Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
sam.basye
New member
Nuts, just pretend they are Caribbean... LolI was thinking of you today
Was at the LFS and found your Mollie replacement!
Longspine Cardinal's
They are silvery white and they had probably 20 in a tight peaceful school.
They were being herded by a Wyoming white clownfish. Lol
I just got back from eight days of camping in Moab, for Thanksgiving. As soon as I can get the glass cleaned, I'll check to make sure all are accounted for.
Sam, the longspine cardinals are great, but not caribbean, and most importantly, not live-bearers. The flame or stop light cardinals are caribbean, and on my list of possibilities. There are lots of cool looking cardinals out there, but they're kind of boring, just hovering around all day, until coming alive at feeding time.
So the Molly Experiment continues. I thought for sure at least one of them would have babies while I was gone. No luck. One of these days…
My tank is getting more and more overgrown. I wish I had an Atlantic Blue Tang right now.
Sam, the longspine cardinals are great, but not caribbean, and most importantly, not live-bearers. The flame or stop light cardinals are caribbean, and on my list of possibilities. There are lots of cool looking cardinals out there, but they're kind of boring, just hovering around all day, until coming alive at feeding time.
So the Molly Experiment continues. I thought for sure at least one of them would have babies while I was gone. No luck. One of these days…
My tank is getting more and more overgrown. I wish I had an Atlantic Blue Tang right now.
That's funny, Zach, I was watching cyclocross vids today and thought of you! How's that going? Are you getting enough suffering? I got on the skate skis for the first time this season today, so the bike may be put away for the winter. On the other hand, I may still sneak another desert camping/mountain biking trip in!
They are odd fish! I'm torn between getting Sheldon another lookdown buddy, and getting rid of him and the mollies altogether. Still no babies. I thought surely one of them would 'pop' while I was gone. I am determined to see it through, to see how it works out.
I did a massive pruning this weekend. It was just too overgrown. With bigger gaps between dosing, letting the plants get too big is a no-no. I added some new plant tabs for the seagrasses too. After reading that they prefer root uptake of phosphate, I got a tab with more phosphate than the last ones I was using. I'd really like to get another growth spurt out of them.
I had some serious growth on the front glass as well. This stuff was so hard to remove, I scratched the acrylic. It'll buff right out though-the beauty of acrylic!
They are odd fish! I'm torn between getting Sheldon another lookdown buddy, and getting rid of him and the mollies altogether. Still no babies. I thought surely one of them would 'pop' while I was gone. I am determined to see it through, to see how it works out.
I did a massive pruning this weekend. It was just too overgrown. With bigger gaps between dosing, letting the plants get too big is a no-no. I added some new plant tabs for the seagrasses too. After reading that they prefer root uptake of phosphate, I got a tab with more phosphate than the last ones I was using. I'd really like to get another growth spurt out of them.
I had some serious growth on the front glass as well. This stuff was so hard to remove, I scratched the acrylic. It'll buff right out though-the beauty of acrylic!
zachxlutz
New member
Cyclocross season started out great. I was getting decent results, a bit better than last season... and then I cracked. I lost all motivation to train and race. I decided to shut it down for the year, take about a month off the bike and then start fresh for road next season. I'm target a couple early season stage races in march/april so getting a head start on base training will really help for those. I start back riding this week. Kinda excited!
I'm excited to see what path you take with Sheldon and the mollie food factories.
EdimarOliveira
Member
Michael, how's the control of aiptasias there? I notice there are quite a few of them, especially in the less lighted area of the tank. You said you added Berghias - have you seen them more often?
If I dare to suggest, I'd say you should, yes, get rid of Sheldon and Mollies ... rrrsss ...
If I dare to suggest, I'd say you should, yes, get rid of Sheldon and Mollies ... rrrsss ...
I here you Zach! That's why I stay off the bike for the winter and ski. Also, I haven't raced in years! Good luck in 2017!
Edimar, aiptasias continue to pop up, and also disappear, thanks to the berghias. As I said, it's a very slow process, when you don't add enough, like I did. I'm hoping their population will increase.
As for the lookdown and mollies, I'm still waiting to see how things progress when they start having babies. Once they do, I'll have a better idea of how well they 'work' in my tank. So far, I do not like how they have affected the ecosystem. If I do get rid of them, I will post my experience and reasons for doing so. One thing I'm not liking about them is that they are pigs! I've never spent so much on fish food. But once the molly food factory kicks in, I'm hoping to have to feed less. I'm still playing around with the number I keep in the display as well.
It seems likely I will get rid of them, but I'm determined to see this experiment through. I think it will be a valuable experience, going forward.
Edimar, aiptasias continue to pop up, and also disappear, thanks to the berghias. As I said, it's a very slow process, when you don't add enough, like I did. I'm hoping their population will increase.
As for the lookdown and mollies, I'm still waiting to see how things progress when they start having babies. Once they do, I'll have a better idea of how well they 'work' in my tank. So far, I do not like how they have affected the ecosystem. If I do get rid of them, I will post my experience and reasons for doing so. One thing I'm not liking about them is that they are pigs! I've never spent so much on fish food. But once the molly food factory kicks in, I'm hoping to have to feed less. I'm still playing around with the number I keep in the display as well.
It seems likely I will get rid of them, but I'm determined to see this experiment through. I think it will be a valuable experience, going forward.
You know that feeling when your tank has been running for two years, everything is going great, and it feels like you can do no wrong, then suddenly, you realize something IS wrong? That's the feeling I'm having right now.
My tank has ICH. Sheldon, the last of 3 lookdowns died. All 6 of the barnacle blennies are gone. Big Daddy, the male royal gramma died, before the ich outbreak, so I think his death was natural. Males, managing large harems, live hard and fast. So now one of the bigger females will change to male and take over stud duties.
So, what now? Sunday, I sat down in front of my aquarium, with pen and paper and did some serious thinking. I asked myself, "what would I do to improve my aquarium, if funds and gumption were no issue?" I was amazed at how many things I could think of. I wrote them all down, so I won't forget.
Obviously, job one is to get my QT ready for ich treatments. Right now, it's more setup to be like a smaller version of my display, with sand, old coral skeletons and macros. All that has to go, and will be replaced with the customary pvc pipe sections. Then I have to catch the royal grammas, and some of the mollies, and get treatments going. Easier said than done, especially with the gramma caves, but I'm hoping my 2 liter soda bottle trap will do the trick.
In the meantime, I will run the display fallow (fishless), to break the lifecycle of ich.
Plus, there's a whole boatload of changes I'd like to make to the tank. If I do them, then this would qualify as a full-blown overhaul. First, I listed desired changes. Then I listed how I would go about making these changes. Then I wrote an action list, by priority. By the way, I think this is a great exercise. I highly recommend it!
So, here's what I'm thinking:
lower the fake mangrove and overflow-turned-refugium by two inches
build new fake wall for the end, flow-through wall
empty the DSB, removing all seagrasses and replant with new soil layer and manatee grass only
add 10 pounds farmed florida live rock
return royal grammas to display after treatment, and start a new fish community
There are a few more, mainly system changes, like replacing my canister filter, I'm not bothering to list here.
I'm currently storing up the gumption for the QT project. Wish me luck!
My tank has ICH. Sheldon, the last of 3 lookdowns died. All 6 of the barnacle blennies are gone. Big Daddy, the male royal gramma died, before the ich outbreak, so I think his death was natural. Males, managing large harems, live hard and fast. So now one of the bigger females will change to male and take over stud duties.
So, what now? Sunday, I sat down in front of my aquarium, with pen and paper and did some serious thinking. I asked myself, "what would I do to improve my aquarium, if funds and gumption were no issue?" I was amazed at how many things I could think of. I wrote them all down, so I won't forget.
Obviously, job one is to get my QT ready for ich treatments. Right now, it's more setup to be like a smaller version of my display, with sand, old coral skeletons and macros. All that has to go, and will be replaced with the customary pvc pipe sections. Then I have to catch the royal grammas, and some of the mollies, and get treatments going. Easier said than done, especially with the gramma caves, but I'm hoping my 2 liter soda bottle trap will do the trick.
In the meantime, I will run the display fallow (fishless), to break the lifecycle of ich.
Plus, there's a whole boatload of changes I'd like to make to the tank. If I do them, then this would qualify as a full-blown overhaul. First, I listed desired changes. Then I listed how I would go about making these changes. Then I wrote an action list, by priority. By the way, I think this is a great exercise. I highly recommend it!
So, here's what I'm thinking:
lower the fake mangrove and overflow-turned-refugium by two inches
build new fake wall for the end, flow-through wall
empty the DSB, removing all seagrasses and replant with new soil layer and manatee grass only
add 10 pounds farmed florida live rock
return royal grammas to display after treatment, and start a new fish community
There are a few more, mainly system changes, like replacing my canister filter, I'm not bothering to list here.
I'm currently storing up the gumption for the QT project. Wish me luck!
sam.basye
New member
Damn, that sucks..
Sorry for the losses. Do you know what the ich came in on??
Sounds like you plan on starting over!
Interested in what's next in store for the "carribean biotope"? Or are we moving in a new different direction???
Thanks Sam.
I suspect the ich came in on the lookdowns. They were in rough shape and very stressed. It seems less likely to have come in with the mollies, since they started in fresh water. I guess it was my turn to learn the 'quarantine everything' lesson.
I'd say it's more like a 2.0 version, than a new direction for the tank. I see no reason to bail on the caribbean biotope. I'm really enjoying it. It restricts what I can add, but that's part of the fun/challenge.
I think the biggest challenge will be the DSB/seagrass redo. I've been thinking about that, and how best to proceed. Ideally, the grasses are pulled with soil substrate attached. So I may use a full sized shovel to scoop them out en masse. Once out of the tank, I'll need to remove the unwanted grasses, add a new soil underlayer to the DSB, and then return the manatee grass plants quickly to minimize shock to them.
Oh, and I plan to keep the tank up and running through the whole process. I don't want to interrupt the berghia nudibranchs' progress, eating up the aiptasia anemones.
I suspect the ich came in on the lookdowns. They were in rough shape and very stressed. It seems less likely to have come in with the mollies, since they started in fresh water. I guess it was my turn to learn the 'quarantine everything' lesson.
I'd say it's more like a 2.0 version, than a new direction for the tank. I see no reason to bail on the caribbean biotope. I'm really enjoying it. It restricts what I can add, but that's part of the fun/challenge.
I think the biggest challenge will be the DSB/seagrass redo. I've been thinking about that, and how best to proceed. Ideally, the grasses are pulled with soil substrate attached. So I may use a full sized shovel to scoop them out en masse. Once out of the tank, I'll need to remove the unwanted grasses, add a new soil underlayer to the DSB, and then return the manatee grass plants quickly to minimize shock to them.
Oh, and I plan to keep the tank up and running through the whole process. I don't want to interrupt the berghia nudibranchs' progress, eating up the aiptasia anemones.
EdimarOliveira
Member
Michael, these "technical stops" are very important, and you do not waste time on it, but whatever we do a second time to improve what we did in the first one is valid.
My tank, for example, is to this day with nothing but mini-pagures. The macroalgae I added died almost all of them. Because of this, a lot of filaments appeared, but apparently, they will disappear gradually. Then you would ask: why did not you add anything? Simply for lack of time to look for a good store to acquire more animals, because I do not have marine stores in my city. So he's there, cycling, and following life ...
That does not bother me, because the basic parameters are ok, so I take the time to make necessary adjustments. I'm not "wasting time," but letting nature take its course. With this, I have seen many copepods, gamarides and others, that is, things are going well.
Ict usually only appears with low immunity even, and I do not see where your tank would have defects to not provide a healthy life to the inhabitants. But when it comes to a closed system, everything gets more complicated to control.
It seems to me that you have the patience and common sense to figure out where it can be improved, and certainly after this "fresh start", which was already beautiful will be much more!
My tank, for example, is to this day with nothing but mini-pagures. The macroalgae I added died almost all of them. Because of this, a lot of filaments appeared, but apparently, they will disappear gradually. Then you would ask: why did not you add anything? Simply for lack of time to look for a good store to acquire more animals, because I do not have marine stores in my city. So he's there, cycling, and following life ...
That does not bother me, because the basic parameters are ok, so I take the time to make necessary adjustments. I'm not "wasting time," but letting nature take its course. With this, I have seen many copepods, gamarides and others, that is, things are going well.
Ict usually only appears with low immunity even, and I do not see where your tank would have defects to not provide a healthy life to the inhabitants. But when it comes to a closed system, everything gets more complicated to control.
It seems to me that you have the patience and common sense to figure out where it can be improved, and certainly after this "fresh start", which was already beautiful will be much more!
Ron Reefman
Active member
Michael, sorry for the loses. I know the 'feeling' you talked about as I recently lost 6 small fish to an electrical leak in the sump!
But I look forward to seeing what new ideas you have for the tank.
My display refugium suffered some from the electrical leak as well. I almost lost a red macroalgae. It was brown and looking pretty bad so I pulled it. Being one who sees the glass half full, I put the algae in my shallow reef and it came back very quickly! And now my TBS live rock is adding some new macroalgae to the shallow reef tank that I may move to the display refugium. I also switched from very warm white light to cool white and the leather corals and gorgonian are doing better (they didn't like the electrical leak either), but the other 2 red macroalgaes are doing just fine as well.
But I look forward to seeing what new ideas you have for the tank.
My display refugium suffered some from the electrical leak as well. I almost lost a red macroalgae. It was brown and looking pretty bad so I pulled it. Being one who sees the glass half full, I put the algae in my shallow reef and it came back very quickly! And now my TBS live rock is adding some new macroalgae to the shallow reef tank that I may move to the display refugium. I also switched from very warm white light to cool white and the leather corals and gorgonian are doing better (they didn't like the electrical leak either), but the other 2 red macroalgaes are doing just fine as well.
Thank you, Edimar.
I admire your attitude and fortitude! This hobby "helps" us to learn many lessons, and for some of us who've been in it for many years, we get to learn them more than once!
I do hope the changes I make do improve my aquarium. I have no doubt there will be setbacks, but like you, I'll figure out what to do.
It sounds like your tank is evolving nicely!
I admire your attitude and fortitude! This hobby "helps" us to learn many lessons, and for some of us who've been in it for many years, we get to learn them more than once!
I do hope the changes I make do improve my aquarium. I have no doubt there will be setbacks, but like you, I'll figure out what to do.
It sounds like your tank is evolving nicely!
EdimarOliveira
Member
Remember that I posted a photo of a seaweed, a small green stem, that was born on a rock?
Jraker thought it was a Cymopolia, and you agreed.
Yes, it was spread by the aquarium, a real plantation, even nice to see!
Jraker thought it was a Cymopolia, and you agreed.
Yes, it was spread by the aquarium, a real plantation, even nice to see!
Nice! I love those. How about a pic?
Thanks Ron.
I don't think the new changes will look all that different. I guess it's more like 'major adjustments'. I do look forward to having a monospecific seagrass meadow. I think it will look much prettier! Adding a new fake wall on the left end of the tank should also look better. Plus some general tidying up, and system component replacements, should do the trick.
I don't think the new changes will look all that different. I guess it's more like 'major adjustments'. I do look forward to having a monospecific seagrass meadow. I think it will look much prettier! Adding a new fake wall on the left end of the tank should also look better. Plus some general tidying up, and system component replacements, should do the trick.
