karimwassef
Active member
Tangs consume a lot of vegetation. Mine each consume half a sheet of Nori every day. What are you dosing to accelerate growth?
Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
Full Tank Shot
Full Tank Shot
I had to wait until it was almost dark outside, to avoid reflections, but I got it.
It's good to get an overall view, though I wish I could get more detail. Notice at the left end of the DSB planter, there's not much caulerpa left. Also note the bulge in Mr Tang's tummy! All seven grammas are visible.
Full Tank Shot
I had to wait until it was almost dark outside, to avoid reflections, but I got it.
It's good to get an overall view, though I wish I could get more detail. Notice at the left end of the DSB planter, there's not much caulerpa left. Also note the bulge in Mr Tang's tummy! All seven grammas are visible.
I had to wait until it was almost dark outside, to avoid reflections, but I got it.
It's good to get an overall view, though I wish I could get more detail. Notice at the left end of the DSB planter, there's not much caulerpa left. Also note the bulge in Mr Tang's tummy! All seven grammas are visible.
Wow! Everything looks great. I can't believe how natural everything looks, especially the root. Great job man.
Thanks again, Portsie, for the FTS suggestion. Your comment on how natural everything looks means a lot to me. That's really what I'm going for! That root was a real challenge, and I'm thrilled it's still functioning!
Michael,
Your Caribbean bio-theme reinforces John Tullocks book "The Natural Reef Aquarium". Like you, I prefer the "KISS PRINCIPAL". Keep the pictures coming. Your thread is a joy to follow as it reenforces the direction that I have chosen.
On post 1312 your last picture shows Botryocladia emerging a year after disintegrating. What lighting are you now using and have you changed lighting from a yeaqr ago? Also, the green macro behind the Red Grapes looks to me to be Acetabularia (Maidens Wine Glass). If so, you have accomplished much.
Thanks, McPuff. The tang appears happy, and fat! Right now, I'm really enjoying the yellow phase. Hopefully I can get a descent pic before he turns blue!
I'm still hoping to get the caulerpa back up to speed, to keep him well fed. It's going to be close! If I do ultimately fail in my quest to reach a caulerpa/tang equilibrium, I wonder how big a tank it would require to succeed.
I'm still hoping to get the caulerpa back up to speed, to keep him well fed. It's going to be close! If I do ultimately fail in my quest to reach a caulerpa/tang equilibrium, I wonder how big a tank it would require to succeed.
I just happen to be rereading "The Natural Reef Aquarium" right now. It's a good one, with lots of Caribbean references. I've bought and read a ton of books over the years.
Another one that's had a major influence on this tank, is Walter Adey's "Dynamic Aquaria". It's like a science textbook! His viewpoint was unencumbered by conventional aquarium wisdom of the time - just pure science and nature. Years later, several of his innovations, like algae scrubbers and refugiums are relatively common. One of the best things I got from his book was the notion of building our little ecosystems from the bottom up. Instead of just saying "I want to keep these fish and these corals, so I need to buy this, that and the other gizmo", he said "I want to model this slice of the ocean, so let's start with the dirt from that place."
My lighting hasn't changed, with the exception of the addition of moonlight LEDs. I'm still running a single 5500 K 400 watt metal halide bulb in a Spider Light reflector. My tank's depth is 30 inches, and I don't have a big pile of rocks, so everything is right on the sand. The bulb is about 10 inches above the water and 10 inches from the left end of the tank, with the reflector tilted at about 30 degrees, towards the right end. This gives me a nice gradient of light across the tank, so different plants can find their favorite light intensity. It was VERY difficult to leave it so asymmetrical at first, but with time I got used to it. I still plan to keep sponges at the right end, so it makes sense. I don't use a UV shield, as I don't recall ever seeing them snorkeling.
As far as I know, the only green macro I have is caulerpa racemosa peltata. I can see why you'd think that it is wine glass, as the shape is similar, in that part of the tank. In the brighter areas, they're smaller and more grape like. So, no big deal. I'm trying to avoid keeping anything considered difficult. I'm all about keeping it easy!
Thanks for posting, Subsea, keep 'em coming! I'd love to hear and see more of your operation. Gotta thread?
Another one that's had a major influence on this tank, is Walter Adey's "Dynamic Aquaria". It's like a science textbook! His viewpoint was unencumbered by conventional aquarium wisdom of the time - just pure science and nature. Years later, several of his innovations, like algae scrubbers and refugiums are relatively common. One of the best things I got from his book was the notion of building our little ecosystems from the bottom up. Instead of just saying "I want to keep these fish and these corals, so I need to buy this, that and the other gizmo", he said "I want to model this slice of the ocean, so let's start with the dirt from that place."
My lighting hasn't changed, with the exception of the addition of moonlight LEDs. I'm still running a single 5500 K 400 watt metal halide bulb in a Spider Light reflector. My tank's depth is 30 inches, and I don't have a big pile of rocks, so everything is right on the sand. The bulb is about 10 inches above the water and 10 inches from the left end of the tank, with the reflector tilted at about 30 degrees, towards the right end. This gives me a nice gradient of light across the tank, so different plants can find their favorite light intensity. It was VERY difficult to leave it so asymmetrical at first, but with time I got used to it. I still plan to keep sponges at the right end, so it makes sense. I don't use a UV shield, as I don't recall ever seeing them snorkeling.
As far as I know, the only green macro I have is caulerpa racemosa peltata. I can see why you'd think that it is wine glass, as the shape is similar, in that part of the tank. In the brighter areas, they're smaller and more grape like. So, no big deal. I'm trying to avoid keeping anything considered difficult. I'm all about keeping it easy!
Thanks for posting, Subsea, keep 'em coming! I'd love to hear and see more of your operation. Gotta thread?
Michael,
Until your in tank macro catches up, consider growing Ulva in a 5G bucket with an air stone and a 24W CFL at 5K.
I will soon start up a thread on my 55G macro lagoon with a small patch reef. Due to my computer illiteracy, picture posting is a problem. However, I have a new partner that is very savy with the process and he will assist with utube video.
My one reef tank is a 75G Jaubert Plenum on top with a 30G mud filter/refugium on bottom.
I do have some pictures and videos on my website which will soon be reactivated as a business: www.aquacultureranch.com
My one reef tank is a 75G Jaubert Plenum on top with a 30G mud filter/refugium on bottom.
I do have some pictures and videos on my website which will soon be reactivated as a business: www.aquacultureranch.com
Ooh, that's a good idea with the ulva, Subsea. I think I still have a few small bits in the tank.
I look forward to reading your thread!
I look forward to reading your thread!
saltwater sam
New member
Looks like they're having a good time!
Speaking of having a good time, I think I just witnessed raunchy fish sex!
I was giving my tank a first-thing-in-the-morning lookover. I noticed the two barnacle blennies in the barnacle shells were darker than normal and they were doing a kind of dance. It was sort of an up and down or in and out motion. Then I noticed that one of the other blennies, that lives in a hole in the fake wall, was down there visiting. This blenny is noticeably smaller. I just figured it was another little territory squabble, but this time something different happened.
Instead of mouth gaping displays and fighting, the little visitor went right into the barnacle shell WITH the other one. And he didn't seem to mind at all! She disappeared down in there for probably less than a minute, while he kept his head out, trying to act like nothing fishy was going on. In the meantime, the other male in the barnacles kept up with his dance moves. Then she emerged from the first one's lair and went right into other male's barnacle! Again, she was in there for less than a minute, then she emerged and went back to her regular hole in the wall.
I'm pretty sure this was a spawning event. From the way it went down, I have made a few deductions:
Eggs were laid and fertilized inside the barnacle shells.
Since the female went back to here own hole, after spawning with both males, she has no further parental duties.
The males will be caring for their own clutches of eggs alone.
It'll be interesting to see how the males' behavior changes. Will they be more aggressive/territorial? How will they tend to the eggs? Will they fan them with their tails and/or nibble at them like clown fish to keep them clean?
From a quick web search, I found that they are benthic egg-layers, with pelagic larva. So the babies will be on their own after hatching.
Well, I'll keep an eye on them, and report any findings.
I was giving my tank a first-thing-in-the-morning lookover. I noticed the two barnacle blennies in the barnacle shells were darker than normal and they were doing a kind of dance. It was sort of an up and down or in and out motion. Then I noticed that one of the other blennies, that lives in a hole in the fake wall, was down there visiting. This blenny is noticeably smaller. I just figured it was another little territory squabble, but this time something different happened.
Instead of mouth gaping displays and fighting, the little visitor went right into the barnacle shell WITH the other one. And he didn't seem to mind at all! She disappeared down in there for probably less than a minute, while he kept his head out, trying to act like nothing fishy was going on. In the meantime, the other male in the barnacles kept up with his dance moves. Then she emerged from the first one's lair and went right into other male's barnacle! Again, she was in there for less than a minute, then she emerged and went back to her regular hole in the wall.
I'm pretty sure this was a spawning event. From the way it went down, I have made a few deductions:
Eggs were laid and fertilized inside the barnacle shells.
Since the female went back to here own hole, after spawning with both males, she has no further parental duties.
The males will be caring for their own clutches of eggs alone.
It'll be interesting to see how the males' behavior changes. Will they be more aggressive/territorial? How will they tend to the eggs? Will they fan them with their tails and/or nibble at them like clown fish to keep them clean?
From a quick web search, I found that they are benthic egg-layers, with pelagic larva. So the babies will be on their own after hatching.
Well, I'll keep an eye on them, and report any findings.
karimwassef
Active member
Curious to see if a sumpless system is more conducive to fry surviving...
karimwassef
Active member
Wow... The second from the bottom is gallery quality!
