Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
Thanks Sam.
I wouldn't even try to guess what kind of sponges they are. I'd just say they're some kind of tube sponge. Right now I'm not even sure if they're alive. I'm thinking not, unfortunately. But maybe some tiny bits survived and they could seed new sponge growth. Too early to tell.
I'd love to get a new fish or twenty. But there are other considerations, so I just don't know. How about you? Any new fish in your future?
I wouldn't even try to guess what kind of sponges they are. I'd just say they're some kind of tube sponge. Right now I'm not even sure if they're alive. I'm thinking not, unfortunately. But maybe some tiny bits survived and they could seed new sponge growth. Too early to tell.
I'd love to get a new fish or twenty. But there are other considerations, so I just don't know. How about you? Any new fish in your future?
sam.basye
New member
Hopefully the sponges are alive and multiply for you. Why don't you take one out and smell it? That will tell if it is dead or not. It will sink to high heaven if it is dead!
As for me, I'm always looking for something new. My wallet usually dictates this though. Ha-ha. And I have a small tank... I'd like to pick up a blenny, but that's about it. I've pretty much run out of room for fish to be happy. My poor little silver fish now lives in the back 90% of the time because my new clown doesn't like him at all.
As for me, I'm always looking for something new. My wallet usually dictates this though. Ha-ha. And I have a small tank... I'd like to pick up a blenny, but that's about it. I've pretty much run out of room for fish to be happy. My poor little silver fish now lives in the back 90% of the time because my new clown doesn't like him at all.
Funny you mentioned the smell. That box of DOA sponges I got about a month ago stank big time. These did not, so I have a little hope.
Yes, the wallet (and the wife) are a factor, for sure! Also, with all the dosing I've been doing, I have to be careful. The glutamic acid pills I'm putting in the substrate are basically pure ammonia. Sounds nuts, doesn't it? But my grasses are reacting favorably, so I continue. Lush meadow or bust!
I do plan for my tank to have a large fish community eventually. For now, my focus is the seagrass. Once I get it to a point where I can ease back on the dosing, I'll feel more comfortable adding fish.
Yes, the wallet (and the wife) are a factor, for sure! Also, with all the dosing I've been doing, I have to be careful. The glutamic acid pills I'm putting in the substrate are basically pure ammonia. Sounds nuts, doesn't it? But my grasses are reacting favorably, so I continue. Lush meadow or bust!
I do plan for my tank to have a large fish community eventually. For now, my focus is the seagrass. Once I get it to a point where I can ease back on the dosing, I'll feel more comfortable adding fish.
sam.basye
New member
Haha, the wife is the lock on the wallet, and if the wife isn't there to lock it, the fear of the wife post purchase locks it!
Out of curiosity, will any of your intended fish actually swim amongst the grass, weaving around each blade? Or will they all crowd together in the open area instead?
I want to see videos of your fish swimming in and around the grasses.
not fighting for open territory.
Out of curiosity, will any of your intended fish actually swim amongst the grass, weaving around each blade? Or will they all crowd together in the open area instead?
I want to see videos of your fish swimming in and around the grasses.
not fighting for open territory.
I don't for sure about each species of fish on my list, but I would imagine they would swim through the grasses, like any other structure. There will be some that hang near the top, some mid-water and some on the bottom.
I am very particular about assembling a harmonious community of fish. If any fish doesn't get along, I have no problem removing it. I do not get attached to any favorite fish. No one species is more important than the whole. For me, it's not a box of pets, it's an ecosystem in a box.
So, one way or another, I will have a harmonious community of fish, thriving in as complete an ecosystem as possible.
I am very particular about assembling a harmonious community of fish. If any fish doesn't get along, I have no problem removing it. I do not get attached to any favorite fish. No one species is more important than the whole. For me, it's not a box of pets, it's an ecosystem in a box.
So, one way or another, I will have a harmonious community of fish, thriving in as complete an ecosystem as possible.
nawilson89
New member
My brain cannot comprehend the amount of Caribbean based Goby you could fit in there.
karimwassef
Active member
try anthias?
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nvwztbOczuQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
they're Caribbean but not really seagrass specific.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nvwztbOczuQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
they're Caribbean but not really seagrass specific.
karimwassef
Active member
sam.basye
New member
Heres a clip I shot of some anemone shrimp from my honeymoon in Curacao. You should feel special because I don't do this for everyone and the first one I made I managed to lose.. Enjoy 30 sec of poorly filmed shrimp.
https://youtu.be/3a7R3ZDvPv8
-the irritating clicking is me taking still images while it's recording.
https://youtu.be/3a7R3ZDvPv8
-the irritating clicking is me taking still images while it's recording.
I do feel special! Thanks for posting that.
One thing I noticed about that last shrimp, which I think is the same as one of the anemone shrimp I have, is that it wasn't IN the anemone either!
One thing I noticed about that last shrimp, which I think is the same as one of the anemone shrimp I have, is that it wasn't IN the anemone either!
I think of you as my normal cousin, with a weird landlord. Although, your aquarium cabinet may be just a little too organized…
It doesn't appear to be a mutually beneficial relationship - I mean the shrimp/anemone one. The shrimp takes advantage of the sticky tentacles and steals from its host. But hey, it looks cool!
I'm going to do a water change today! I'm still watching the 'ghost tube sponges' for signs of life. I got my phytoplankton culturing kit in the mail, so I'm going to get that going as well. I chose nannochloropsis because it's the smallest phytoplankton available. I got it from Florida Aqua Farms. It's mainly for the sponges, but lots of other little critters should enjoy it as well. Feeding the bottom of the food chain makes so much sense when you think about it.
I also got a little LED moonlight, I'll be installing today. I got the white, as apposed to the blue colored one. Since I'm modeling a shallow lagoon, I have no need for blue or other depth-simulating colors. With all the lighting choices we have today, it's easy to get carried away. Some tanks end up looking more like a disco or a haunted house, than a simulation of a natural place in the ocean, in my opinion.
Hmm…got texts from my Bros. Looks like I'm going for a mountain bike ride…
It doesn't appear to be a mutually beneficial relationship - I mean the shrimp/anemone one. The shrimp takes advantage of the sticky tentacles and steals from its host. But hey, it looks cool!
I'm going to do a water change today! I'm still watching the 'ghost tube sponges' for signs of life. I got my phytoplankton culturing kit in the mail, so I'm going to get that going as well. I chose nannochloropsis because it's the smallest phytoplankton available. I got it from Florida Aqua Farms. It's mainly for the sponges, but lots of other little critters should enjoy it as well. Feeding the bottom of the food chain makes so much sense when you think about it.
I also got a little LED moonlight, I'll be installing today. I got the white, as apposed to the blue colored one. Since I'm modeling a shallow lagoon, I have no need for blue or other depth-simulating colors. With all the lighting choices we have today, it's easy to get carried away. Some tanks end up looking more like a disco or a haunted house, than a simulation of a natural place in the ocean, in my opinion.
Hmm…got texts from my Bros. Looks like I'm going for a mountain bike ride…
View from the shadows, with the possibly living sponges.
In the mid zone, at the edge of the light.
Another view from the 'dark side'.
The seagrasses are coming along! See the pink coralline algae on the ends of some of the blades?
Overgrown with color.
The barnacle shells, mostly obscured by the macros.
This is where most of the multiplying action has occurred.
Lush meadow coming soon!
One last shot of seagrass.
saltwater sam
New member
Everything looks great, I love the macro colors you have going on, and the seagrasses really seem to have taken off lately! The sponges look like they're doing well!
karimwassef
Active member
wow. love the color combinations.
Worked on my tank today. Water change, done.
I also took a chance and did something I hadn't dared to do. I moved some turtle grass. I had a bunch right in the front middle of the bed. I prefer the turtle grass in the back, behind the finer manatee grass. So, I pulled them up and moved them back. I also accidentally pulled up a short section of manatee grass, so I replanted it in a bare area. The combined effect of my labors seems to look pretty good! Hopefully, the transplantees survive the move.
I installed the LED moonlight fixture as well. Looks cool! A nice moonlight shimmer! I'll see if I can get pics, but it may be too dim.
Anyway, things are cool, watching the grass grow…
I also took a chance and did something I hadn't dared to do. I moved some turtle grass. I had a bunch right in the front middle of the bed. I prefer the turtle grass in the back, behind the finer manatee grass. So, I pulled them up and moved them back. I also accidentally pulled up a short section of manatee grass, so I replanted it in a bare area. The combined effect of my labors seems to look pretty good! Hopefully, the transplantees survive the move.
I installed the LED moonlight fixture as well. Looks cool! A nice moonlight shimmer! I'll see if I can get pics, but it may be too dim.
Anyway, things are cool, watching the grass grow…
sam.basye
New member
Lookin good!
I has a few questions..
How can you tell if a sponge is alive or not?
Will the coraline tipped grasses die off from the coraline growth? Pretty cool though.
Lastly, what is the root structure of the different grasses? Are they like fw plants and are super long and thick, or short and stubby like that of a palm tree? Not that you have many to look at in CO.. Lol
I has a few questions..
How can you tell if a sponge is alive or not?
Will the coraline tipped grasses die off from the coraline growth? Pretty cool though.
Lastly, what is the root structure of the different grasses? Are they like fw plants and are super long and thick, or short and stubby like that of a palm tree? Not that you have many to look at in CO.. Lol
Thanks Sam, and you too, Sam!
Usually it's pretty obvious when a sponge is dead. But these are different. It's not obvious either way. They're softer than any sponge I've seen. But they are not rotting or crumbling or melting. So, I don't know!
Yes, the coralline is not good for the grass, but the tips are where the grasses start to die, so it's kind of a wash.
It was great to get a look at the roots today. The turtle grass has the wider blades and the fattest roots. These grow deep and get very large, which is why they require a deep sand bed. They were not easy to pull up! The finer bladed manatee grass has thinner rhizomes running at a shallower depth, with tinier roots.
No, we don't see many palms here in Colorado, but we do have some other very interesting plants, heh, heh…
Usually it's pretty obvious when a sponge is dead. But these are different. It's not obvious either way. They're softer than any sponge I've seen. But they are not rotting or crumbling or melting. So, I don't know!
Yes, the coralline is not good for the grass, but the tips are where the grasses start to die, so it's kind of a wash.
It was great to get a look at the roots today. The turtle grass has the wider blades and the fattest roots. These grow deep and get very large, which is why they require a deep sand bed. They were not easy to pull up! The finer bladed manatee grass has thinner rhizomes running at a shallower depth, with tinier roots.
No, we don't see many palms here in Colorado, but we do have some other very interesting plants, heh, heh…
