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Guy W
09-17-2003, 3:31 PM
Well the system has been all setup now for 2 weeks. I seeded the filter with bio-media from my tanks, and I added a pair of maroon clowns a week ago.

Before I go any farther, yes I did not cycle this system. I've setup 3 systems in the last year and a half now and I've never cycled any of them. I've always seeded them from other tanks live rock or filters. I know I live on the edge but I've never had much problems. Ofcourse all of these systems have had very low bio-loads and been over 125 gallons.

So, I was nervous about trying to pair up Maroon Clowns. I've heard to many stories of people having them kill one another. But my experience has been flawless so far.

I bought the largest wild maroon I could find. I assume this is a female and she is well over 3 inches, probably 3.5 inches. And I bought the smallest tank raised maroon I could find, around 1 to 1.25 inches.

I seperated them for a couple days. The seemed very interested in one another. So I let them be together and they haven't started to fight at all.

Yesterday they started dragging sand into their flower pot and they are doing the "clownfish shuffle" very close to one another. The smaller one (the male I pressume) is darkening up a good deal on his fins, which I've read is common for pre-spawning.

With any luck we will see some eggs in the next month out of these two.

We also have 2 pairs of False Perculas coming in the next week or two. My LFS is going to order them for me, depending on availability.

And we are also toying around with the idea of aquaculturing live rock. Being as we are in Florida we have access to a Limestone Quarry (sp?) and we can take the rock by the truckload for next to nothing. I'm pretty sure this is the same rock that places like Tampa Bay Saltwater uses for their live rock but I'm not 100% sure. We have some tests to do on the rock, such as checking to make sure it doesn't leach phosphats but if it turns out to be good that's another project we will try.

Guy

kreblak
09-17-2003, 3:51 PM
Sound like things are progressing smoothly for you. Good work so far, and good luck!

Guy W
09-17-2003, 7:22 PM
Just an update on the Live Rock. We put a couple pounds of the Limestone in a bucket of saltwater with some circulation 4 days ago. I tested the parameters for Phosphates today and it came out totally clean. 0 phosphates!!! Maybe 4 days isn't a long enough test but so far I'm happy. The rock itself, while totally white, looks real nice. I'm hoping to put about 100 pounds in my fish tank soon since thats how much I need to fill out the rest.

And since this stuff is basicly free I'm pretty happy about that! If anyone is looking for some stark white base rock I can probably hook you up for the cost of shipping plus a few bucks for out driving 50 miles to collect it.

Guy

Guy W
09-17-2003, 7:24 PM
Originally posted by kreblak
Sound like things are progressing smoothly for you. Good work so far, and good luck!

Thanks Kreblak, things are coming along but I'll feel more comfortable with everything once we have all 5 pairs in the tanks and they are all happy. I'm guessing in a couple of months we will be totally setup and in "production" mode.

Guy

mogurnda
09-18-2003, 8:13 AM
All sounds great! I have nothing to add but wanted to let you know that you should keep posting your progress.