, Nitrites, and PO and all are great and steady from the last few days. I used a cup to put him in the tank because several sites say they have sensitive fins and to use a cup not a net. He is in the tank and looking around. I have the lights off and he seems to be doing well.

Dave

[Dubbin1]

The reason you do not want to use a net is because of the cheek spines. They can get stuck in the net and harm the fish.

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6828039#post6828039 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
The reason you do not want to use a net is because of the cheek spines. They can get stuck in the net and harm the fish.

Yup. No harm done to him he went right into a cup :)

Dave

[bigdaddyadam]

right I understand that temps vary on the reef, anywhere from 76-83 degrees as Holmes-Farley points out, I was just wondering what benefit you all were seeing by being at the lower end of the spectrum, whatever I am set at it stays rock solid, I never have more than a 0.1 degree fluctuation in temp on my tank between 80.1 and 80.2

[Dubbin1]

I have no idea what benefits I get out of it since I have always kept my tanks at that temp.

[jjmg]

I sort of fit in here--I grew up in Steubenville, Oh and now live in FL. I had a gold strip maroon that was lovely to everything else in the tank for nearly 2 years. Then she started digging into the sandbed and kept digging and kept digging!

She was a pretty fish but when I moved my tanks into a 110 last weekend I traded her in at the lfs. By the way my tanks normal temp was 81 and got much higher during a few power outages during the hurricanes.

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6828805#post6828805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjmg
I sort of fit in here--I grew up in Steubenville, Oh and now live in FL. I had a gold strip maroon that was lovely to everything else in the tank for nearly 2 years. Then she started digging into the sandbed and kept digging and kept digging!

She was a pretty fish but when I moved my tanks into a 110 last weekend I traded her in at the lfs. By the way my tanks normal temp was 81 and got much higher during a few power outages during the hurricanes.

They sure are beautiful. He is my first fish in the tank and seems to be doing fine. He has picked out a spot where the power head blows just a little. He seems to like that. I have not fed him yet but probably will try in the a.m. I want him to get comfortable first.

Dave

[bigbenji]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6828584#post6828584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
I have no idea what benefits I get out of it since I have always kept my tanks at that temp.

I think your success speaks for itself.

[zaireguy]

m.clowns are my favorite wife likes nemo so boring.

[OneThunder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6827213#post6827213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sdsheeks
I'm lowering it now. I think I can bring it down to 78 in the hour he has left to drip. He is swimming around in the bucket now. Before he was kind of just sitting still wondering ***.

Dave

Here we go again. The fish store guy just told me to "float" the plastic bag in the tank for about 15 minutes before I put new fish in. What is dripping? where can I read about it?

[zaireguy]

dripping is after you float the bag to allow the water in the bag to become the same temp as the tank.You but the fish or coral in a bucket take a piece of tubing stick it in the tank.

Suck out the air to get water flowing tie one end in a knot to only allow the water to drip and put it in the bucket to allow the main tank water to drip in the bucket with the livestock.

This allows it to become use to the ph and the salt levels of the tank it is going into slowly over a hr or two.Make changes very easy on the livestock alot less stress

you wont want to throw any fish or coral right in to a tank and not adjust it to the new levels

[zaireguy]

then just replace the water you lost due to the dripping in the main tank with new water.Never add any lfs water to your tank!

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6829867#post6829867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OneThunder
Here we go again. The fish store guy just told me to "float" the plastic bag in the tank for about 15 minutes before I put new fish in. What is dripping? where can I read about it?

Here you go:

It is really really easy! I'm not sure why more people don't do it. Perhaps they just don't know about it. All you need is a bucket and some airline tubing.

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/acclimation.php

[sdsheeks]

He is doing quite well. He really loves my powerheads. He likes how they blow him around.

Dave

[Dubbin1]

He is going to be a she so you better name it accordingly ;)

[OneThunder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6829944#post6829944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zaireguy
Never add any lfs water to your tank! I found that out by reading. I actually "netted" them in the bag. :D Spot I just picked up out of the bag. I guess I'm not totally clueless. Still reading about "refugim" and " overflow tanks" and trying to understand the principles behind them. :mixed:

[Spuds725]

I've had my Maroons the longest of all my fish-- 4 1/2 years--(male and female gold striped maroons)... they aren't agressive but I've read of some being-- they are slightly territorial... I've read of them being very protective of anemones....so maybe its hit and miss.

I do have some button polyps that my female feeds every day(spits food at) and she will protect the spit food from my tang who tries to get it but other then that she is fine..... I think she believes that is her anemone although she doesn't really burrow into the polyp bunch very much other then when "feeding"

[MBuck]

Actually, Onethunder,
I didn't drip acclimate my fish when I started, although I do now.
I used a chip clip to hang the bag from the side of the tank, open, and then added about 1/4 cup of water every 10-15 minutes, when it was full, I would dump some out, and start over....this method works also, but I think the drip method is the best.

When you upgrade for Spot, definitely go for a tank with built-in overflows! I have yet to read where someone bought a reefready tank, same thing as as built-in overflows, and then posted how they regretted it!

[Dubbin1]

The first thing I do is float the bag then open it up and compare the sg with what I keep my tank at. If its close then I just dump a little water in the bag every 15min or so then put the fish in. If its off by 2 or more points then I drip. Corals I have always just floated the bag then plop the corals in. I have had a real good success rate with that method.

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6830249#post6830249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
He is going to be a she so you better name it accordingly ;)

Yup, then I will try to get a male in there and hopefully (crossing fingers) he will bow to her and mate :)

Dave

[jwreffner]

OneThunder,
Don't net your maroons. The prong near their gills could get caught on the netting and tear the tissue. A better way is to get two cups of the same size. Drill a small hole in the bottom of one of them. Put them together with the "holed" cup inside the sealed cup. Catch the clown in the bag with the cups. Lift the holed cup up and let the LFS water drain out of the cup with the clown in it. Then place him in the tank. That will avoid damage to the prong from netting.

Jay

[OneThunder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6831690#post6831690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwreffner
OneThunder,
Don't net your maroons. The prong near their gills could get caught on the netting and tear the tissue. A better way is to get two cups of the same size. Drill a small hole in the bottom of one of them. Put them together with the "holed" cup inside the sealed cup. Catch the clown in the bag with the cups. Lift the holed cup up and let the LFS water drain out of the cup with the clown in it. Then place him in the tank. That will avoid damage to the prong from netting.

Jay

Wow that's an innovative idea. But I don't have any maroons. I just have one Nemo. Does that go for him too?:confused:

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6832976#post6832976 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OneThunder
Wow that's an innovative idea. But I don't have any maroons. I just have one Nemo. Does that go for him too?:confused:

I think he/she would be fine, but I just got in the habit of not using a net so I don't have to worry about it.

Dave

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6832976#post6832976 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OneThunder
I just have one Nemo. Does that go for him too?:confused:

Nemo :rolleyes: Anyway, no you do not have to woryy about it. Maroons are the only clowns with the cheek spikes.

[jwreffner]

Yup, but that goes for other fishes such as Cowfish (broken horns), LionFish (broken fans) etc... Any brittle fish that might get something snagged or broken.

Cheers,
Jay

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6833345#post6833345 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwreffner
Yup, but that goes for other fishes such as Cowfish (broken horns), LionFish (broken fans) etc... Any brittle fish that might get something snagged or broken.

Cheers,
Jay

You can also add tangs and some angels to that list.

BTW we have already been through the reasons why not to net ;) Try to keep up the next time :D

[Spuds725]

My Bi-color angel can be added--- learned the hard way...

[bigdaddyadam]

I have never drip acclimated and I have read numerous times that it takes at least 5 hours for animals to adjust to new pH so it won't help, only exception would be a VERY slow long drip like for a starfish or other extremely sensative animal.

still, I suppose it couldn't hurt, just might not really help either, as long as salinity and temp are closely matched you should be fine. and if the LFS is very far off the 1.26 mark, enough to make a diffence, then I won't be shopping there again anyway.

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6836035#post6836035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigdaddyadam
I have never drip acclimated and I have read numerous times that it takes at least 5 hours for animals to adjust to new pH so it won't help, only exception would be a VERY slow long drip like for a starfish or other extremely sensative animal.

still, I suppose it couldn't hurt, just might not really help either, as long as salinity and temp are closely matched you should be fine. and if the LFS is very far off the 1.26 mark, enough to make a diffence, then I won't be shopping there again anyway.

Most of the LFS i've been too keep their water at 1.021 I try to keep mine at 1.025 or 1.026

Dave

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6836100#post6836100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sdsheeks
Most of the LFS i've been too keep their water at 1.021 I try to keep mine at 1.025 or 1.026

Dave

I checked what Gary had his at and I was surprised that it was at 1.025.

[bigdaddyadam]

really, most I have been to are close to 1.26, I would be less likely to shop somewhere that keep salinty so low, 1.21? that is way too low

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6836193#post6836193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigdaddyadam
really, most I have been to are close to 1.26, I would be less likely to shop somewhere that keep salinty so low, 1.21? that is way too low

Adam that is just fine for a FO tank. I kept my fowlr tank at 1.021. Thats perfectly normal.

[Dubbin1]

Oh and I also noticed that most stores have there sg that low.

[bigdaddyadam]

hmmm, I can't see any benefit to that

I suppose it wouldn't hurt much for a FO tank, but a reef? oh well, who knows

[selgado]

Some stores practice on-going hypo salinity for their fish systems as a disease reducer/preventative.

[bigdaddyadam]

I see that as an excuse for poor sg levels, it's been shown that to achieve any hypo benefits you have to go all the way down round about 1.010, so 1.21 would have no real effect from the reading I have done.

[OneThunder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6836591#post6836591 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by selgado
Some stores practice on-going hypo salinity for their fish systems as a disease reducer/preventative. Wow, I was thinking the same thing as I was reading ....

[sdsheeks]

Update on the clown. He is doing very well. I fed him a little bit of shrimp today and he ate every bit of it. He seems to have made a relationship with my powerhead. He likes to swim against the flow and at night he sleeps behind it. Cute little guy or girl....

Dave