saltwater sam
New member
Wow they all look great!
Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
Got the Cerith snails in the tank. Welcome home, little guys! Help yourself to the salad bar…
Only twenty, for now. It's cool to add another slice to the microcosm. Time to sit back and observe, see how they do.
Only twenty, for now. It's cool to add another slice to the microcosm. Time to sit back and observe, see how they do.
Well thanks, Sam! All in all, the tanks doing well.
I just went back to figure out my 'start date' for the tank. September 24th was the day I introduced the plants and the pods. So it's only been 15 days.
I'm getting some algae, so the snails are right on time today. I haven't seen a lot of pod action. Hopefully they are happy and multiplying. Maybe the algae will help! The seagrasses are taking hold, growing new green growth faster than the diatoms can coat them now.
I added one glutamic acid pill to the DSB on October 4th. It took 2 weeks to see its effects in my old, freshwater tank.
Early days!
I just went back to figure out my 'start date' for the tank. September 24th was the day I introduced the plants and the pods. So it's only been 15 days.
I'm getting some algae, so the snails are right on time today. I haven't seen a lot of pod action. Hopefully they are happy and multiplying. Maybe the algae will help! The seagrasses are taking hold, growing new green growth faster than the diatoms can coat them now.
I added one glutamic acid pill to the DSB on October 4th. It took 2 weeks to see its effects in my old, freshwater tank.
Early days!
The snails are doing their thing. One of them has a small 'thing' on its shell. At first I thought it was a limpet, but I got the magnifying glass on it, and it's a barnacle. And it's alive. Pretty cool!
While I was playing around with the magnifying glass, I noticed that I do in fact have pods. I had added two mixed pod bags from Florida Pets when I added the plants at startup. I hadn't seen many since, until today.
While I was playing around with the magnifying glass, I noticed that I do in fact have pods. I had added two mixed pod bags from Florida Pets when I added the plants at startup. I hadn't seen many since, until today.
karimwassef
Active member
Flashlight in the night.. That's the best way to see them.
Hey- I saw what appears to be flatworms on my Chaeto? I don't see them in the DT - just in the refugium and only at the very top of the Chaeto.
I'm going to try to take a picture but they are very small. Thinner than a strand of Chaeto and only 1mm long. They look like small brown stubby worms slowly crawling like snails on the Chaeto.
Hey- I saw what appears to be flatworms on my Chaeto? I don't see them in the DT - just in the refugium and only at the very top of the Chaeto.
I'm going to try to take a picture but they are very small. Thinner than a strand of Chaeto and only 1mm long. They look like small brown stubby worms slowly crawling like snails on the Chaeto.
karimwassef
Active member
Here's my weird plant borne intruder. Have you found anything on your vegetation?
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/5B41CB48-2CEF-4F6B-A41A-039657022BA5_zpsl5vemdwo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/5B41CB48-2CEF-4F6B-A41A-039657022BA5_zpsl5vemdwo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5B41CB48-2CEF-4F6B-A41A-039657022BA5_zpsl5vemdwo.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/5B41CB48-2CEF-4F6B-A41A-039657022BA5_zpsl5vemdwo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/5B41CB48-2CEF-4F6B-A41A-039657022BA5_zpsl5vemdwo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5B41CB48-2CEF-4F6B-A41A-039657022BA5_zpsl5vemdwo.jpg"/></a>
Looks like a flatworm. Karim, you know I think I saw one too, when I was checking for pods with the magnifier. I'm pretty sure they're harmless though. Kinda nasty when you get a ton of big ones. Maybe they eat gnats!
I had an outbreak once upon a time. I think there's a wrass or basslet that eats them-google it. Now I'm curious…
I had an outbreak once upon a time. I think there's a wrass or basslet that eats them-google it. Now I'm curious…
Sorry about the gnat thing. It was a cheap shot…
Good 'ol Reef Central:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1520200
Good 'ol Reef Central:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1520200
Full tank shot. The Ulva is doing well up there in the field of dreams, the chaeto, not so much. Hopefully, it will adapt. It was happy on the sandbed.
I'm just happy the whole thing hasn't collapsed! Fake wall: check, fake root: check!
Very nice! The lighting looks great, and the red macros are incredibly vivid.
Hmmm... I was browsing WetWebMedia today and found their page on Carangids (Jacks, Trevallies, Lookdowns, etc). According to them, 300-500 is the minimum these fish should be kept in, and they are primarily subtropical (68-72 F). I am pretty sure your tank is 250g, so that is pushing it, but I think that at such a large size you can get away with it in the long term, and you may be onto something about the vigorous current compensating for lack of space. We'll see. But make sure your lookdowns are collected in the Caribbean, if you haven't already, as those ones should be fine in tropical temps. I mean, you seem to have covered all your bases here, but just FYI, in case you haven't. You might find it interesting it to chat with the folks over at wet web media about your plans, too. I am sure they would have some good advice for you.
Thanks, JLynn. I'm liking the lighting as well. Feels pretty natural, like the 'mangrove tree' is shading the right end of the tank.
The Lookdowns aren't a done deal, for sure, but I sure would love to try them! I've got to make sure my gyre flow is sufficient to keep them happy, while at the same time not have all my plants ripped out of the sand. I haven't even turned on my main pump yet to see how it all works! They'll be the last fish I add, so plenty of time to work it out.
I'd definitely start with small ones, so even if they get too big, I'll at least have them them for the interim. Maybe I can work out a 'trade down' deal with my LFS to grow them, then trade the large for small ones…
The Lookdowns aren't a done deal, for sure, but I sure would love to try them! I've got to make sure my gyre flow is sufficient to keep them happy, while at the same time not have all my plants ripped out of the sand. I haven't even turned on my main pump yet to see how it all works! They'll be the last fish I add, so plenty of time to work it out.
I'd definitely start with small ones, so even if they get too big, I'll at least have them them for the interim. Maybe I can work out a 'trade down' deal with my LFS to grow them, then trade the large for small ones…
karimwassef
Active member
Gnat eating flatworms sound great but they might eat pods too?
Your tank looks great. Remember the aluminum foil branches and empty water bottles? Now a unique biotope. Like nature reclaiming a landfill, LOL.
Your tank looks great. Remember the aluminum foil branches and empty water bottles? Now a unique biotope. Like nature reclaiming a landfill, LOL.
karimwassef
Active member
By the way, I use diatomaceous powder for insect control in my garage (not many other options). Maybe I have silica loaded gnats? 
Thanks, Karim. I remember the early phases of the tank build, with the fake root and then another DIY project, then another. It kinda snow-balled…
But I'm happy with the results, and it's still all holding together, so that's good.
But I'm happy with the results, and it's still all holding together, so that's good.
Hi, apuhl20. Got some from Florida pets, and some from Live aquaria.
That's a great question. I think everyone should have a plan for their tank. From cleanup crews, to fish species' order of introduction, to plants and inverts. A good plan is the difference between a 'nightmare experience', and 'smooth sailing'. Having a plan is essential to getting what you want out of your tank. And the order of introduction, is critical for building a harmonious fish community. I penned an article on the subject, about seven years ago, for "Fresh Water and Marine Aquarium" magazine, titled 'Harmonious Convergence'.
So yes, JLynn, I do have a plan for stocking. It's more of a sequence, rather than a time line, though. I guess you could say I'm going by feel, rather than time. Not that I'm ignoring it. Time is just one of several factors I'm considering.
The tank is at 3 weeks now. This is probably the most 'toxic' moment in the tank's life, somewhere near the middle of cycling. The plants (and algae) are doing well right now, but I'm hesitant to add any animals. The snails are at day 5, and I'm trying to decide when and if to add more herbivores. So at this point, I'm watching the tank, and trying to learn where it is (in the nitrogen cycle) and what it needs.
Sequence:
Add more cleanup crew members as needed.
Cure uncured caribbean live rock, externally. Add to tank.
Add 7 Sunshine Chromis.
Add 7 Royal Grammas.
Add 6 Chalk Bass.
Add 1 Horned Blenny.
Add 1 Atlantic Blue Tang, small, yellow phase.
Add 4 Cherub Angel fish.
Add 2 Lookdowns.
So that's basically it. Somewhere along the way, after cycling, I'll introduce the inverts, which will include gorgonia, sponge and anemone species, specific to the Caribbean.
Figuring out the detrivore/herbivore numbers, will be the trickiest part. For example, right now, algae is taking off, and 20 snails doesn't seem near enough to handle it. But I don't want to have too many 'cleaners' when the tank settles down. I'm very tempted to get that Blenny in there, but I don't want it to be the first fish in the tank. I may bring in a 'temp' for this job. I'm considering adding a single Molly, for algae control. When its 'work' is done, It'll go into the quarantine tank.
I'm also playing around with adding more pods and maybe some feeder shrimp.
Notable absentees on the list are Butterflyfish and Silversides. I'd love to have butterflies, but they eat anemones, which are more important to me for this tank. I was very excited when it was pointed out that there is a source for Silversides. The problem with them is they are voracious planktivores. I hope to maintain a large population of plankton in the tank, which will be hard enough, with an already planktivore-heavy fish list.
Adding live rock so late in the sequence is unusual, but in this tank, live rock is more for species diversification, rather than filtration. I'm only adding 25 pounds - a very small amount, compared to reef tanks. With a planted tank, the plants are doing most of the filtering, so live rock is much less important-even unnecessary. I'm most interested in what comes along with the live rock, as in Caribbean-specific pods, worms, plants, etc.
So, I do have a plan, but I'm open to suggestions!
So yes, JLynn, I do have a plan for stocking. It's more of a sequence, rather than a time line, though. I guess you could say I'm going by feel, rather than time. Not that I'm ignoring it. Time is just one of several factors I'm considering.
The tank is at 3 weeks now. This is probably the most 'toxic' moment in the tank's life, somewhere near the middle of cycling. The plants (and algae) are doing well right now, but I'm hesitant to add any animals. The snails are at day 5, and I'm trying to decide when and if to add more herbivores. So at this point, I'm watching the tank, and trying to learn where it is (in the nitrogen cycle) and what it needs.
Sequence:
Add more cleanup crew members as needed.
Cure uncured caribbean live rock, externally. Add to tank.
Add 7 Sunshine Chromis.
Add 7 Royal Grammas.
Add 6 Chalk Bass.
Add 1 Horned Blenny.
Add 1 Atlantic Blue Tang, small, yellow phase.
Add 4 Cherub Angel fish.
Add 2 Lookdowns.
So that's basically it. Somewhere along the way, after cycling, I'll introduce the inverts, which will include gorgonia, sponge and anemone species, specific to the Caribbean.
Figuring out the detrivore/herbivore numbers, will be the trickiest part. For example, right now, algae is taking off, and 20 snails doesn't seem near enough to handle it. But I don't want to have too many 'cleaners' when the tank settles down. I'm very tempted to get that Blenny in there, but I don't want it to be the first fish in the tank. I may bring in a 'temp' for this job. I'm considering adding a single Molly, for algae control. When its 'work' is done, It'll go into the quarantine tank.
I'm also playing around with adding more pods and maybe some feeder shrimp.
Notable absentees on the list are Butterflyfish and Silversides. I'd love to have butterflies, but they eat anemones, which are more important to me for this tank. I was very excited when it was pointed out that there is a source for Silversides. The problem with them is they are voracious planktivores. I hope to maintain a large population of plankton in the tank, which will be hard enough, with an already planktivore-heavy fish list.
Adding live rock so late in the sequence is unusual, but in this tank, live rock is more for species diversification, rather than filtration. I'm only adding 25 pounds - a very small amount, compared to reef tanks. With a planted tank, the plants are doing most of the filtering, so live rock is much less important-even unnecessary. I'm most interested in what comes along with the live rock, as in Caribbean-specific pods, worms, plants, etc.
So, I do have a plan, but I'm open to suggestions!
saltwater sam
New member
Live rock is a game changer for the microfauna ecology of your tank, in the best way possible! So many little critters on there!
karimwassef
Active member
Silversides?? Where?
