2 Questions

[SierraReef]

I have 2 questions.

First, I have an established 75G tank. I have the following fish; False Percula, Royal Gramma, 2 Banggai Cardinal Fish and a Lawnmower Blennie. I'd like to get a second False Percula - if I do, will the established Percula allow for the second one's introduction or will the second one be harassed to death?

My second question is in regard to refugiums. My nitrates remain high and I think a refugium would greatly benefit the tank. I'm running a System II Sea Clear 75G. I've never plumbed any tank equipment so I'm way out of my element. My goal is to plumb the refugium from my display tank in the living room, thought the wall behind it and into a bedroom that's being dedicated as an aquarium room. All suggestions wo0uld be greatly approciated - especially if anybody knows of any specific step by step plans.

Thanks.

 

[Max]

First, I have an established 75G tank. I have the following fish; False Percula, Royal Gramma, 2 Banggai Cardinal Fish and a Lawnmower Blennie. I'd like to get a second False Percula - if I do, will the established Percula allow for the second one's introduction or will the second one be harassed to death?

I'll try to answer the first part of your question for you but, will have to defer on 2nd. It will depend on if you get 2 females or not . With clowns the boys can turn into girls but, they can't change back. The larger clowns tend to be female and the smaller males. Even then there is a chance " greatly reduced" that the female will still harrass the male to death. This can be aleviated even more if the new fish has pleanty of hiding spots and if you'll rearrange your decor prior to adding the new male. I'd also feed a bit extra during the first week or so to reduce your girls aggression. After about a week or so they should sort things out and maybe form a pair. As to you nitrates do you have a dsb or some other substrate? Lots of time detritus will build up in gravel or c.c. and that or not useing ro water may be the cause of your problem. The fuge still will help out though more water volume and a spot to throw either unwanted critters from your main tank or grow ones that can't make it in your main.
hth
Chris

 

[SierraReef]

Thanks for the reply. I do have a DSB but I think I have enough sand-lovers to keep it stirred - although none of them go very deep in the sand.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the System II SeaClear, but I've thought of trying to do a refugium in the back of it - I'm just not sure how to work out the alternate light schedule without disturbing the main body of the tank.

Aren't all False Percula's born male? If I get a young, smaller sized fish I'd assume it was male and would think the one I have would exert it's authority rapidly.

 

[mogurnda]

Clowns are born undifferentiated. If you get a juvenile, it will develop into a male when your fish makes it clear who's boss

If you want to avoid plumbing hassles, you might try a HOB fuge, like the CPR AquaFuge. You can have a csandbed, macroalgae and critters in there without a problem. Small volume, compared to using a real tank, but very simple.

 

[SierraReef]

An HOB would be nice but I don't have enough room between the tank and wall, and don't want to try and move the tank.

I don't mind plumbing - I need to learn about it anyway.

I'm surprised nobody has written a book regarding aquarium plumbing. As indicated, my spare bedroom will be turned into an aquarium room, and I hope to have a larger tank (someday) where the current tank is, with everything plumbed into the bedroom to make it easier to work on, and not so unsightly in the living room.

Anyway, again thanks for the information. Everything helps.