Trying something new...non coral experience :P

[Mr Cob]

I have been captivated by coral for the last 5+ years in this hobby. Time for something new.

Clownfish rearing.

That scares me honestly and it's full of all kinds of words that just don't interest me at all. Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis and many other terms that just make me run the other way.

But, my wife is excited about the Black clowns and I have to admit that I am as well, a little reluctant about jumping into the whole process though.

So, here is my plan...

• I may not be ready for this first clutch but will be for the next
• Up my feeding for the parents to 2-3 times per day and increase variety of foods to ensure healthy eggs
• Skipping the whole Phytoplankton culture step in order to cut down on this learning curve. In place of the live phytoplankton I have ordered: RotiGrow® Nanno
• For rotifers I just ordered a live culture of L-type rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) from Reed Mariculture:Live Rotifers
• culture rotis in 2 x 5g black buckets with lids and of course airline tubing and pumps - SG 1.007 - 1.014, Temp 68-88f, PH around 8
• picked up a jewelry lope to measure concentration of rotis /ml
• picked up a 53um Sieve for scooping rotis
• will harvest 25% rotis daily regardless of use to keep a steady cycle going
• clownfish larvae will be added to 2 gallon black buckets that I picked up that will each have a heater and airline tubing with pump. I will split the first clutch. Doing this to increase my chances since I don't know what the heck I'm doing.
• feed larvae 4 x per 24 hours - roti concentration at about 15 rotis /ml
• 10% water changes for larvae, daily, after the first 48hours
• after metamorphisis the clowns will be transfered to 5 gallon buckets with heater/airstone/false anem or maybe some acrylic tanks....have yet to get this far.
• after 12 days start doing 25% water changes every 2 days

Growout tank will be in the 30g IM Nuvo tank I'm setting up with RBTA's.

A pic of my parent pair:




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1 year UPDATE 10/2013:

Current pairs we are working with..


1) Onyx (wild caught) x Premium Onyx Picasso SPAWNING = Onyx Picassos
2) Phantom black snowflake (Sea and Reef) x Buckshot black snowflake (Proaquatix) (have not spawned) = Black Snowflakes
3) Onyx (wild caught) x Premium Snowflake with serious buckshot (FEA) SPAWNING = Snow Onyx hybrids
4) White Stripe Maroon x Goldflake maroon SPAWNING = Goldflake maroons
5) Snow Onyx x Premium Picasso (known spawner female) = hybrids (i think these will make black knights)
6) Black Ice x Black Ice (spawners not in cycle) = Black Ice
7)Gold Stripe Maroon x Goldflake Maroon (known spawners) = Goldflakes maroons