new salt set up

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roberthellen

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Jul 4, 2004
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hello all

I have been reading every thing that i can get my hands on about sw setups now i will be geting a 125 UK Gal tank and i want to keep the following things as a must have list

2x maroon clown fish
1x annome
2-3 clams
soft corals
one wrasse for the clams
but the rest is open for discusion

I know that i will need good lighting and that will be done by diy and there will be a lot of light :idea2: also need good flow there will be a lot of that to. what else will i need and can any one give me any advice on the clams as there is not that much info about them that i can find all imput is welcom

Thanks Robert

P.S sorry about the spelling
 
OK. 125 UK gal = 150 US gal, IIRC.

So you'll want in the neighborhood of 1200 watts of total light for this tank. You could use 4 250 watt MH lamps and 4 54 watt actinincs, or you could use 3 400 watt MH lamps and whatever actinic you want. You'll want at least half the light at 10,000 K, but can mix in some 20,000 K and actinic, IMO. The clams and anenomes need more light than almost anything else in a reef.

For circulation, you'll need at least 1250 UK gph or 1500 US gph, preferably in some fashion where you don't have a simple water loop, as varying current is good for many reef critters.

Maroons are often very hard to pair off. If you don't buy a pre-matched pair, try to get one that is at least 7.5 cm long and keep it for a few months, then introduce a 2.5 cm fish. Keep the small fish in a protective container (like a plastic breeder box) until the large female stops attacking the box. Then try introducing the smaller fish by letting it out of the box. Stand by to save the small fish if it looks like the female is going to kill it. If you need to, you can put the fish back in the box, wait a day, and try again up to three times before you should assume that they won't pair up and get a different small clownfish.

Here is a forum dedicated to clams that might help:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=41

You may not be able to keep many timid fish with the maroons, but if you want to keep anything not very aggressive, make sure it goes in before the clowns and the wrasse. Only more aggressive fish should be added after them.

You also may want to wait until the tank has been up a year before adding the anenome. The water in newer tanks isn't as stable and they are very sensitive animals. You do not need an anenome for clowns, but if you plan to get one, be very informed about the species before you get it.

Of course, the usual cycle without fish, think about your substrate, and try for 70-135 kg of live rock in the tank rules still apply.
 
thats abotu right on the light front but what else do you all think that i sould add to the tank critters wise and the sand bed will be about 5-7 deep and lots of rock i am working around my wish list and i have got loads of time to prep as i will not be geting the tank for 3-6 months just want to make sure that it is done right first time thanks for the link i will get my home work done

Rob
 
I am not sure I completely agree with Ben about color temperature. The best PAR (photosynthetically available radiation) and growth seems to be with Iwasaki 6700 K lamps, but some don't like the look of them. 10000 K lamps are also very good for growth, and the white is a bit crisper. 20000 K lamps give less growth, but a lot of people like the blue appearance. Intensity is really the key though, with color temperature being secondary.

In general, a halide lamp for every 2 feet of tank length is the recommendation. It also depends on where your cross braces are.

As far as clam info, Daniel Knop's book is a good start. Sprung and Delbeek's Aquarium Corals, volume 1 also has a lot of info.

I have found the forum at Clams Direct to be the most responsive and friendly of the various clam forums.
 
Thnaks Dave

keep the info comeing as much as posable pleas the more i know the better what sort of stocking would a tank that size be like for sw not to concerned on numbers just like to know who many

Thanks Rob
 
With a tank your size, a few smaller tangs (like yellow or kole) or a large one (like a sailfin) would add some color and activity, plus help with algae.
 
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