I'd definitely try it again. I got mine on sale at petsmart for a buck each. They did fine with my usual, one hour acclimation. I do run my salinity on the low side, but that shouldn't make much difference.
Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
mountainraised
New member
I love your red macro-algae!
Thank you mountainraised, and welcome!
Norbert is improving, eating more aggressively than before. Having the mollie fry to add to the feedings is great! It keeps him hunting all day, sharpening his skills. It's bizarre watching his belly fill, being such a thin fish.
Sheldon is geting picky at times, spitting out mysis. No more feeders for him. The blennies and the grammas are loving the extra food. The blennies will take ridiculously large bits, in their ridiculously large mouths.
I added some mussel to the food brew, and gave a big chunk to the anemone. I grated it too small to interest Sheldon, but everyone else liked it.
This whole lookdown ordeal has turned out to be much more of hassle than I anticipated. It's taking my attention away from everything else. Not good. But I bought them and they are in my care. So I'm doing everything I can think of to keep them alive. I just have to refocus on the rest of the tank as well. I'm pretty sure Sheldon is all good, and it's a joy to watch him, surfing the currents and stuff. He's not much bigger than Zippy, the atlantic blue tang. Kind of reminds me of him, or a chromed version of him. Hopefully, I'll have Norbert up to speed soon. Getting him in quarantine was the right call. I guess I could move the mollies up to the display with him-we'll see.
Having in-tank carnivore food generation is pretty handy. And this gets back to the self-sustaining aquarium ideal. I supply light and current, Mother Nature makes the algae, the mollies eat the algae and make babies, and the carnivores eat the babies. Circle of life. Of course it's not that simple, but an ideal to reach towards, that I find fascinating.
Sheldon is geting picky at times, spitting out mysis. No more feeders for him. The blennies and the grammas are loving the extra food. The blennies will take ridiculously large bits, in their ridiculously large mouths.
I added some mussel to the food brew, and gave a big chunk to the anemone. I grated it too small to interest Sheldon, but everyone else liked it.
This whole lookdown ordeal has turned out to be much more of hassle than I anticipated. It's taking my attention away from everything else. Not good. But I bought them and they are in my care. So I'm doing everything I can think of to keep them alive. I just have to refocus on the rest of the tank as well. I'm pretty sure Sheldon is all good, and it's a joy to watch him, surfing the currents and stuff. He's not much bigger than Zippy, the atlantic blue tang. Kind of reminds me of him, or a chromed version of him. Hopefully, I'll have Norbert up to speed soon. Getting him in quarantine was the right call. I guess I could move the mollies up to the display with him-we'll see.
Having in-tank carnivore food generation is pretty handy. And this gets back to the self-sustaining aquarium ideal. I supply light and current, Mother Nature makes the algae, the mollies eat the algae and make babies, and the carnivores eat the babies. Circle of life. Of course it's not that simple, but an ideal to reach towards, that I find fascinating.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Thanks Chasmodes!
I hope so. Lookdown intensive care is getting old. I'd really like to see more progress. He's getting there. It is fun to watch him hunt and catch live minnows. Hopefully I'll get a mollie population explosion here soon, so I don't have to buy feeders so often.
I hope so. Lookdown intensive care is getting old. I'd really like to see more progress. He's getting there. It is fun to watch him hunt and catch live minnows. Hopefully I'll get a mollie population explosion here soon, so I don't have to buy feeders so often.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
It sounds like you might need your own feeder tank full of adult mollies and some cover for the fry. You can keep them nice and fat by adding what you export from your DT. Or maybe that is too much (not sure of your space requirements, etc.), perhaps more expensive or not worth the effort to maintain than just buying feeders?
I need to go back and look at how you made your mangrove root. Very cool. I might do something similar in my FW native tank (make a nice root system).
I need to go back and look at how you made your mangrove root. Very cool. I might do something similar in my FW native tank (make a nice root system).
You are right, Chasmodes. I need to generate my own feeders, because buying them is getting expensive. Right now I have 4 females and one male mollie. I have no idea how many I need at this point. Also I'm trying to decide whether to move them into the display, when I move Norbert back in, or keep them in the QT. I like the idea of having them as part of the ecosystem in the display, but I lost 3 mollies when my plague of snails took over. Of course, I could just feed them.
Hopefully, once I get Norbert back to full strength, he'll transition to frozen foods, so there won't be as much need for feeders. Jeez, what a mess!
Hopefully, once I get Norbert back to full strength, he'll transition to frozen foods, so there won't be as much need for feeders. Jeez, what a mess!
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Yeah, that's the goal. I hope he transitions for you. Hang in there!
I just read your entire mangrove root build thread, cool stuff. I think it turned out pretty awesome.
Chasmodes, I'm glad you enjoyed the fake root thread. I could see you doing something similar, maybe with some bivalves attached.
NORBERT WATCH UPDATE:
LFS was out of small feeders today, so I got some mediums. They are close to two inches, so a pretty big step up. Norbert ate four, the last one getting a little caught in his throat. He did get it down though. Maybe four is his limit at this size.
I tried some frozen mysis this morning and he ate one, discarded the rest. Small progress, but I'll take it.
NORBERT WATCH UPDATE:
LFS was out of small feeders today, so I got some mediums. They are close to two inches, so a pretty big step up. Norbert ate four, the last one getting a little caught in his throat. He did get it down though. Maybe four is his limit at this size.
I tried some frozen mysis this morning and he ate one, discarded the rest. Small progress, but I'll take it.
Wow, four days since my last post. That must be a record!
Not a ton to report. Norbert's looking really good, but still not eating frozen foods, so I'm keeping him in QT. Sheldon's doing great in the display, eating heartily.
The seagrasses and macros are doing well. I'm relieved to see that no micro algae has reared up, since the heavy feedings I've been doing with the lookdowns.
The grammas and blennies are great. They're enjoying the extra food. I have no concerns at all that the lookdowns could threaten them. In fact, spawning activity has increased, especially with five of the blennies in the barnacles.
The condylactis anemone looks great. It's getting bigger, since I've increased the size of its meals. Since it seems unlikely aquarists could ever equal the light intensity these guys get in nature, that it should be helpful to compensate by giving them more food.
As for the added, decorative sponges, the tree sponge frags are hanging in there, but not thriving or growing. The new fan sponge looks the best of them, with no sign of decline. The ridge sponge has growing areas of dead tissue, so it's not doing great. I'm tempted to remove the dead parts, but I don't want to risk dislodging the sponge. I don't know why introduced sponges don't do well in my tank, while the resident (live rock encrusted) sponges are great. Maybe they needed to be attached to a rock, or my salinity is too low, or the dosing bothers them. It's a bummer because I really wanted a healthy and beautiful sponge population. If I could get just one species to take off, I'd be happy at this point. I'll keep trying.
Not a ton to report. Norbert's looking really good, but still not eating frozen foods, so I'm keeping him in QT. Sheldon's doing great in the display, eating heartily.
The seagrasses and macros are doing well. I'm relieved to see that no micro algae has reared up, since the heavy feedings I've been doing with the lookdowns.
The grammas and blennies are great. They're enjoying the extra food. I have no concerns at all that the lookdowns could threaten them. In fact, spawning activity has increased, especially with five of the blennies in the barnacles.
The condylactis anemone looks great. It's getting bigger, since I've increased the size of its meals. Since it seems unlikely aquarists could ever equal the light intensity these guys get in nature, that it should be helpful to compensate by giving them more food.
As for the added, decorative sponges, the tree sponge frags are hanging in there, but not thriving or growing. The new fan sponge looks the best of them, with no sign of decline. The ridge sponge has growing areas of dead tissue, so it's not doing great. I'm tempted to remove the dead parts, but I don't want to risk dislodging the sponge. I don't know why introduced sponges don't do well in my tank, while the resident (live rock encrusted) sponges are great. Maybe they needed to be attached to a rock, or my salinity is too low, or the dosing bothers them. It's a bummer because I really wanted a healthy and beautiful sponge population. If I could get just one species to take off, I'd be happy at this point. I'll keep trying.
Did a small pruning today. Getting a bit overgrown. When it gets this way, I want it to be tidier. When it gets tidied up, I wish it were more overgrown…
In Sponge News, one of the tree sponge frags shows growth! I took a good look at them today and noticed it. Now if all (4) the tree sponge frags started growing, that would be sweet!
I wonder if it's responding to the sodium silicate. I've been dosing more lately. Like calcium is for corals, silicate is for sponges - its building blocks.
In Sponge News, one of the tree sponge frags shows growth! I took a good look at them today and noticed it. Now if all (4) the tree sponge frags started growing, that would be sweet!
I wonder if it's responding to the sodium silicate. I've been dosing more lately. Like calcium is for corals, silicate is for sponges - its building blocks.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
I remember reading another thread, I think for a deep water tank, where someone mentioned feeding yeast to their sponges (not powder) and they responded well to that. If I find that post, then I'll post the link.
Edit: Link found http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18507628&postcount=133
Edit: Link found http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18507628&postcount=133
Last edited:
sam.basye
New member
Hello! Just back from camping in the desert for a week. Tank's good, all fish accounted for. Plants all look good too, with Corpse Bride Grasilaria really getting big. How big could it get? The ridge sponge continues to decline, while other sponges are doing well.
Sheldon looks a bit thin, but he always does. Norbert is fine, still in QT, with 7 silver mollies.
I'm still debating whether to bring the mollies up to the big show with Norbert, when he goes. Adding a live food source for the lookdowns seems like a good idea. Having them in the display goes nicely with my "everything in the display" mantra. Mollies are kinda caribbean. And they occur naturally in this type of lagoonal environment. I also like the idea of the lookdowns hunting for food. The grammas and the blennies do. Why shouldn't they? Natural hunting behavior has got to be good for them, and is fun to watch! I think I've just about talked myself into it!
This very idea was discussed pretty early in this thread, back when I was going through various caribbean options on the fish list.
Welcome Joel 155! Lot's of good stuff on this thread, enjoy! Your idea of combining a reef and seagrass tanks into one system is cool! Walter Adey did the same thing at the Smithsonian.
Sam, I hope this gets you through till next time! And you? Anything to report?
sam.basye
New member
Not really. Lol
Hello! Just back from camping in the desert for a week. Tank's good, all fish accounted for. Plants all look good too, with Corpse Bride Grasilaria really getting big. How big could it get? The ridge sponge continues to decline, while other sponges are doing well.
Sheldon looks a bit thin, but he always does. Norbert is fine, still in QT, with 7 silver mollies.
I'm still debating whether to bring the mollies up to the big show with Norbert, when he goes. Adding a live food source for the lookdowns seems like a good idea. Having them in the display goes nicely with my "everything in the display" mantra. Mollies are kinda caribbean. And they occur naturally in this type of lagoonal environment. I also like the idea of the lookdowns hunting for food. The grammas and the blennies do. Why shouldn't they? Natural hunting behavior has got to be good for them, and is fun to watch! I think I've just about talked myself into it!
This very idea was discussed pretty early in this thread, back when I was going through various caribbean options on the fish list.
Welcome Joel 155! Lot's of good stuff on this thread, enjoy! Your idea of combining a reef and seagrass tanks into one system is cool! Walter Adey did the same thing at the Smithsonian.
Sam, I hope this gets you through till next time! And you? Anything to report?
I did list the clowns and my big GSP rock on the CL earlier today. The damsel has been on CL for free, but no takers... Gonna try a new clown pair or maybe a 6 line wrasse. Saw a really nice looking back ice clown at the LFS this week that was small. Thinking of starting over with the clownfish.
Where was this so called 'camping trip'? Pics??
Will the Molly fry be an issue with getting sucked up in the overflow? Or do the get picked of rather quickly? I had a breeding orange swordtail Molly prior to the the reef tank. That was a neat experience.
Monument Valley, Utah. Camping in the desert in the fall s'frickin' sweet.
Starting over with new clowns could be good. Maybe they won't be such ball-busters… Maybe get a few other guys in there before you add them, so they're after everybody else. Six line wrasses are pretty! But say goodbye to the bottom of your resident food chain.
I don't know if the fry would get sucked up or not. One way to find out! They don't get picked off immediately in QT with Norbert. A lot of the time they go unnoticed. Then one will catch his eye and… I would think some might even evade capture long enough to grow up.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
That pic of Sheldon... he looks like an alien! :lmao:
Beautiful scenery on your camping trip. Reminds me of the old movie, "McKenna's Gold". I love it out there. I was born in Denver, family was from Westminster. My Aunt has sinced moved to Fort Collins.
I lived in Westminster for 2 summers while I was in college. I didn't have much free time for myself, but when I did, I spent most of it in Boulder Canyon chasing trout. I loved to fly fish but didn't know much of what I was doing. I've learned a lot since then, so I'd love to go back and spend a few weeks discovering and fishing. Maybe when I retire someday. I'm not sure if my wife would be happy about it LOL.
Your tank looks awesome
Beautiful scenery on your camping trip. Reminds me of the old movie, "McKenna's Gold". I love it out there. I was born in Denver, family was from Westminster. My Aunt has sinced moved to Fort Collins.
I lived in Westminster for 2 summers while I was in college. I didn't have much free time for myself, but when I did, I spent most of it in Boulder Canyon chasing trout. I loved to fly fish but didn't know much of what I was doing. I've learned a lot since then, so I'd love to go back and spend a few weeks discovering and fishing. Maybe when I retire someday. I'm not sure if my wife would be happy about it LOL.
Your tank looks awesome
Thanks Chasmodes! The lookdowns, like the blue tang before them, are not very cooperative, when it comes to being photographed. They do look like aliens from straight on!
That movie may very well have been filmed there, as a lot of westerns were. To me, it looks like the inspiration for the "Roadrunner" cartoons.
I appreciate the tank compliment! It's getting a bit overgrown looking to me lately…
That movie may very well have been filmed there, as a lot of westerns were. To me, it looks like the inspiration for the "Roadrunner" cartoons.
I appreciate the tank compliment! It's getting a bit overgrown looking to me lately…
