karimwassef
Active member
Looks great!! Think some more bright red on the left would be awesome.
40g Long Naturally sun-lit tank
- Thread starter cksss
- Start date
phobos2deimos
New member
Very nice! Your new green macro is Caulerpa Brachypus. It's a pest if you don't stay on top of it, but very cool if you keep it under control.
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Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Thanks guy!
The orange gracilaria didnt make it. i've only seen the blue tang nibbling on the C.prolifera, most of the rest have been left alone
Great idea! I think i've the space for more red now
Wow Thanks! so its a beautiful pest which requires low light. Got it
The orange gracilaria didnt make it. i've only seen the blue tang nibbling on the C.prolifera, most of the rest have been left alone
Great idea! I think i've the space for more red now
Wow Thanks! so its a beautiful pest which requires low light. Got it
agold11520
New member
Stop wasting time and money and get a small aptasia eating file fish. He (or she) will keep your tank aptasia free. Pepermint shrimp didn't do squat in my tanks!
Thanks for the advise
I've thought about that option, and i think its risky with mandarin fishes and seahorses in the tank
I've thought about that option, and i think its risky with mandarin fishes and seahorses in the tank
karimwassef
Active member
Why would you think that mandarins and seahorses would be in conflict with filefish? They're actually comparable in temperment IME.
Filefish in nature usually live in little pods. They like to hover as a group to simulate similar appendages to the coral or algae they're blending into. They're gentle hoverers (is that a word?)
Filefish in nature usually live in little pods. They like to hover as a group to simulate similar appendages to the coral or algae they're blending into. They're gentle hoverers (is that a word?)
Based on multiple compatibility chart i found
http://www.seahorseaquariums.com/719/Compatibility-Charts/
http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/tankmates/tankmates.shtml
http://fusedjaw.com/aquariumcare/seahorse-tankmates-whats-safe-whats-not/
The Regal tang in the tank in high on the threat list, I just cant stomach the idea of adding another high threat specie :eek2:
http://www.seahorseaquariums.com/719/Compatibility-Charts/
http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/tankmates/tankmates.shtml
http://fusedjaw.com/aquariumcare/seahorse-tankmates-whats-safe-whats-not/
The Regal tang in the tank in high on the threat list, I just cant stomach the idea of adding another high threat specie :eek2:
karimwassef
Active member
Interesting tables. Have you seen filefish in a tank?
It looks like there may be some validity to it, but more around the pipefish picking at the seahorses' frills without intending harm, and the risk of two equally fragile species in the same tank. Some say that it works, but they can compete for food...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1705540
http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/322243-filefish-with-seahorses-and-pipefish/
There is definitely some debate on the topic
http://seahorse.com/forum/aiptasia-eating-filefish-acreichthys-tomentosus
It looks like there may be some validity to it, but more around the pipefish picking at the seahorses' frills without intending harm, and the risk of two equally fragile species in the same tank. Some say that it works, but they can compete for food...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1705540
http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/322243-filefish-with-seahorses-and-pipefish/
There is definitely some debate on the topic
http://seahorse.com/forum/aiptasia-eating-filefish-acreichthys-tomentosus
Summer is here!
Finally managed to make some new photos of the display tank. I've lost most of the non-green macroalgae. They vanished suddenly. There are still some tiny strain of purple Ochtodes in the overflow. Hopefully it will return to its 'glorious day'. I've no idea what could have caused it, probably lack of certain nutrient which i'm unable to measure. The display tank is dominated by green macro now.
I am still constantly fighting a losing battle with the aiptasia and nutrient (lack-of). Almost doubled my nutrient dosing to keep the macro happy. The fishes and seahorses are still healthy though And it is about time to harvest those pesty brittle starfishes again.
Finally managed to make some new photos of the display tank. I've lost most of the non-green macroalgae. They vanished suddenly. There are still some tiny strain of purple Ochtodes in the overflow. Hopefully it will return to its 'glorious day'. I've no idea what could have caused it, probably lack of certain nutrient which i'm unable to measure. The display tank is dominated by green macro now.
I am still constantly fighting a losing battle with the aiptasia and nutrient (lack-of). Almost doubled my nutrient dosing to keep the macro happy. The fishes and seahorses are still healthy though
And it is about time to harvest those pesty brittle starfishes again.
Your tank is still beautiful, despite the losses! I just see it as an ebb and flow thing. My tang wiped out pretty much all plant life (except the grasses) in my tank. Now that he's gone, everything is bouncing back beautifully.
I am very curious as to what caused your red macros to perish. Would you mind posting what you've been dosing? I'm sure a lot of us plant heads are a little nervous, seeing a tank like yours have a "wipeout"! If we could figure out what happened we'd all sleep better!
It's funny, you inspired me to get some micro brittle stars!
I am very curious as to what caused your red macros to perish. Would you mind posting what you've been dosing? I'm sure a lot of us plant heads are a little nervous, seeing a tank like yours have a "wipeout"! If we could figure out what happened we'd all sleep better!
It's funny, you inspired me to get some micro brittle stars!
The FTS on Nov 2016, long overdue update
The aiptasia are gone! but its not exactly a good news, i've also lost many brittlestars and fanworm which might be the result of the aggressive anti-aiptasia campaign. Think i went overboard by adding both the copperband & filefish, and one or both of them found the starfishes and worms to be delicious too
I have also discovered that the Gyre wave-maker hasn't been performing as it should after a year of running. Had to replace the impeller and its all good now. And that could be the reason why the macroalgae hasnt been doing well. I have also been monitoring the water level more closely to ensure NO3 stays above 5ppm.
These are what I have dosing now.
With more regular dosage + higher water flow and now the Ochtodes are back! Hopefully i've have luck replanting them into the main display.
The C.Prolifera have also taken root in the sediment and almost everywhere else
I've been growing the macro in the sump attached to egg-crate, it makes them easier to be shifted to another part of the tank. Heres one egg-crate-O-Macro stuck on the sandbed.
The aiptasia are gone! but its not exactly a good news, i've also lost many brittlestars and fanworm which might be the result of the aggressive anti-aiptasia campaign. Think i went overboard by adding both the copperband & filefish, and one or both of them found the starfishes and worms to be delicious too
I have also discovered that the Gyre wave-maker hasn't been performing as it should after a year of running. Had to replace the impeller and its all good now. And that could be the reason why the macroalgae hasnt been doing well. I have also been monitoring the water level more closely to ensure NO3 stays above 5ppm.
These are what I have dosing now.
With more regular dosage + higher water flow and now the Ochtodes are back! Hopefully i've have luck replanting them into the main display.
The C.Prolifera have also taken root in the sediment and almost everywhere else
I've been growing the macro in the sump attached to egg-crate, it makes them easier to be shifted to another part of the tank. Heres one egg-crate-O-Macro stuck on the sandbed.
And the status of the sump/ATS/algae incubator where i keep 'back-up' of algae strains
The fastest growing macro today is the Ulva, they can multiply nearly by twice everyweek
And lastly, another photo of the beautiful copperband with 3 different kinds of green macro (C.Prolifera, C.Serrulata, C.Taxifolia)
The fastest growing macro today is the Ulva, they can multiply nearly by twice everyweek
And lastly, another photo of the beautiful copperband with 3 different kinds of green macro (C.Prolifera, C.Serrulata, C.Taxifolia)
Looking gorgeous, as usual, cksss! Looks like some of the reds are coming back nicely. Great pics too, especially that first one of the copperband!
Thanks for showing what you dose. Pretty close to what I dose. It's odd that your reds would go before the more nutrient-greedy caulerpas. And you were dosing all those, when the reds went? If so, my best guess would be carbon limitation or allelopathy. This is when plants put out chemicals harmful to other plants. With three different caulerpas competing with the reds for nutrients, it's a real possibility. And carbon limitation is the most common nutrient deficiency in planted aquariums.
I had the same issue with my aiptasia 'controllers'. They work well, but go after other stuff you don't want eaten. I'm now on a very slow removal program, using berghia nudibranchs. I didn't get near enough for my plague, but they are gradually making a dent.
Thanks for showing what you dose. Pretty close to what I dose. It's odd that your reds would go before the more nutrient-greedy caulerpas. And you were dosing all those, when the reds went? If so, my best guess would be carbon limitation or allelopathy. This is when plants put out chemicals harmful to other plants. With three different caulerpas competing with the reds for nutrients, it's a real possibility. And carbon limitation is the most common nutrient deficiency in planted aquariums.
I had the same issue with my aiptasia 'controllers'. They work well, but go after other stuff you don't want eaten. I'm now on a very slow removal program, using berghia nudibranchs. I didn't get near enough for my plague, but they are gradually making a dent.
Thank you Chasmodes! I've been wanting to give away the anti-aiptasia :uzi: unit, but my wife bonded with them already :headwally:
Hi Michael! Great to hear that u're prepared for the aiptasia apocalypse. I'd have gotten berghia nudibranchs too if they're available. I also understand that you have been doing CO2 injection, I wouldnt mind trying something with less hassle, like CO3 in liquid form, but what i read about the effect of dosing Seachem's Flourish Excel is pretty scary :hmm3:
Yeah, cksss, I've got a lot of them! While I patiently wait for the berghias to do their thing, I'm pretending my aiptasias are pretty…
CO2 isn't marketed very well. They make it look complicated. CO2 tank, regulator, airline tubing. That's it. I set the bubble rate with the regulator (simple!), and forget it. I check it around once a month.
Macro algae's C-N-P (carbon, nitrogen, phosphate) ratio is around 400-40-1. All aquariums with fish in them have plenty of nitrogen (40) and phosphate (1), but not carbon (400). The nutrient that plants need most is all but ignored. What are plants' preferred form of carbon? CO2.
CO2 isn't marketed very well. They make it look complicated. CO2 tank, regulator, airline tubing. That's it. I set the bubble rate with the regulator (simple!), and forget it. I check it around once a month.
Macro algae's C-N-P (carbon, nitrogen, phosphate) ratio is around 400-40-1. All aquariums with fish in them have plenty of nitrogen (40) and phosphate (1), but not carbon (400). The nutrient that plants need most is all but ignored. What are plants' preferred form of carbon? CO2.
phobos2deimos
New member
Tank looks good and those pics are excellent!
zachfishman
Active member
This is beautiful.
