Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
I think I will wait on any new anemones for a while. I may try a caribbean butterfly or two.
JZinCO
New member
Never had my filefish touch my condy or bta. I know they're aiptasia getters (figured that's why I only see any in the sump). Just curious if they go after other Caribbean nems like rock flowers or curlique.
On that note, Hoaster, what are your thoughts on rock flowers for your tank? I know you're not huge on coral in that tank, but I'd be tempted to throw those in as well as some curiosities like st thomas shrooms.
I had an aiptasia-eating filefish. When she ran out of aiptasias, she went after spaghetti worms, gorgonians and the condylactis. I'd love to keep one again, if I can find one that 'gets along' in my setup.
I have looked at rock flowers. I like them, but it seems like they got rather expensive, for what you get. I haven't ruled them out, I just haven't seen any I could justify the price for.
I have looked at shrooms as well. I have avoided them because of their predilection for spreading and taking over tanks. I've seen too many tanks overrun by them, and it's not pretty! Keeping them under control is not a task for the lazy-which I am.
I have looked at rock flowers. I like them, but it seems like they got rather expensive, for what you get. I haven't ruled them out, I just haven't seen any I could justify the price for.
I have looked at shrooms as well. I have avoided them because of their predilection for spreading and taking over tanks. I've seen too many tanks overrun by them, and it's not pretty! Keeping them under control is not a task for the lazy-which I am.
JZinCO
New member
Yeah good points.
As for rock flowers, even having more plain jane looking ones sounds good to me at <$20.
http://www.saltcritters.com/1601-rock-flower-anemones
http://saltybottomreefcompany.com/Anemones-_c_29.html
As for rock flowers, even having more plain jane looking ones sounds good to me at <$20.
http://www.saltcritters.com/1601-rock-flower-anemones
http://saltybottomreefcompany.com/Anemones-_c_29.html
Thanks for the links, JZinCO. I'm not familiar with those sites. Have you bought from them before? Can you recommend them?
I like the prices. It seems like the flowers were all cheap for a while, then the prices went way up for the pretty ones. With my interest in trying a caribbean butterfly fish in the future, I'll probably wait on the these. If the butterflies prove too disruptive to my ecosystem, I'll get rid of them, freeing up the possibility of anemones again.
I like the prices. It seems like the flowers were all cheap for a while, then the prices went way up for the pretty ones. With my interest in trying a caribbean butterfly fish in the future, I'll probably wait on the these. If the butterflies prove too disruptive to my ecosystem, I'll get rid of them, freeing up the possibility of anemones again.
I emailed them when I was ready to order. I told them I didn't want chaeto or caulerpa, but they could substitute anything they wanted.
So I got three new barnacle blennies today! I got them acclimated and into QT, which is running hypo salinity. They're just a little bigger than Tim, which should work out well, assuming I don't kill them…
Chillaxin' on the couch, getting the full tank view, I realized something. Macro algae bio mass now exceeds the seagrasses'. Hmm. Would it help to reduce said bio mass? I think so. The beauty of ulva is it's very easy to remove. Not like caulerpa!
So I removed about half the ulva, leaving most at the top. I've got to keep these greedy weeds in check, so there are nutrients left for the grasses. I'm trying to avoid having too big a fast grower, like before, with the caulerpa.
Ulva is now my go-to nutrient export medium. It's also crack to all herbivores. Great utility. Super handy. Beats caulerpa and chaeto for my setup.
So I removed about half the ulva, leaving most at the top. I've got to keep these greedy weeds in check, so there are nutrients left for the grasses. I'm trying to avoid having too big a fast grower, like before, with the caulerpa.
Ulva is now my go-to nutrient export medium. It's also crack to all herbivores. Great utility. Super handy. Beats caulerpa and chaeto for my setup.
McPuff
New member
Hmm, I may have to consider adding this to my refugium. Does it have any special requirements? And does it reproduce by spores? I just don't want to find it growing all over my display... but I guess if the fish love eating it, that wouldn't be a worry.
What herbivores have you found love to eat it? The usual tangs, rabbits, etc.?
JZinCO
New member
My guess would be anything, with any propensity to eat algae, will enjoy ulva.
And that includes h. Sapiens.
I hope hoaster finds luck with it. I'm currently on trial #2 with ulva..I can't say anything about it except it seems manageable however hard to deter excessive herbivory.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
I'm encouraged by what I'm hearing about Ulva in the tank, that it prospers and herbivores will dine on it, because in my case, I can go collect it all summer long and fits the theme of my biotope perfectly 
. And, it seems great for nutrient export that I can use in my sump.
. And, it seems great for nutrient export that I can use in my sump.
It has the same requirements of any fast-growing macro- good light and plenty of nutrients. I don't know about the spore thing, but I doubt it. I think it just reproduces by fragmentation. It has no holdfasts, so it's very easy to move/remove, which is a key characteristic for me. Even little bits are easy to grab, unlike chaeto, which I have been trying to completely remove from my tank for at least a year now. Its handiness is what sets it apart for me. This gives me so much CONTROL. Pods, shrimp, snails and fish all love it. Very unlikely to overtake a tank. The challenge is to keep enough growing to outpace predation.
JZ, I think the only thing that keeps the ulva from being consumed is the dosing I'm doing. When I was running hypo salinity, I stopped dosing, and the ulva gradually shrank from predation. You've got to keep it growing at top speed to outpace the crack heads!
All three new barnacle blennies accounted for this morning, in QT. I fed them and they all ate heartily.
All three new barnacle blennies accounted for this morning, in QT. I fed them and they all ate heartily.
JZinCO
New member
Yeah, I'm banking on growing it in the sump and wrapped around a powerhead, away from crabs. Every now and then, I plan on dropping extra growth in as supplemental food. It's funny, my fish and crabs are now keeping caulerpa prolifera in check! I love that keeping macros in the display keeps everyone fat and healthy.
Anyway, good to hear about the blennies. I added one three weeks ago, it was only a 1/4". I haven't seen it since day 1... I'm starting to lose hope.
Isn't it great when your herbivores prune your macros for you? I loved it when I had the tang. He gave me about six months off. Which fish and crabs are doing it for you?
Your blenny was only a quarter inch? That is TINY. It could have been eaten, but in my experience they are amazingly tough. However, if you're not seeing him shoot out to get food, then it doesn't look good.
I'm finally seeing some life in all the new halimeda. Some is on the back wall and some is on the DSB. It's sprouting new leaves, but the old leaves look like they might die, so it's kind of an odd combination.
I'm getting a few little frags of blue hypnea emerging now too. I kind of miss the ulva I removed from the roots, but I want to limit competition for nutrients with the seagrasses. It moved so nicely in the current.
My little purple mystery sponges are still looking good and growing, I think. And I still have some tiny tree sponge frags that look like they may grow too. The tiny, transparent sea squirts are spreading as well. Besides being a great component of my little ecosystem, with the natural filtration they provide, I'd really love to get some grow to a nice, display size.
It's an interesting challenge, trying to favor multiple organisms, in a relatively small space.
Your blenny was only a quarter inch? That is TINY. It could have been eaten, but in my experience they are amazingly tough. However, if you're not seeing him shoot out to get food, then it doesn't look good.
I'm finally seeing some life in all the new halimeda. Some is on the back wall and some is on the DSB. It's sprouting new leaves, but the old leaves look like they might die, so it's kind of an odd combination.
I'm getting a few little frags of blue hypnea emerging now too. I kind of miss the ulva I removed from the roots, but I want to limit competition for nutrients with the seagrasses. It moved so nicely in the current.
My little purple mystery sponges are still looking good and growing, I think. And I still have some tiny tree sponge frags that look like they may grow too. The tiny, transparent sea squirts are spreading as well. Besides being a great component of my little ecosystem, with the natural filtration they provide, I'd really love to get some grow to a nice, display size.
It's an interesting challenge, trying to favor multiple organisms, in a relatively small space.
McPuff
New member
Ok, then I need to see about getting some of this stuff. Nori is nice for the fish to eat, but a fresh source is even better. And if it also works well for nutrient export then bonus! Any comparison to chaeto in terms of rate of nutrient uptake (qualitative) and therefore rate of growth? Chaeto grows very well in my refugium so I'd want to at least match what it does. I'm not sure if I would complete replace it for ulva at first. But if it works well, then I'll make the switch wholesale. Just gotta see if I can find it locally now! Thanks for bringing this up!!
And Humans also eat Ulva??? If it tastes good, my wife will be very pleased to hear this. She wishes I would go freshwater so we can grow hydro plants for our own consumption. If there is a marine option she'll be happy to hear it. :0)
And Humans also eat Ulva??? If it tastes good, my wife will be very pleased to hear this. She wishes I would go freshwater so we can grow hydro plants for our own consumption. If there is a marine option she'll be happy to hear it. :0)
Ulva's comparable to chaeto for nutrient uptake. If your chaeto does well then ulva should. As said before, the challenge is to keep it growing faster than predation. I would definitely think it is better food for your fish than nori. It's a great plant, with great utility.
