Anyone out there growing Seagrasses?

[Michael Hoaster]

I've been growing seagrasses for almost a year now. I have a thread going, called Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank. I've had a few visitors who are also growing seagrasses, but not very many, and not very often. So I kind of feel like I'm in no man's land.

I'd really like to grow a little community of 'Seagrassers', so that we can support each other, and advance this part of the hobby. It's a very specialized segment, with very different concerns than the rest of the hobby. It would be very helpful if we could band together!

I have read, and reread the Old Helpful Posts. They had some very exciting threads going regarding seagrasses. And then it seemed to end. That was almost ten years ago! I am very grateful that they have saved these old threads. Thanks, RC!

I wonder if there if there are enough interested parties out there to spark a revival in seagrass keeping. That would be awesome! So please, if you are currently keeping seagrasses, have in the past, or are planning to in the future, post to this thread. Let's see if we can get a head count.

Seagrassers unite!

 

[saltwater sam]

Ah, the isolation of being a niche hobbyist I am doubling my tank size within a year, and at that time I will be joining you in your seagrass experience, my friend.

 

[shred5]

Pictures.
I have been in the hobby for a very long time and it is something I have never done but always wanted to try. I have wanted to get a shallow and very long tank (like 6'Lx18"Wx16"H) to try one.
There are some nice looking macro tanks out there but it is not the same.

I think one problem is there are not many places to get true sea grasses with rhizomes. The other thing there is not a lot of info out there. I have seen some beautiful tanks though over the years.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thank you , Sam and David, for posting. I feel less alone already!

David, you've given me an idea. I'm going to post some links to some online venders, helpful articles and stuff like that, that might help prospective seagrass keepers.

Sam, I look forward to seeing what you come up with, when you upsize!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Helpful Links for Seagrass Keepers

Helpful Links for Seagrass Keepers

My online vender picks:

http://floridapets.tripod.com
This site has the best selection of seagrasses that I've found. I've also bought their mixed pods and live mud.

http://www.reefs2go.com
These guys sell macros and turtle grass.

http://live-plants.com
Great macro site. They also sell turtle grass.

http://www.elightbulbs.com
You want cheap lights? These are the cheapest I've found.

Great info on the subject:

http://marineplantbook.com
This is a great collection of articles on macros and seagrasses.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/sl/
This is Sarah Lardizabal's definitive article on the subject. Maybe the best.

http://************.com/2010/01/23/...es-making-the-case-for-aquariums-going-green/
Another seagrass keeping article. Not as extensive, but worth a read.

http://************.com/2012/08/06/seagrass-aquarium/
Great article on a very simple and beautiful setup!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825322
This is the "Forum Favorites" (old helpful posts), right here on RC. A gold mine.

 

[sixpackgarage]

I'm trying to grow some in my fuge. I posted about it in your other thread. Love seagrass, so cool.

 

[pbauec]

What does a seagrass tank look like ? What is involved in one?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Excellent questions, pbauec. I started this thread to help promote/revive this niche of the aquarium hobby. Your questions are a perfect match.

Let me start by saying there aren't many hard and fast rules, so how they look and what's involved is up to the aquarist.

Here's my opinion:

A seagrass tank looks more like a fresh water planted tank, than a reef tank. The plants dominate the aquascape, rather than rocks and corals. So there's lots of open sand bed, for planting. The grasses are thin and flexible, and they sway in the current. So there's a lot of beautiful, hypnotic movement going on, even before you count the fish.

A deep sand bed is needed for the larger seagrass species, like turtle grass and manatee grass. If you were doing a smaller tank or refugium, you could go with a shallower sand bed and smaller seagrass species, like shoal grass, star grass or oar grass.

As these plants mostly grow in shallow water, bright, daylight (55-65K) colored lighting is suggested. They also like vigorous water movement. It helps them absorb and release nutrients. And they grow taller with more water movement.

They can be very simple, or a bit more involved, depending on the goals of the seagrass keeper. One thing I will point out, is that they are not necessarily easier than corals. They need pristine, low nutrient water conditions, just like corals, so don't expect success without good husbandry.

They really are a specialized niche, with different needs and techniques. I posted some links to some excellent articles above. They can probably answer your questions better than I can.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[cro117]

hi, im actually in the process of converting my tank over to seagrass. any recommendations of fish species? what salinity do you shoot for?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Awesome, cro117! There are lots of fish that enjoy the seagrass habitat. Without knowing your tank size, and your overall direction, I'll hold off on recommendations for now. I do advise a low fish load when starting a seagrass tank. Salinity depends on the seagrass species you're keeping. Manatee grass favors lower salinity, 25-30ppt. Turtle grass likes full-strength, 35ppt. I have both, so I'm in the 28 range.

I look forward to hearing more. Good luck!

 

[cro117]

does anyone have any feedback on any of the sellers listed in the links above? or any other sellers for that matter? i find whenever i get freshwater plants sent in wet newspaper they never seem to do as well as those sent in water, so im a bit picky about shipping methods i guess.

i saw an ebay seller too: snailsbymail- does anyone have any opinions on them? or does anyone here sell any clippings?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I have bought from all of the venders listed except reefs2go. They are all excellent. I have not purchased from ebay.

 

[tajaba]

on a side note, what are you guys using for your seagrass substrate?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

The finest calcium carbonate sand available, plus live sand and live mud. The seagrasses prefer soft, silty substrate.

 

[tajaba]

The finest calcium carbonate sand available, plus live sand and live mud. The seagrasses prefer soft, silty substrate.

Hi michael

do you throw the mud in before the sand? or vice versa

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I put mud on the very bottom, and I mixed some in with the fine sand near the top. Then I topped that with more pure sand, to keep it out of the light and the water column. If I did it again, I'd probably mix the mud in throughout the DSB, then top it with sand.

Hope that helps!

 

[tajaba]

definitly thanks!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I thought it might be helpful if I posted a pic of my grasses. The tall, skinny stuff is manatee grass. The shorter, broader leaves are turtle grass.

 

[nawilson89]

I'd like to join the seagrass community!

 

[nawilson89]

I'd like to join the seagrass community!

I wanted to edit my reply, but I guess I could not.


So doing my research into my macro algae/seagrass set up I was looking to purchased mineral mud for the bottom layer, capped with live sand. I'm looking at a pretty good lighting and I'm just going through the motions for everything I hope i will need.

This will all be packed into a 20g tank.

Any tips? Or anything I would need?