Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank

[Michael Hoaster]

It's tricky! Not so much finding a personality fish, as finding one that doesn't wipe out other inhabitants that I'd prefer to keep.

I'll take a look at caribbean triggers and squirrels, but I think off the top of my head they'd eat my blennies and grammas.

I'm enjoying the "rebirth" of macro algae all over the tank. It's bouncing back - stay tuned!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks guys for the suggestions! I honestly haven't even considered a trigger!

So I looked at the trigger and squirrel - both eat small fish - bummer. Plus, I don't think I have a big enough spot for the trigger to sleep, at the moment. A very outside-the-box idea though! A pair of flame cardinals is an option, though they're not much for personality IMO.

I'd like to get a schooling fish, like the blue chromis, or possibly copper sweepers, or maybe even silversides. I'd like to get a medium fish with personality. I'm also dwelling on a harem of cherub angels…

 

[taricha]

I'd like to get a schooling fish, like the blue chromis, or possibly copper sweepers, or maybe even silversides.

Used to have some silversides. They schooled really tight together but weren't very active.
Although, that might have been because they were in a bag in my freezer.

 

[sam.basye]

Used to have some silversides. They schooled really tight together but weren't very active.
Although, that might have been because they were in a bag in my freezer.

Lmao! Funniest thing I've read is while.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Ha!

I am kind of curious to see how (live) silversides would work in my tank. I worry they might wipe out my pods, since that's what they eat, but I'm sure the grammas would enjoy having them (for dinner). mblaquaculture.com sells them, and also mysis. It would be interesting to see how my ecosystem would be affected by adding silversides and mysis. I imagine they'd be around for a little while, gradually disappearing over a few months. My pods would surely take a hit, but those are easily replenished. It's a thought.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

"I am Blenny. Hear me roar!"

The fake wall is getting a nice patina! I see caulerpa, turf algae, tiny grasilaria hayi, tiny blue hypnea, thousands of filter feeders, and three barnacle blennies.

 

[sam.basye]

"I am Blenny. Hear me roar!"

King of the snails! Lol
Great picture.

How are the grasses filling in and still plan on thinning the crop?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

King of the snails indeed! Unless the snails unite. Then he's screwed.

The grasses continue to multiply. It's really getting to the point that I need to get those turtle grasses out. The thought of actually doing it fills me with dread…

 

[Chibils]

If the trigger is anything like the other Xanthichthys triggers commonly available (bluethroat, gold margin) then they have tiny mouths and tend to be fairly quiet zipping around looking for food and being goofy. I've never had one though so I can't speak definitively.

If you get a new fish and he's not Caribbean though I won't tell. Diggin the patina on the wall and the sponge growth!

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Michael Hoaster]

That trigger is gorgeous! And tempting! But maybe a bit big and predatory, for my setup.

Probably the biggest temptation of fish outside the Caribbean, would be shrimp fish. These guys school and orient themselves vertically to hide amongst sea grass. The only ones I've seen available were pacific residents. I'd break the biotope rule for them in a second, but they're more of a seahorse/slow fish kind of fish, so they'd likely starve in my tank. But they would look so cool!

I'm crossing my fingers that the sponge redistribution I did the other day, will bear fruit. Watching the macros come back has been fascinating. They're popping up all over and I look forward to their maturation. If I succeed with sea grass, macros and sponges, I'll be a happy pappy! One realization I've come to, with this tank at least, is that fish are secondary to the ecosystem as a whole. So it's made me ridiculously picky about my fish choices! Thanks to all who have made the effort to suggest fish candidates! I know I'm a PITA and I appreciate your patience!

 

[jraker]

Shrimp fish are super cool. The Shedd Aquarium actually has a tank with them, and I saw them when I went there. It kinda sucks that you do have all those shrimp and anemones, because the Caribbean is mostly made up of amazing, yet non reef-safe fish. A Caribbean FOWLR would be a cool tank.

Speaking of your shrimp and anemones, how are they doing?

 

[McPuff]

Probably the biggest temptation of fish outside the Caribbean, would be shrimp fish. These guys school and orient themselves vertically to hide amongst sea grass. The only ones I've seen available were pacific residents. I'd break the biotope rule for them in a second, but they're more of a seahorse/slow fish kind of fish, so they'd likely starve in my tank. But they would look so cool!

What about a needle "gar" or other type of half beak? Those would actually look super cool in your tank and some of them stay quite small. I'm almost certain there is some type of "shrimp fish" in the Caribbean. I could be losing my mind, but I remember seeing them in the water.

 

[Chibils]

The Caribbean is so frustrating as a biotope because it's completely loaded with sponges and tunicates and gorgonians and other fascinating filter feeders and unique corals and all the interesting fish over there eat them!

It would be very difficult to maintain the diverse life in a Caribbean biotope while keeping the beautiful fish of the Caribbean like butterflies and angels from decimating it.

I think it's wise of you to prioritize the ecosystem over the fish - the fish are just one part of the system while the rest of the life (like the macros, sponges, gorgs and shrimp) are what really make it interesting.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[jraker]

By the way, Divers Den sometimes has trios of blue chromis, so that might be worth checking out. It seems like a better chance of getting a group than throwing three random ones in the tank and hoping the form a group.

 

[MorganAtlanta]

A lot of interesting fish will outgrow your tank, but isn't that what happens in the wild? I see juveniles of various fish all the time snorkeling the grass flats and shallows in the Caribbean. Maybe the answer is to focus on juveniles and re-home them when they get to the size where they would naturally move out to a different environment anyway. Juvenile angels, damsels, wrasses, tangs, puffers, trunkfish, cowfish are all common in your environment. Otherwise, I think you'll be limited to blennies and gobies, which are cool, but it would be nice to have a few larger fish that hung out mid water.

 

[sam.basye]

A lot of interesting fish will outgrow your tank, but isn't that what happens in the wild? I see juveniles of various fish all the time snorkeling the grass flats and shallows in the Caribbean. Maybe the answer is to focus on juveniles and re-home them when they get to the size where they would naturally move out to a different environment anyway. Juvenile angels, damsels, wrasses, tangs, puffers, trunkfish, cowfish are all common in your environment. Otherwise, I think you'll be limited to blennies and gobies, which are cool, but it would be nice to have a few larger fish that hung out mid water.

+1

I like this idea. That way you can have what you want.

I'm a sucker for juvenile fish anyways.

Great idea.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Hey! I've been out of town for eight days.

jraker, I was talking to McPuff about doing a larger Caribbean FOWLR tank. That would be sweet! The condylactis anemone is doing well! The spotted anemone shrimp is gone. The anemone shrank down for three consecutive days, leaving the shrimp exposed and vulnerable. I bet Big Daddy gramma got it. The other shrimp, Mr Pederson still wanders the sand bed like Don Quixote. The anemone seems happier, unburdened with the shrimp. I think it may still be a bit small for hosting a shrimp.

McPuff, some type of needle fish would be cool, possibly, if I could find the right ones. I think there must be a caribbean shrimp fish as well. I should talk to some of the caribbean collectors.

So true, Chibils! It's tricky.

Thanks, jraker, I saw those blue chromis trios. Makes sense. Maybe do two or three trios, or if I can find a school of juveniles, that may work, especially if I can find a better deal!

Welcome MorganAtlanta! You make an excellent point. The seagrasses are the nursery! Rotating in and out juveniles of a variety of fish makes sense-that's what happens in the wild. It would be so fun to try out all kinds of fish! The practical issues of doing that are a bit daunting for me though. Catching fish is rough on all concerned. Buying new fish more often might get a little pricey too. It's a great idea, but I may not be the man for the job! Let me give this some thought. It could work…

I'm with you, sam.basye. Morgan's post has me thinking! I always buy juveniles-they live longer. Plus, they're usually better tank citizens.

 

[MorganAtlanta]

Check out the prices direct from Diver Tom or one of the other Keys collectors. Common juveniles are just a few bucks a piece.

 

[Chibils]

Also check with Jordan at Among the Reef if you want something and can't find it. He can get just about anything.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I've been giving Morgan's idea some thought. Looking through the fish possibilities, I still see that most of them would or could be destructive to my ecosystem. For instance, a school of juvenile butterfly fish would be amazing. But at some point, they'd likely go after my anemone and gorgonia, and spaghetti worms. If I knew they could be trusted for a year or so, that could work, but it seems unlikely. It's the same with other fish - and I'm not crazy about adding fish with an expiration date. I really don't like catching fish - especially if I know going in that it's probably going to harm something I'm trying to keep happy.

As much as I like to declare my tank is not a reef tank, it has much more in common with them than fish-only tanks. This ecosystem-in-a-box, is maybe even more restrictive than reef tanks, regarding fish options. Having done this for 30+ years, I am no longer willing to knowingly add fish that are likely to need removing. Obviously, I made exceptions with the tang and filefish, but they were added for utility. The tang was a huge help, controlling caulerpa, and as it turned out, his appetite was bigger than my 180 gallon tank could support. The file did a good job eating aiptasias, and was easy to catch. Unfortunately, once she was removed, they started coming back, so I'm looking at other solutions.

It is a great idea though. I think it's a little better suited to a larger, FOWLR tank.

Next up, I want to discuss and post pics of my tank after eight days of neglect!