Thanks, Sam. That's awesome to hear! Tell your wife I said thank you. I consider her comments the ultimate compliment!
Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
Xeniaamore
New member
Natural vs reef sand in this case simply meant the marine mud from which I dug the plants out of versus store bought live sand which I think came from Fiji
One more:
I wanted to comment on some of the pics, but I didn't have time, at the time. But now I do!
Thanks, Portsie. I'm glad you liked the full tank shot. Unfortunately there were some reflections, but it's not too bad I guess.
Thank you, cksss. I wish there was more encrusting going on, with the fake root. I've been looking into other encrusting stuff for it. In some places, the caulerpa is expanding its coverage, while contracting in others, via Zippy's nibblings.
And thanks, Xeniaamore, for your explanation. I'm jealous of your being able to get them with their dirt!
In the FTSs, you can see how the caulerpa is growing very well, in the middle, bottom of the tank, but there is less coverage on the back wall, where Zippy has put most of his effort. There's still a very thick (6"+) stand around the top. So, there is still a lot of caulerpa.
On the seagrass shots, you can see that there are more taller manatee grass plants across the width of the DSB. I'm still planning on trading in the turtle grass plants for more manatee grass. Probably the first week in April. I am both looking forward to, and dreading it!
In some the shots of Zippy, you can see hints of pattern in his coloring.
I wanted to comment on some of the pics, but I didn't have time, at the time. But now I do!
Thanks, Portsie. I'm glad you liked the full tank shot. Unfortunately there were some reflections, but it's not too bad I guess.
Thank you, cksss. I wish there was more encrusting going on, with the fake root. I've been looking into other encrusting stuff for it. In some places, the caulerpa is expanding its coverage, while contracting in others, via Zippy's nibblings.
And thanks, Xeniaamore, for your explanation. I'm jealous of your being able to get them with their dirt!
In the FTSs, you can see how the caulerpa is growing very well, in the middle, bottom of the tank, but there is less coverage on the back wall, where Zippy has put most of his effort. There's still a very thick (6"+) stand around the top. So, there is still a lot of caulerpa.
On the seagrass shots, you can see that there are more taller manatee grass plants across the width of the DSB. I'm still planning on trading in the turtle grass plants for more manatee grass. Probably the first week in April. I am both looking forward to, and dreading it!
In some the shots of Zippy, you can see hints of pattern in his coloring.
I started a new CO2 bottle today. I'll try to get an accurate time of use this time.
sam.basye
New member
I was thinking of CO² for the next tank.. I was thinking I could be even lazier, setting up something like your canister reactor, as I completely suck about doing water changes, additives, and testing.. Lol
Tank is looking great!
Only thing that could make it better is snorkeling and seeing the same thing!
Tank is looking great!
Only thing that could make it better is snorkeling and seeing the same thing!
Thanks, Sam. There's always a lazier way to do something. That is what I seek. I'd call it my quest, but that sounds like a lot of work!
You might be interested to hear I'm seriously considering breaking out my old 2 liter soda bottle trap tomorrow. The two males are still at it. It never really gets out of hand, but they just can't seem to let it go. I'm less concerned for their safety than the five other horny females, who seem to be losing patience. Spawning seems unlikely while this feud goes on. So, with a heavy heart I may have to reduce their number to 6. Of course, that's assuming I'm actually able to trap one of them. But, the trap has worked before. Who knows, it may even inspire you to make one! Just in case…
You might be interested to hear I'm seriously considering breaking out my old 2 liter soda bottle trap tomorrow. The two males are still at it. It never really gets out of hand, but they just can't seem to let it go. I'm less concerned for their safety than the five other horny females, who seem to be losing patience. Spawning seems unlikely while this feud goes on. So, with a heavy heart I may have to reduce their number to 6. Of course, that's assuming I'm actually able to trap one of them. But, the trap has worked before. Who knows, it may even inspire you to make one! Just in case…
sam.basye
New member
You know the, take one gramma out, put 8 more back in theory?
Lol I want more grammas I there.
How do you differentiate the sexes?
Do post pics of the bottle trap. You do know it's not nearly as fun baiting the trap and pulling the fish out. You don't get too cuss, break things, and spend half the day telling the fish your putting them up for adoption when you finally catch them. Haha
Oh and I was thinking of re-foaming the top of my wall at the overflow where the eggcrate is showing. Nervous about nuking the tank with it or something..
Lol I want more grammas I there.
How do you differentiate the sexes?
Do post pics of the bottle trap. You do know it's not nearly as fun baiting the trap and pulling the fish out. You don't get too cuss, break things, and spend half the day telling the fish your putting them up for adoption when you finally catch them. Haha
Oh and I was thinking of re-foaming the top of my wall at the overflow where the eggcrate is showing. Nervous about nuking the tank with it or something..
Adding eight back in sounds awesome-but kinda disastrous! With grammas, and several other fishes, immature fish all start as female. And they gather into harems, where the largest female turns into a male. So, if you buy, say five smalls and one large fish, you're (almost) guaranteed to get five females and one male. In my situation, the largest of the small ones turned out to be male, and I have a feud. So it's not so much as sexing them, as playing the percentages and hoping!
I'll get some pics of the trap.
Maybe you could run your water level low for a few days, while you work on your wall. I remember, awhile back, doing that, so I could drill my tank. I just floated a cookie sheet under the drill sites!
I'll get some pics of the trap.
Maybe you could run your water level low for a few days, while you work on your wall. I remember, awhile back, doing that, so I could drill my tank. I just floated a cookie sheet under the drill sites!
Le Trappe:
Pretty simple construction.
Baited and lowered into place, where the boys hang out. This could take awhile!
Pretty simple construction.
Baited and lowered into place, where the boys hang out. This could take awhile!
Two days later, and still no takers on the trap. I'm not feeding the tank, so I'm hoping hunger will motivate them. Patience.
There's no way I could net one of them out. The only other method I can think of would be to fish one out, with a baited hook and line. Not ideal but doable. Fishing in my own aquarium is a surreal experience!
There's no way I could net one of them out. The only other method I can think of would be to fish one out, with a baited hook and line. Not ideal but doable. Fishing in my own aquarium is a surreal experience!
Well, I've removed the trap, empty-handed. I had it in there for two days. The two males have settled down. They're trying to coexist. Maybe they can.
Generally, I'd say seagrass need light levels similar to or brighter than reef lighting, with a more daylight color. They mostly live in shallow water.
Are you thinking of adding some to your tank? That might be cool!
Generally, I'd say seagrass need light levels similar to or brighter than reef lighting, with a more daylight color. They mostly live in shallow water.
Are you thinking of adding some to your tank? That might be cool!
sam.basye
New member
You've got me thinking twice about your trusted bottle trap design...
This is the problem when the fish are smarter than you. Lol I resort to stressing the fish out by chasing them for an hour till they get tired and give up. Much like offshore fishing. Except the fish are only 2" long and I have a primitive net.
I was thinking about adding some grasses since my silver fish lives amongst them in the wild by placing some in the back right corner. It's not very well lit though..
This is the problem when the fish are smarter than you. Lol I resort to stressing the fish out by chasing them for an hour till they get tired and give up. Much like offshore fishing. Except the fish are only 2" long and I have a primitive net.
I was thinking about adding some grasses since my silver fish lives amongst them in the wild by placing some in the back right corner. It's not very well lit though..
It's a good design. They are pretty smart! I removed it for multiple reasons. The anemone appeared to be moving towards it, and got away from the back wall. Once it was out on the sand, it was unattached, and ready to roll-literally. I was starving the tank of food, to encourage them to go into the trap, and I grew tired of that. But the main reason was because the males seem to have called a truce. They still mess with each other a little, but they're much more half-hearted and brief. I was watching them today. One is gathering little pieces of macro algae and building a nest! Zippy has tried to steal from him, as he brings back more.
I gave the anemone a friendly push to the back wall. It looks to be attached now, so I fed it. I fed the rest of the tank too, felt good.
For your tank I'd recommend shoal grass, as it's smaller, at about a foot tall. It doesn't require a deep sand bed either. You won't like it in the corner. Its movement would be impeded. Ideally, you'd plant it in the middle, so it can sway naturally in the current.
One other thought. With your current water change schedule, you may want something that sucks up nutrients faster. Check out caulerpa prolifera. It's a fast-growing macro, that looks like a seagrass.
I gave the anemone a friendly push to the back wall. It looks to be attached now, so I fed it. I fed the rest of the tank too, felt good.
For your tank I'd recommend shoal grass, as it's smaller, at about a foot tall. It doesn't require a deep sand bed either. You won't like it in the corner. Its movement would be impeded. Ideally, you'd plant it in the middle, so it can sway naturally in the current.
One other thought. With your current water change schedule, you may want something that sucks up nutrients faster. Check out caulerpa prolifera. It's a fast-growing macro, that looks like a seagrass.
jraker
New member
Michael, I know this is a seagrass tank, but have you ever considered some corals? I recently went diving in the Florida keys, and in addition to lots of seagrass, there were fields of gorgonians and sea fans. There were also some pretty large maze brain corals, like 10 foot long brain corals.
On the topic of butterflys. I would recommend the Atlantic longnose butterfly. It is a little bit hard to find but it's a cool fish. I got mine off live Aquaria. And he has been completely reef safe so far. If you wanted zoanthids and/or ricordias you could always isolate each to their own rock on the sand. They are also both relatively easy to frag or prune.
Also yellowhead jawfish have a ton of personality if you wanted to add another group of fish. This is one of my favorite threads!
Also yellowhead jawfish have a ton of personality if you wanted to add another group of fish. This is one of my favorite threads!
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Hey, jraker! That's awesome you went diving in the keys. Jealous!
With the focus on seagrass, I have limited my attempts to keep corals, so far.
Since I'm "all in" with plants, I want to limit the risk to the health of corals, as I try my hand at dosing all kinds of stuff to benefit the grasses. Some of the things I've done would make a reefer's head explode! I am not knowledgable enough to know how to best care for both grasses and corals, simultaneously. I'd like to be, and maybe I will be, at some point. Right now, I'm just trying to keep it simple and EASY.
But I agree, it would be cool to have a few corals, associated with seagrass beds, and I plan to eventually. I have dipped my toe in the water, so to speak. I have a small tan gorgonian, I've kept alive for over a year now. I'm pretty happy about that, as gorgonians have a pretty dismal survival rate in aquariums. I have been trying different foods, etc. but I haven't gotten to the point where I am confident enough to invest in more of them. I do hope to have more in the future. I also have a condylactis anemone, which often live in seagrass beds. This creature has been my canary in the coal mine, letting me know when my dosing is getting out of hand. On my ten pounds of farmed live rock I have a few single polyp corals that seem to be doing fine.
I love maze brain corals, and I'd like to try my hand at one, assuming I can acquire it legally. So, maybe, in the future, I will.
So, one of these days, I'll have seagrasses figured out enough that I can shift focus to a few, hardy corals.
With the focus on seagrass, I have limited my attempts to keep corals, so far.
Since I'm "all in" with plants, I want to limit the risk to the health of corals, as I try my hand at dosing all kinds of stuff to benefit the grasses. Some of the things I've done would make a reefer's head explode! I am not knowledgable enough to know how to best care for both grasses and corals, simultaneously. I'd like to be, and maybe I will be, at some point. Right now, I'm just trying to keep it simple and EASY.
But I agree, it would be cool to have a few corals, associated with seagrass beds, and I plan to eventually. I have dipped my toe in the water, so to speak. I have a small tan gorgonian, I've kept alive for over a year now. I'm pretty happy about that, as gorgonians have a pretty dismal survival rate in aquariums. I have been trying different foods, etc. but I haven't gotten to the point where I am confident enough to invest in more of them. I do hope to have more in the future. I also have a condylactis anemone, which often live in seagrass beds. This creature has been my canary in the coal mine, letting me know when my dosing is getting out of hand. On my ten pounds of farmed live rock I have a few single polyp corals that seem to be doing fine.
I love maze brain corals, and I'd like to try my hand at one, assuming I can acquire it legally. So, maybe, in the future, I will.
So, one of these days, I'll have seagrasses figured out enough that I can shift focus to a few, hardy corals.
