Saltwater fish in the office

[awiekupo]

Hi to all,

I am a newbie in saltwater but really luv to have a small fish swimming in my cubicle.. :-D

Well, I bought a small aquarium about 18cmX18cm and planning to put 2 clownfish and a small anemones inside.

I've test all the ph, salty, darkness level and etc but just need some xtra advice from all of u.

-How many clownfish is recommended for this size of aquarium?
-Is it a good step for beginner to bread clownfish and anemones?

Thx in advance!

[Doctor_Reef]

Your tank is 18cm X 18cm x what???? You have 2 gal???

If so, I wouldn't put any clowns in a tank that small.... It would hold a fresh water betta but I would not put a clown in it!!!

I personally wouldn't put clowns in anything less than 18 gal... And probably not that small!!! I know others have but 2 gal if that is what you have I don't know if I would put any salt-water fish in it!!! But that is just me.... Again I know that others have but you have to understand that a tank that small can change water conditions very rapidly! I would never put an anemone in that size tank. Now may be I am reading it wrong so set me straight on the gallons of water this tank holds!!! :)

[awiekupo]

ic.. thx for the advice.. but i think my office..well my boss i might add dun really agree if i'm going to bring a larger aquarium in d office.. would it be ok if i dun put any anemone and just put 2 (around 1.5 inch) in the aquarium?

[Ocean Singer]

for 2 clownfish I'd recogmend a atleast 8 gallon aquarium, atleast, and still they may be unhappy

[awiekupo]

er.. i'm really embarassed here.. plus i hate math too but 8 gallon approximately is how much? er.. can measure it in kg?

since i cant put anemones.. can i just put a small driftwood in d aquarium? i know its weird but would it effect the fish or water environment if i put a driftwood in there?

[funkybozu]

one gallon is aprox. 3.7 liters
if you have a cube 18x18x18 then i wouldnt go for fish. not SW anyway
as Doc-reef said bettas are perfect for that size cube.
if your really bend on salt water then maybe try a fishless nanotank.
you wont get much in there but sand a nice piece of LR
a mushroom and a shrimp.

[FishinInTheDark]

I used to keep two African dwarf frogs in a 2.5 gallon freshwater aquarium. They are cute to watch, and much, much easier to keep than any kind of saltwater setup. They are also able to be left unfed for a few days (or do you have someone to feed and topoff your water on weekends?). Water changes are easier. You can even grow some live plants for them to play in, and you'll have a nice little display.

Just something else to consider. I wish you the best!

[Doctor_Reef]

If you give me the length – width – and the height of the tank in cm, I can figure the liters or gallons the tank holds for you!!! But I need all three dimensions!! :)

[awiekupo]

Hi.. thx for all d feedback. Really appreciate it!

Well here is the info of my aquarium;

Ext. Dimensions LxWxH (cm): 19x20.5x27.8
capacity (L/US Ga.): 5.5L/1.5 US Ga.
Lighting: 8 x LED

Err.. does that Ga mean gallon? Well.. at least i learn sumthin new 2 day..
Really wish I can have a saltwater fish in my office but at the same time dun wan them to suffer.. what can i do?

[Sugar Magnolia]

1.5 gallons is really too small for a fish. You might want to consider keeping 3 or 4 sexy shrimp in there. They are neat little shrimp that like to hang out in groups. Bright, colorful and constantly waggling their back ends.

[Doctor_Reef]

I agree with Sugar Magnolia..... 1.5 is too small for fish but the sexy shrimp idea is a great alternative!!!

[badnemo]

And with the drift wood part ... I wouldn't add it in a salt tank at all ... best to buy small live rock for the tank ... then you will get little fun bugs in the tank :w00t:

[MikeS]

agreed...a tank that small is pretty limiting...also, don't attempt an anemone in there, they need lots of light and very good water quality, both of which will be extremely difficult to provide in a tank that small...maybe you could go with some LR rubble and a reef hermit or two...

Mike

[blennyluv]

couldn't you put a little clown goby in there???

[nanoman123]

How about a.... Mantis shrimp :)

Very interesting, but you will need to do your research.....


~Matt~

[Doctor_Reef]

In a tank that size you would need to do a daily water change if you put a fish in it.... I saw a clown goby in one that small and it looked like it was ok....This was in a LFS as a nano display tank. The sales associate said they changed 60 to 70 percent of the water every day out of their main tanks....and that is why everything looked so good!!!

[awiekupo]

Clown goby is great idea.. hm.. maybe can pair with live rock.. :)

I'm also interested with LR rubble and a reef hermit.. but how frequent do we need to change the water?

Hehe.. i'm getting excited now.. Thx guys!

[MikeS]

Probably fairly regularly, because with that small volume of water, chemical changes and nutrient build-up will occur quickly. As important will be fresh water top-offs...with that small volume of water, negelcting a top-off for more than a few days can cause a salinity rise that may be harmful or even fatal to the livestock. Also be aware that temperature will be difficult to crontrol in a tank that small...select a location in the office where the temperature is most likely to stay somewhat stable, ie away from drafts, sunlight, heater vents, ect.

Mike

[FishinInTheDark]

You will need to change about 1/2 your water every day to keep that goby alive. I still strongly advise against putting a fish in there.

Wonder why?

I tried a GCG in a 2.5 gallon tank. It is the only fish I have ever sacrificed in this hobby. I knew I was pushing it, but tried anyway, and because of me he is dead. I was wrong to try.

I just thought I would give one last ditch effort at warning you that 1.5 gallons is too small to humanely (and possibly successfully) house fish. This is not a flame of any sort, and any help you would like along the way will be here for you. But, one of the reasons we're here is to share experiences (good and bad) in order to help others.

I wish you the best of luck!

[funkybozu]

could he get away with a cleaner shrimp, maybe a scarlet?
those are eally beautifull paired to LR

[awiekupo]

thanx FishinInTheDark for the advice.. yup.. dunwan any fish to die just coz of me..

scarlet is cute lil creature to be kept too.. thx for the suggestion funkybozu! i heard it can keep our aquarium clean & shine :).. is this true? what do u guys think? should i change to a shrimp? hm.. i think i need some good website on how to raise a scarlet too..

basically i want to raise some saltwater creature but at the same time I wish i can avoid the hassle of changing water too frequent.. hm.. let me do some googling around..

[bigfoot]

Malaysia huh? you should shoot for a 7-10 mini bowfront tank not super big but better with that you could keep 2 SMALL fish a couple damsels or something that doesnt get longer than 3-4 cm

[awiekupo]

Finally i get 2 little clownfish from Pet Family Store and a coral stone.. (try to get some scarlet but the shop only have Majestic Shrimp).. I've tried to put them in the tank for about 15 mins b4 releasing in the tank.. As soon as it entered the tank, I can see how hard the fish try to breathe.. :(

Fortunately, I've managed to change the water in time and after an hour, I can see the 2 nemos already calm and playing nearby the stone.. hehehe.. lets hope this will last for a long long time.. tq guys!

ps/ Err.. whenever I switch off the light, one of the nemo will tend to swim to surface.. is this normal? But if i turn the light back again, it will play again at the bottom part of the tank.. Weird huh?

[funkybozu]

eh... stupide question but did you cycle the tank?

[awiekupo]

er.. u can say that's like my 1st cycle.. b4 this the tank is without fish.. just water and some bacteria.. :)

[Dolfan0925]

So where exactly are you with this tank? Do you have rock in it? How old is the tank? I wouldn't put a mantis in there either, they get too big for that tank IMO. How did you start your cycle?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Awiekupo, I'm really surprised that you went ahead and put not just one clown in there, but two, after the recommendation that no fish should be housed in such a small tank. Even if they are small, they are going to put out way too much bioload for such a tiny tank. I'd return them to the LFS before they end up dead.

[Doctor_Reef]

Did you put 2 clowns in the little gal tank or did you get a different tank??? I am confused here... That little tank you had won't support 2 clowns at all!!!!

[bigfoot]

they will die........

[JyMan]

Some people have to find out things the hard way instead of following good sugestions.One clown goby was pushing it to the extreme,but 2 clowns och!!! :( :( :(

[Doctor_Reef]

I hope he got a bigger tank!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[cich1]

I can see the 2 nemos

I don't think they're clown gobies

[Brock Fluharty]

what water qualitis are you talking about? Darkness, I figured that "salty" meant salinity, but Darkness??? What is darkness? Maybe i'm just stupid and everybody tests their tanks for darkness, but I sure dont. I have a 75 gallong tank, and even it seems a little cramped for my fish, even though I know it probably isn't. I agree nanoman, mantis shrimp are very interesting, and beautiful. Don't know if this helps...


Brock

[gman0526]

Is there any possible way you could get a picture of the tank posted? I have a hard time picturing 2 clownfish housed in a 1.5 gal tank w/o bumping into each other all the time.

Let us try and guide you so you can succesfuly keep this tank running. I know it's exciting setting up a tank for the first time but in this hobby you have to take it slowly and progressively. Some of us here have tanks as small as half a gallon, so it can be done, just pace yourself.

[awiekupo]

er.. 2 clownfish...i put 2 clown fish coz afraid if 1 nemo then it would be bored to death.. :(

I'll try to take the pic of tank soon.. but in the meantime should i remove one of the fish? but i dunno where to put it coz non of my fren like to have a saltwater fish as their pet.. and ocean is like far far away from my hometown..

[awiekupo]

ok, here is the pic.. http://www.coralforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=180

i try to take it as fast and as good as i can.. the other one nemo always like to hide behind the rock.. or should i remove the rock too? just to give more space for them?

hope i didnt cause those 2 fish too much trouble.. :?

[Sugar Magnolia]

You need to take both of the fish out and return them to the store where you got them from. Just explain to the manager that the fish are too big for your tank and you don't want them to die. A 1.5 gallon tank is just too small for ANY fish. Please, do the humane thing and return them. I'm not trying to be harsh, just trying to get you to understand the limitations you have with such a small tank.

Here's your picture -

[awiekupo]

ok. i'll try to send it back this weekend.. so what should i do with the tank? can i put a shrimp? i mean.. rather than keeping it empty.. i dun think can also return the tank at the shopkeeper... :(

[gman0526]

A shrimp would be fine, 2 litlle hermits too would be fine.

[awiekupo]

thx again for everything guys.. :)
i'll look for a shrimp when i bring back the nemo to the shop..

ps/ dun worry bout any harsh word or comments. I'm always open for advice, suggestion, critic and comment.. beside its all about learning & sharing knowledge right..

[Sugar Magnolia]

Excellent attitude to have! ;)

Before you buy the shrimp, get yourself some test kits - ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and see where your levels are. Unless your LR was fully cured you may have elevated levels and shrimp are much less tolerant of poor water conditions than the fish are. If you can't buy the test kits right now, bring a water sample to the LFS so they can check your levels for you. Once your levels reach zero, you can add the shrimp.

Keep in mind that in such a small volume of water, things can go wrong quickly. You'll have to do daily water top-off's with fresh (not salt) water, and do weekly 10% water changes to keep the water quality high. You'll need to get yourself a hydrometer, or better still, a refractometer to keep an eye on your salinity.

[TranZ]

refractometer to keep an eye on your salinity
Where can you get that and how much do they go for? and what name brand are reliable?

[FishinInTheDark]

I got mine on eBay. Shoot for around $40.

[Sugar Magnolia]

www.drsfostersmith.com and www.premiumaquatics.com both sell a reasonably priced reliable refracto.

[TranZ]

thanks Sugar