Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank

[Michael Hoaster]

Welcome, eKop49! Thanks for posting!

That's a great fish! I'd love to have one. You said it's been reef safe. Do you have any anemones or gorgonians? Tell me that you do, and he doesn't bother them, and I'm on board! If I recall correctly, that fish lives a bit deeper than the other caribbean butterflies, so maybe it could work. I'll take a look!

I've been considering zoas and ricordeas as possible encrusting fauna for the fake root. Ideally, there is a butterfly out there that would keep them pruned back, while leaving my anemone and gorgonians alone. That would be so cool!

You're not the first to suggest I add some jawfish. It's a great fish! But, I have some experience with them, and I concluded they are better off in a species tank, where they won't gradually starve to death. In my opinion, they are too timid to compete at feeding time, in a fast-moving community tank.

I do keep four barnacle blennies, that tick a lot of the same boxes as jawfish, but they are not timid at all. They regularly conduct master classes in feeding efficiency for my other fish!

I'm stoked you like my thread! I hope you'll come back and chat some more!

 

[eKop49]

I have a speckled green and purple bubble tip along with 2 mini maxi anemones and he doesn't touch them. I should note this is only the second day with the bubble tip and it has been shying from the light. I don't know if not helps but he also hasn't eaten any of my Hawaiian feather dusters. Even though he is relatively deep water compared to others he is currently always out and about. He hid in the qt tank but ever since he has been in my display he cruises around the tank all day. Thanks for the welcome, I've been following and lurking for many months just haven't spoken much

 

[jraker]

+1 on the Atlantic longnose butterfly. I have not kept one, but from what I have heard, they are almost 100% reef safe.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I just did a little looking, and anemones and gorgonians are on their menu. So as long as I have those, I better pass. Bummer. I'd love a butterfly or two. They do seem to be pretty safe with lps and sps, so they could work for some reefs.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

The purple condylactis gigantea anemone has gone up the back wall about 7 inches. This puts it in very good light and current! It looks so much better to me, writhing in the flow, echoing the seagrass's movement. The anemone shrimp is like a rodeo rider!

 

[sam.basye]

writhing in the flow, echoing the seagrass's movement. The anemone shrimp is like a rodeo rider!

Want pictures!


I don't think your zoa/ric fish pruning theory will work. They just don't grow/reproduce fast enough.

The caulerpa/tang theory is plausible, and can work, because the shear amount and increased growth of the macro.
In order to have enough for a zoa/fish equilibrium, me thinks you would have to start out with a TON of polyps, like the equivalence of the caulerpa, and this may still not be enough if they are the fishes only diet, which would also not be cost effective..


I do think it's time to venture into the Caribbean corals now that the fish itch has been satisfied. Lol

I like the coral encrusted root concept as well!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I should have snapped pics before the light went out. We'll see where it is tomorrow.

Yeah, you're probably right - the zoa/butterfly fish thing wouldn't work. It's difficult to scale this kind of relationship in an aquarium.

The tang/caulerpa combo continues to work. With the growth I'm getting out of the caulerpa, it may have caught up to the tang's pace.

The time for corals is not quite yet, for me. And even then, it will only be a few, that occur in seagrass beds.

I've got a major upheaval very soon, with all the turtle grass, and their large roots being removed and replaced with more manatee grass. Maybe in a few months, things will settle down. I still plan to add more fish too. Next will probably be the caribbean blue chromis. I did a little reading. These fish form harems too. I'm thinking around eight.

 

[jraker]

Yeah you will probably need about this many polyps for that plan to go through:

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I don't even think that would be enough, jraker.

 

[sam.basye]

The only sustainable thing I can think of might be Aiptasia, but I can't see that being worth it just to have the fish..

And I know you're cheap, like me, so acquiring that many zoas could be a challenge! Haha

I have only ever had one blue/green chromis, but word on the street is that you will eventually end up with only one. They will slowly pick themselves off till there's only one left. Not really sure why some trend to do this in captivity, but I've read it on here numerous times.
You may get lucky and they all live peacefully though.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Yes, that was my experience with the blue green chromis as well. I'm thinking with the blue chromis, I could attempt a harem. This social structure may work better than a random group of them. I'm amazed how well it's working with the grammas.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

This morning, the anemone is about 10 inches up from the sand, and really billowing in the current. The shrimp has to step off occasionally to take a break! Looks cool though!

I wonder if it will try out a gramma hole. If it did, maybe it would settle down for good. That would be sweet!

Here's a tiny new resident - a sponge! It's only about half the size of my pinky finger nail, but it's something. With all the phytoplankton and bacteria, plus weekly doses of sodium silicate, I'm hoping to create an environment accommodating to sponge growth. This gives me hope.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Now the anemone is near the top. It's all the way up into the caulerpa overhang!

From the end.

 

[jraker]

Michael, what kind of caulerpa is that?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Caulerpa racemosa peltata.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

It blows my mind how this simple creature from the beginning of time "knows", without a brain, where to go. With the caulerpa overhang really sticking out, it was casting a shadow on the lower wall, where the anemone was. It climbed up to within inches of the top of the tank, making a space for itself in the tangle of caulerpa, with no hep from me. It's getting great light and food-laden current. "Nature finds a way". -Name the movie quote!

 

[jraker]

Thanks. Nature will always find its way.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

No takers? Jurassic Park.

You know, I think the caulerpa coverage is expanding again!

I'm getting more and more manatee grass as well. The newer grasses are getting taller. I'm getting glimpses of the lush meadow I've been dreaming about for the last couple years…

 

[Darth_Tater]

This is a very unique tank and I like it quite a bit! It looks like the majority of your macro algae is that one variety of Caulerpa, is that true? And are you growing anything that roots in the sand besides the grasses?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Welcome, Darth_Tater! Glad you like the tank!

Yes, that's the only caulerpa I have. I have no other rooted plants, but some of the caulerpa is "rooted" in the sand with holdfasts.