Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
Lookdown update: Small one eats frozen and live food with gusto. Large one still won't eat frozen, but has eaten some live food.
Main pump is still off, for now. Once he gets strong, I'll turn it back on. He may be ready now. He plays in the current of the mangrove powerhead. Cool fish to watch.
The grammas are pretty much back to normal, with little fear of the new guys. They conduct their business right under their noses. Five out of six barnacle blennies are living in the barnacles! There's just one holdout, hanging out up on/in the caulerpa overhang. The lockdowns go after her sometimes, but she easily evades them. Toughest little fish!
Tank is pretty junglishious right now. The dragon's tongue frag disappeared. Hopefully it'll turn up. With all the extra feeding, I'm not dosing ammonia. I did dose some iron. Pretty much all macros are growing very well right now. I'm still waiting for another growth spurt from the manatee grass. The blue scroll algae looks like it's going to make it, but it's taking its time. Once it gets established, maybe it will pick up.
Big change to the community, with the new additions. Three levels of carnivores. S'frickin' awesome.
Main pump is still off, for now. Once he gets strong, I'll turn it back on. He may be ready now. He plays in the current of the mangrove powerhead. Cool fish to watch.
The grammas are pretty much back to normal, with little fear of the new guys. They conduct their business right under their noses. Five out of six barnacle blennies are living in the barnacles! There's just one holdout, hanging out up on/in the caulerpa overhang. The lockdowns go after her sometimes, but she easily evades them. Toughest little fish!
Tank is pretty junglishious right now. The dragon's tongue frag disappeared. Hopefully it'll turn up. With all the extra feeding, I'm not dosing ammonia. I did dose some iron. Pretty much all macros are growing very well right now. I'm still waiting for another growth spurt from the manatee grass. The blue scroll algae looks like it's going to make it, but it's taking its time. Once it gets established, maybe it will pick up.
Big change to the community, with the new additions. Three levels of carnivores. S'frickin' awesome.
cHRoNzZe 619
New member
Awesome fish !!!! Have you try to feed them a mix of foods? To see if he likes something one food might have?
Side note... Let me know if your willing to part out with some of the nemastoma!
Side note... Let me know if your willing to part out with some of the nemastoma!
Thanks cHRoNzZe 619! They are awesome. It's hard to focus on anything else in the tank.
I try feeding them my tank brew everyday, which has a variety of stuff in it. That's a good point though. There are other things I could add to it. I'll try that, thanks!
I should be able to part with some nemastoma. Maybe a trade for some string of pearls?
I try feeding them my tank brew everyday, which has a variety of stuff in it. That's a good point though. There are other things I could add to it. I'll try that, thanks!
I should be able to part with some nemastoma. Maybe a trade for some string of pearls?
Thanks Chasmodes! Losing one was a heartbreaker for sure.
They have shown some interest in the blennies, but they are (so far) no match for their abilities. I also think it has to do with the fact that they are from different environmental niches. The lookdowns are pelagic, being very good in open water. The blennies, being benthic, makes it easy for them to evade them. I think the lookdowns would have a field day with a school of silversides!
They have shown some interest in the blennies, but they are (so far) no match for their abilities. I also think it has to do with the fact that they are from different environmental niches. The lookdowns are pelagic, being very good in open water. The blennies, being benthic, makes it easy for them to evade them. I think the lookdowns would have a field day with a school of silversides!
Over two weeks without any pruning! Hopefully tomorrow I can do some. Some caulerpa went sexual today. Clouded up the tank for a long while. I hope the sponges enjoyed it.
I may do an actual water change as well. That way, I can refill the QT with tank water and maybe move the big lookdown in. He needs to feed without competition.
I'm really getting tired of live feeders! Expensive, messy, stinky. I'm also growing tired of focusing entirely on keeping one fish alive. I've got so many other things to focus on!
I may do an actual water change as well. That way, I can refill the QT with tank water and maybe move the big lookdown in. He needs to feed without competition.
I'm really getting tired of live feeders! Expensive, messy, stinky. I'm also growing tired of focusing entirely on keeping one fish alive. I've got so many other things to focus on!
Chasmodes
Well-known member
I was wondering about that too. I wonder if a bivalve like an oyster would survive if that happened a lot. It might be something to think about in my fuge or main tank even.
That may be true in a reef tank, McPuff, but not in a heavily planted tank, chock full of Mother Nature. It's like extra deluxe plant food. I'm thinking the sponges and other filter feeders loved it too.
I know nothing about oysters' needs, Chasmodes, but I would not be surprised to find that they filter phytoplankton. If so, a sexual event like that could be a welcomed feast.
I would think these things happen in nature all the time, and when they do, someone's going to eat it. Plants, filter feeders, and zooplankton should all benefit.
I know nothing about oysters' needs, Chasmodes, but I would not be surprised to find that they filter phytoplankton. If so, a sexual event like that could be a welcomed feast.
I would think these things happen in nature all the time, and when they do, someone's going to eat it. Plants, filter feeders, and zooplankton should all benefit.
Full tank.
Five blennies. "Lookdowns shlookdowns, we're not going anywhere."
Colors.
G. hayi is getting big.
Seagrasses are good. Also note caulerpa removed from back wall.
I did a water change today, with a large caulerpa export. I dosed potassium nitrate and sodium silicate. The manatee grasses appear to be growing again.
I moved Norbert, the large lookdown, into quarantine. He's sharing it with three female silver mollies, and their babies. I've got to get him fattened up. Sheldon, the small lookdown, is doing very well, if a bit lonely now. These fish have a strong schooling instinct.
McPuff
New member
I agree. That picture is great.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Well, thanks guys! You've given me new appreciation for them.
Norbert, the lookdown is doing well in QT. I got ten feeders in him last night. If I can get him back to full vigor, I think I'll have a better chance of getting him to go for frozen food.
He's sharing the tank with five silver mollies-four females and one male. They are producing babies, so he's got snacks if he wants them between feedings. Mollies are unbelievably easy to adapt to salt water. One hour acclimation and done!
I brought the main pump back online on the display. Sheldon, the smaller lookdown, is having no problem with the increased current. I think I will put it on a timer, so it goes off at night. Give everyone a rest.
Norbert, the lookdown is doing well in QT. I got ten feeders in him last night. If I can get him back to full vigor, I think I'll have a better chance of getting him to go for frozen food.
He's sharing the tank with five silver mollies-four females and one male. They are producing babies, so he's got snacks if he wants them between feedings. Mollies are unbelievably easy to adapt to salt water. One hour acclimation and done!
I brought the main pump back online on the display. Sheldon, the smaller lookdown, is having no problem with the increased current. I think I will put it on a timer, so it goes off at night. Give everyone a rest.
EdimarOliveira
Member
Michael, you want to put Berghias or Shrimp Dancer for control of Aiptasia?
Beautiful view photo of red macroalgae growing!
Beautiful view photo of red macroalgae growing!
Thanks Edimar! I love the red macros.
I do have berghia nudibranchs in my tank, for aiptasia control. At least I hope I do! I added them months ago and progress is slow. They are small and they work at night, so I haven't actually seen them since I added them. I have noticed fewer aiptasias here and there, but, as you can see in the pics, they are nowhere near gone.
In hindsight, I may not have added enough. In order for them to really be effective, they need to reproduce. In a tank this big, it may take them a long time to find each other. I added them in pairs for this reason. So I wait. Hopefully, they will find each other and get busy!
I do have berghia nudibranchs in my tank, for aiptasia control. At least I hope I do! I added them months ago and progress is slow. They are small and they work at night, so I haven't actually seen them since I added them. I have noticed fewer aiptasias here and there, but, as you can see in the pics, they are nowhere near gone.
In hindsight, I may not have added enough. In order for them to really be effective, they need to reproduce. In a tank this big, it may take them a long time to find each other. I added them in pairs for this reason. So I wait. Hopefully, they will find each other and get busy!
Sick day today. So I set up on the couch in front of the tank!
I got 15 small feeder fish in Norbert this morning and 20 more this evening. Plus, I saw him eat a mollie fry as well. So the mollie thing is working! Thanks, giant head!
I discussed the idea waaaaaaay back in this thread. It's funny to finally see it work. The original idea was to do it in the display, but this is good for a beat up fish.
He's still in rough shape. I'm so glad I got him into QT. I got really lucky catching him. He associated the net with food!
I got 15 small feeder fish in Norbert this morning and 20 more this evening. Plus, I saw him eat a mollie fry as well. So the mollie thing is working! Thanks, giant head!
I discussed the idea waaaaaaay back in this thread. It's funny to finally see it work. The original idea was to do it in the display, but this is good for a beat up fish.
He's still in rough shape. I'm so glad I got him into QT. I got really lucky catching him. He associated the net with food!
McPuff
New member
I did try to acclimate black mollies one time... I gave them a couple hours but they did not make it. I'm not sure why but it's definitely something I want to try again. I figure the near-constant source of fry will be nice extra food for the fish in the tank. And they are super effective algae eaters!
