Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank

[Michael Hoaster]

I lost yet another blue chromis in QT. So, now I have two. It's pretty discouraging! On the bright side, It's much better happening in QT rather than the display.

I'm hopeful that getting CO2 going again will get the seagrasses growing at a decent rate. They have looked better lately, but they aren't growing explosively. The macros look good, with the exception of the caulerpa cuppresoides. The two strands on the sand bed are falling apart. That's exactly what happened when I first added racemosa. Then it came back when conditions were favorable. There is one piece high up on the back wall that is doing very well, and another, I think in the overflow. Those small turfy looking tufts I have popping up do appear to be racemosa, so I also have that coming back. I had hoped to get rid of it but I have to admit, looking at old pics, the tank looks better and more natural WITH it than without. So I think I'm not going to put up a fight. It could also give me the chance to try another herbivore to control it.

The (blue) hypnea pannosa is coming back nicely. The grasilaria hayi is really coming back strong on the fake roots, which looks so cool. The nemastoma looks great too, with such a vivid red. Various turf and micro algae are popping up as well, which adds to the natural look as well as water purification. All in all, I'm happy with plant growth. I'm not to lush and beautiful yet, but we're getting there!

I think I'm approaching a fully-staffed detrivore community. Lot's of great worms and pods, serpent stars, the fighting conch and now the cucumber. The only thing missing is bivalve mollusks, which I'd like to have, but are not easy to find. I have seen one burrowing clam available, but I think it is more of a filter feeder than a detrital deposit feeder, which I'd prefer. Maybe it's something I can get with occasional additions of live sand.

With the exception of the depressing chromis, all is well, and I'm on my way to having a pretty tank again!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I've thought of a couple more detrivores I'd like to add: micro brittle stars and mysis shrimp. I'll wait a bit on the mysis, to make sure I have enough plant cover for them. I'll add micro brittle stars when I find them available.

Ulva is mounting a comeback. Several small plants have popped up, including one on the fake root. This is exciting because it is naturally and securely attached, and it looks cool in the current. Botryocladia is also popping up, which is cool, since I've never had success with them.

I added another three plant tabs to the DSB, to see if they can help me get those grasses growing. Since I haven't had much luck with them so far, I did just the 3 to see how they do. These tabs have high phosphate, and since seagrasses prefer root uptake of phosphate, it seems like they should be helpful.

 

[Chasmodes]

Hey Michael, how is the tank doing? I need my Caribbean fix! :wavehand:

Ulva is mounting a comeback. Several small plants have popped up, including one on the fake root. This is exciting because it is naturally and securely attached, and it looks cool in the current. Botryocladia is also popping up, which is cool, since I've never had success with them.

It's cool when nature shows us that it can do better than we can, even in our own systems

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Not much to report. The macros are still growing well and the grasses still aren't. Lots of turf algae (which may turn out to be C. racemosa) popping up on the fake wall. My voracious plague of snails has kept a lot of the small stuff small.

I'd like to get the grasses figured out before I do much of anything else.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Snapped a few pics before I prune this weekend.

Red and Brown Grasilaria has taken over the rock wall of the DSB planter. Tufted joint algae just behind. Seagrass looks pretty good but it's not multiplying as fast as I'd like, but I'm working on it! Big Daddy and Seymour, the beautiful sea cucumber, showing off. There is a turf emerging on the back wall that looks like it might turn out to be the caulerpa racemosa I thought I'd wiped out with hypo.

Leroy Brown. Big ol' sailfin blenny.

G. hayi on the fake root. On the back wall, I've used push pins to affix some blue scroll algae. I tried this one before, in dim light without success, so these are in brighter light.

End view.

 

[Chasmodes]

Thanks for the update!

Lookin' fantastic! Lots of color and only going to get better. Are you going to keep the Caulerpa and prune or try to get rid of it?

The sailfin blennies are cool. How are the barnacle blennies doing?

 

[Subsea]

Less technology more biology

Less technology more biology

Me too! Making my tank look like a natural place is the goal. I have truly enjoyed my fake wall. It's a fascinating challenge, combining random, encrusting organisms with things like plants that you purposely plant. Last weekend, while pruning, it occurred to me that what I'm doing is basically gardening, with the added complication of ecosystem building, all in a pretty confined, underwater environment. Aquarists are an ambitious bunch, aren't we?

I feel like I'm learning a lot more about the natural world, utilizing nature's players, to achieve some semblance of balance. It seems so normal to me, yet I often feel like a very tiny minority, in this rather tech-obsessed hobby. Where some see excessive detritus, they think mechanical filtration, and I think detrivores. To each, his own!

Michael,
John Tullock put it so eloquently in his book "The Natural
Aquarium, "Less technology more biology". His central theme was designing compatiable ecosystems: either a pivitol species or a biotheme. Your Caribbean seagrass biotheme is well balanced and a delighht to look at. I gave up on seagrass and went the macro route because, imo, it was much easier.
I have numerous mollies that have been acclimated to 1.026 SpG. Because I have differrent species in the same tank, over 50 mollies in 55G tank, they have crossbred with crazy color combinations. I use them for algae control in macro propagation tanks. Yesterday, I moved 5G of Grape Caulerpa into 150G Rubbermade tanks buried in the ground. Included in the matrix of macro was amphipods and copepods. My goal was to house macro and pods that required minimal electrical cost for heating water. To that end, I will make a collection trip for wild green mollies and convert to salt water. Live Aquaria has six differfent species of pods. I plan on putting these in Rubbermade tanks. I have three 150G tanks buried in ground for geothermal heating and cooling. Tanks are at differrent levels which facilitates pumping from #1 at the bottom to #3 at the top. Tanks #2 & #3 will have macro and pods. I am using Grape Caulerpa in #3 and Chaetomorphy in #2 and C. Prolifera and mollies in #1.

Three years ago, I ran these tanks with diver collected uncured live rock along side Edwards Plateau dense holy rock. The idea was to sell econominal live rock. The electrical cost became unrealistic to make money and I pulled the plug on the project. I will try hardy pods and macro.

Can you suggest any other macros that would do well in this ecosystem?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Chasmodes! I've decided not to fight the return of caulerpa racemosa. Having looked at pics of the tank with and without, I decided I like it better with. Not to mention it's a battle I don't think I can win! I could have worse problems-like NOT being able to grow caulerpa!

All the blennies are doing well. Unfortunately, I lost the last two of the blue chromis, in QT. Huge bummer. I'd give them another try, but I'm very gun shy at this point. It sucks because they are perfect for my tank, but losing every single one makes it seem I wasn't meant to keep them. Oh well.

I meant to get in there and prune today, but I went for a bike ride and now I have no gumption…

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Subsea, it's great to hear from you again! Thanks for the compliments! Still charming the ladies with your macro salads?

I agree with you on the seagrass! PITA!

The only other macro I might suggest for you would be ulva. Grows fast. Pods and pretty much all herbivores love to eat it as well. Sounds like a cool project!

 

[Subsea]

Subsea, it's great to hear from you again! Thanks for the compliments! Still charming the ladies with your macro salads?

I agree with you on the seagrass! PITA!

The only other macro I might suggest for you would be ulva. Grows fast. Pods and pretty much all herbivores love to eat it as well. Sounds like a cool project![/QUOTE

Yes, I like Ulva and plan on adding some to tank #1 with the Caulerpa Prolifera.
It is coincidental that you mentioned the macro salad. I have been experimenting with Grape Caulerpa with a simple lime juice and sesame seed oil. Pretty good stuff. Saturday, I fixed a triple header: vegetarium chevichee, yellow fin tuna sushi and Grape Caulerpa. Each was in a seperate dish so that people could taste individual dishes or mix and match. It surprised me how big of a hit it was. Perhapes I will be in demand for the party circuit here in Austin.

 

[Chasmodes]

Sorry to hear that Michael. Good luck on your next try. Some fish, even in the same species, just can't deal with the stress of shipping, etc. and never recover and adapt to captivity, no matter how good the conditions.

I have been experimenting with Grape Caulerpa with a simple lime juice and sesame seed oil. Pretty good stuff. Saturday, I fixed a triple header: vegetarium chevichee, yellow fin tuna sushi and Grape Caulerp. Each was in a seperate dish so that people could taste individual dishes or mix and match. It surprised me how big of a hit it was. Perthapes I will be in demand for the party circuit here in Austin.

That's awesome! It would be so cool if I could make an Ulva salad for my family some day

 

[Subsea]

I find that the texture of Ulva does not work for me. IMO, for eating freash seaweed, the texture is best crisp. To date, I have found Gracilaria Parvispora [Red Ogo or Tang Heaven Red] and Grape Caulerpa to be excellant candidates. Also, from the Gulf of Mexico, I find Gracilaria tikvahiae. When I inquired about G. tikvahiae with Russ Kronwetter of Gulf Coast EcoSystem, he told me that there was much collection on the beaches of Florida by the Asian community. I think that the Asians have it right, seaweed is a "super food".

https://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Gracil_tikvah.htm

The Smithsonian calls Tikvahiae "Graceful Red Weed".

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Chasmodes. What's bugging me is I don't know if blue chromis are just too fragile in general, or I got some iffy ones, or is my QT killing them. I've still got two mollies in there, doing fine.

It sucks because I'd really love to keep some! But taking another ($100+) chance on another group of them is an expensive risk I'd tend to avoid.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

My macros are getting a bit shaggy. I guess they're happy. I need to do some tidying. I did do a 'nem hunt with my trusty syringe of ammonia. Which also means I dosed ammonia today, which is plants' preferred form of nitrogen. Two birds, low tech, love it!

My lagoon ecosystem seems to be gaining steam. I still have a few more characters to add to the cast of thousands, near the bottom of the trophic pyramid, but I'm happy with the progress so far. Diversity = Stability!

It occurred to me that setting up a natural aquarium is very much like mimicking the process of the beginning of life, here on this planet. Sometimes I blow my own mind…

I watch a lot of nature shows…

 

[Chasmodes]

I still have a few more characters to add to the cast of thousands, near the bottom of the trophic pyramid, but I'm happy with the progress so far. Diversity = Stability!

I think that is what is missing in my tank, not enough lower life forms. The tank is fine, but, not quite there. I guess I need to dump a few glops of bay mud in there. When I rearranged the 20g high, I did find several soft tubes that bloodworms made in addition to a few bloodworms that freaked out my daughter. So, there is life there. I'm just not confident that there is enough. Perhaps the blennies, gobies and skilletfish eat too much.

Sometimes I blow my own mind…

I watch a lot of nature shows…

I know the feeling, LOL!!!

Thanks for the link Subsea, enjoyed it

 

[Michael Hoaster]

You'll get there Chasmodes. I'm still getting there too. I add new detrivores when I can find them. Mother Nature's little helpers, turning detritus into plant food!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Chillin' on the couch, admiring my handy work. Big macro export today. Mostly red and black grasilaria. I moved some brotryocladia frags I had in the seagrass over to the right, amongst the live rocks and fake roots. Since these plants occur at greater depths, I thought it might help to get them into lower light. I also moved some hypnea and red grasilaria over there. The green turf continues to grow on the back wall, as well as the caulerpa racemosa peltata. I have a feeling their growth rate is about to explode. It's kind of miniature right now. I'm looking forward to more green! Seagrasses are good, but not great, yet.

I'm driving the system pretty hard, with CO2 and ammonia dosing. Hopefully the seagrass will pick up. The blue scroll algae is in a race against time, with my mini strombus snails taking an interest in them. Detritus is still accumulating. It's very tempting to do a little vacuming, but I want to give the new sea cucumber plenty to work with, and maybe settle into an equibrium. It's easy to starve these guys if you're not careful. So, I abstain from cleaning up and let Mother Nature do it. I still want a few more players, in time.

 

[Subsea]

Chillin' on the couch, admiring my handy work. Big macro export today. Mostly red and black grasilaria. I moved some brotryocladia frags I had in the seagrass over to the right, amongst the live rocks and fake roots. Since these plants occur at greater depths, I thought it might help to get them into lower light. I also moved some hypnea and red grasilaria over there. The green turf continues to grow on the back wall, as well as the caulerpa racemosa peltata. I have a feeling their growth rate is about to explode. It's kind of miniature right now. I'm looking forward to more green! Seagrasses are good, but not great, yet.

I'm driving the system pretty hard, with CO2 and ammonia dosing. Hopefully the seagrass will pick up. The blue scroll algae is in a race against time, with my mini strombus snails taking an interest in them. Detritus is still accumulating. It's very tempting to do a little vacuming, but I want to give the new sea cucumber plenty to work with, and maybe settle into an equibrium. It's easy to starve these guys if you're not careful. So, I abstain from cleaning up and let Mother Nature do it. I still want a few more players, in time.

I REALLLY LIKE THE ROOT AQUASCAPING. It is such a good tool for attaching things.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882574/#!po=14.7619

On Cyptic Zone filtration thread in reef discussion, a reasearch paper was linked that indicated the benefit of adding acetic acid as carbon source to ehance macro production. I have done it for about six months and it has worked for me.


For me, Red Grapes are grown best in dimmer light. Russ Kronwetter at GCE collects them in 60' to 120' of water. Some 20 years ago, I grew a bush 16" tall and took up 1/3 0f a 55G tank. Light was supplied by two 40W florescent tubes, one was actinic and one was 6500 kelvin. If the macro is a dark burgendy it is grown in dimmer light. When internsity is increased, I find the colors less desirable.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Subsea. The roots have been great. I'm still trying to get more stuff growing on them. Yes, I'm hoping the botryocladia is happier now. I'd love to end up with a 16 inch specimen! I've had limited success with them.

I haven't looked at the cryptic zone thread. I do have Steve Tyree's book, "Environmental Gradient". Very cool stuff. My asymmetrical lighting was inspired by his ideas. I've got a fair amount of encrusting sponges growing in the dark end of the tank. I've had less luck with purchased display sponges.

 

[Chasmodes]

Awesome, thanks for sharing your pics. I love this tank!