Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
I got pretty much everything transferred to HT, that I wanted. I haven't yet drained the tank though. I want to make sure I've done everything I need to do with water still in it first. But progress has been made…
vlangel
Premium Member
Way to go! And I think you are wise to let the dust settle and give the tank another look before draining it.
Thanks Dawn! That's it exactly. As tempting as it is to drain it, I want to keep my options open for a little while longer. Draining is the next step though! Luckily, I saved my 'black out' paper from my dinoflagellate outbreak. I'll use it to hide the hideousness inside, between work sessions.
Not much to update. I've been working on some honey-dos around the house. I'm hoping to get something done this weekend, like get the tank drained. If I get that done, I'll be free to do any of several things I need to do.
Despite the lack of action, I'm still quite excited to do this re-do! I have acquired a few new plants that I've been trying to get for a long time, so I'm happy about that. I've also been researching potential fish residents. Without the biotope restrictions, I'm finding the selection much more open. However, I'm still restricted by my insistence to avoid fish that may negatively impact my ecosystem. For example, I was very interested in Allen's Damsel, which is gorgeous and relatively un-aggressive. But researching it revealed it to be a digger/worm eater. Bummer! I have found several fish that I think will do just fine though.
So hang in there folks! I promise to get this going again soon!
Despite the lack of action, I'm still quite excited to do this re-do! I have acquired a few new plants that I've been trying to get for a long time, so I'm happy about that. I've also been researching potential fish residents. Without the biotope restrictions, I'm finding the selection much more open. However, I'm still restricted by my insistence to avoid fish that may negatively impact my ecosystem. For example, I was very interested in Allen's Damsel, which is gorgeous and relatively un-aggressive. But researching it revealed it to be a digger/worm eater. Bummer! I have found several fish that I think will do just fine though.
So hang in there folks! I promise to get this going again soon!
I think I've decided to start a new thread, once I empty it and start the changes. It's at that point that I think it starts being a new tank. Sort of…
eastlake
New member
Allen's damsels are great, but yes, they are indeed diggers. Though I've only found that behavior to be true to males that are preparing a nest for females, when present. My male didn't start to dig until he and the female reached maturity, at which point he made mounds and pits and piles until he excavated some long buried clam shells which have become their nest, now his digging behavior is just routine clearing some sand away from his shells. Super fun to watch their breeding/courting behavior and the only time that either of them, the male, get ornery is when there are eggs under the shell. I can't speak to the worm eating behavior as both of mine eat flakes and frozen with gusto and I rarely see them hunting about the rocks. Good luck with the re-build, I can't wait to see what the next set up looks like! Perhaps a harem of Cuban gramma should they become more regularly available a reasonable price 
Thanks, eastlake for the info. Good to know. They're gorgeous fish.
The next setup shouldn't be too different, unless I decide to make huge changes, but I don't plan to. The changes will be subtle, mostly to fix a few things that were bugging me. And I'll hopefully have a more informed selection of plants that should grow a little less jungle-y and a little more garden-y. Nothing too orderly but maybe a bit more controlled.
The next setup shouldn't be too different, unless I decide to make huge changes, but I don't plan to. The changes will be subtle, mostly to fix a few things that were bugging me. And I'll hopefully have a more informed selection of plants that should grow a little less jungle-y and a little more garden-y. Nothing too orderly but maybe a bit more controlled.
Progress at last. Tank is drained and most of the sand is out too. Really hideous! My sand/mud substrate looked good. I intend to bring up the dirt percentage next time, for the grasses.
I've been thinking about water movement. With seagrasses and macros, you can really feature water movement. I've been looking at Tunze's wave boxes. I saw one in operation at my LFS and I was impressed. It really resembles the back and forth you see in nature.
I've been thinking about water movement. With seagrasses and macros, you can really feature water movement. I've been looking at Tunze's wave boxes. I saw one in operation at my LFS and I was impressed. It really resembles the back and forth you see in nature.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
So I guess you'll be making some videos too? The eye candy is great, but now there is motion involved :bigeyes: I was thinking about what your tank might look like with that back and forth movement, like a slice of nature of a mangrove backwater full of life and tidal movement. I can't wait! :thumbsup::bounce3:
McPuff
New member
The wave boxes are pretty cool... but they are an eyesore. If you can modify your false wall, you may be able to hide it. Then you'd have all the flow you needed.
Thanks Kevin. I think it would work well and look very natural too!
Agreed McPuff. I'm working on figuring out how to integrate it with the planned fake wall addition to the left end of the tank. The smaller one looks like it would work fairly easily.
Agreed McPuff. I'm working on figuring out how to integrate it with the planned fake wall addition to the left end of the tank. The smaller one looks like it would work fairly easily.
I bagged up the old sand, for another day. I won't be using it for the re-do. I'll use new sand. I've been thinking about what I'd change with the sand-scape. Since I wasn't really all that happy with the plants that grew on the rock surface of the DSB planter, I'm considering burying it basically, so that most of it is hidden. It would still provide needed structure to keep the sand from flattening to one depth. I love what the planter gives me, but it's a bit obtrusive. I want the substrate to look more natural, but also be dynamic and cool-looking.
This sounds like discussion for the new iteration of the tank. Time for the new thread then?
This sounds like discussion for the new iteration of the tank. Time for the new thread then?
McPuff
New member
Yup, sounds like a new build to me! Link it in here too.
Slowly! Check out my new thread, "Weeds".
I should have posted on here about it. My bad.
Everyone, I have started a new thread, here in the macro section, called "Weeds".
Everyone, I have started a new thread, here in the macro section, called "Weeds".
