Breed Clownfish | Saltwater Fish

[andrew71583]

Hey all i am venturing into breeding clown fish. i had fish breed in my fresh water tank and i thought it was the coolest thing ever. i realize saltwater is much harder but i am up for it. i actaully tore apart my 29 gallon reef sold all my corals and everything. i do have a question already though.
i went to my lfs and bought 3 clowns about 4 weeks ago, there still in my tank. 7 days ago my dads saltwater tank sprung a leak, i had no choice but to put his 3 clowns in my tank. so for the last 7 days ive had 6 clowns in my 29 gallon. i am fully aware 1 that thats to many clowns and 2 there gonna fight. however for 7 days i have no seen any fighting no nipping no chasing no bullying there all getting along. is it possible that they can all co-exist? and if so is it possible that there will be breeding in this tank. i am more then willing to rehome 4 of the clowns if i have to. just look for some advice.

[davek0819]

Thats a tough one. I read somewhere that someone had a reef tank with alot of clowns in it, but I've seen first hand where they start to fight. If there all getting along you might of lucked out, but I'd have a backup plan, (small tank available) in case they do.

Are the all the same type? If so they might decide how they're going to pair up.

Sorry can't be more help, but I'd keep an eye on them, and well fed.

[andrew71583]

im down to 3 clowns, the biggest one is almost twice as big as the medium one, and the small one is slightly small then the medium one, they all hang out in one area. i have a small flower pot in there and the fish hang in there. do i need power heads in this rank. i have 2 and i feel its to much or there not needed. let me know

[davek0819]

I think rule of thumb for a reef is about 10 times the size of tank, for a 29 gallon about 290 gph (?). What size are the power heads? I would think you would be better off with two heads, both back corners aimed across the tank to the opposite corner. Do you have any other filtration? Did you empty the tank to set up a breeding tank only? Without a protein skimmer and/or mechanical filtration for carbon you might have to rely on water changes to keep up on water quality.

Joyce Wilkerson's book does a nice job of walking you through all steps, tanks, etc... you might want to add it to you christmas list. Good luck...

[davek0819]

another thought about your tank. I remembered reading, I think in Robert Fenner's book, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, that he recommends a tank with more surface area instead of depth. If I remember correctly the 29 is on the deeper side so you might want provide something that addes circulation at the bottom of the tank, I added a penguin 100 to my 20 gallon grow out tank. The inlet almost reaches the bottom of this tank and it has an intermediate inlet about half way up.