Dawn's seahorse garden!

That's great! Your new tank removes the shackles of seahorse care and allows you to express yourself further.
 
Thanks for sharing your video and pics. Junior is quite a cool character! I love the artistic expressions/changes that you've made in the blenny tank (both tanks, really). Skills!

vlangel said:
I can only look at something that bugs me about my tanks so long before my hands are inside them doing something about it.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing in my tank. If a fish or crab moves an object and I don't like the outcome, I fix it the way that I want. I think that I lose more water from the tank dripping from my arms than I do via evaporation!
 
Chasmodes said:
Thanks for sharing your video and pics. Junior is quite a cool character! I love the artistic expressions/changes that you've made in the blenny tank (both tanks, really). Skills!



I do the same thing in my tank. If a fish or crab moves an object and I don't like the outcome, I fix it the way that I want. I think that I lose more water from the tank dripping from my arms than I do via evaporation!
Click to expand...

Thanks Kevin. Yes, Jr. is a cutie for sure. She doesn't do much though. Eats as bbs drift by her hitching post and pass wastes. Thats about it, ha ha! She has turned a pretty yellow with mottled white and black streaks.

Ha ha, I totally get that. I keep a vinyl tablecloth under the tank to put on the floor to prevent drip damage!
 
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Michael, Following your thread is inspiring me to expand my future dream after seahorses.

I had thought about making a seagrass/macro algae fuge in the basement which would be easy...but it seems a shame to hide it in the basement when I have the room upstairs. So I have been researching ways to connect the 2 tanks. The obvious way is to drill both tanks and use bulkhead and pvc but I hate to do anything permanent. Also I do not know if these tanks can be drilled on the side glass. I have been looking at diy pvc overflows, particularly one with a weir. I could do 2, one as the primary and a 2nd higher one as an emergency in case of a clog. Then using your fake wall as inspiration, put them behind a partial fake wall so they are not intrusive in the tanks. I should probably build a 3rd one for in the fuge to insure the same flow through out both tanks and to the sump. In fact, I guess it would be smart to have a primary and a backup in the fuge too. I would hide them with a partial fake wall as well, thus tying both tanks together aesthetically too.

I hope I am not giving everyone the impression that I am ready to be done with the ponies. It's not that at all. I am investing in grief strategy and support when the time comes.

And with so much building to be done, I can actually start now so that it comes together faster when the time comes.
 
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That sound pretty ambitious, Dawn! I'm not sure I understand what you're proposing. Are you saying you would turn one of the two tanks into the sump/fuge for the other? If so, would the top tank be a reef, and bottom one macros?

Or is it two separate displays draining to a common sump?

Either of those ideas sound doable. My concern is that it may make your overall setup more complex.

Could you flesh your idea out a little more clearly, so we all could better understand your idea?
 
Michael Hoaster said:
That sound pretty ambitious, Dawn! I'm not sure I understand what you're proposing. Are you saying you would turn one of the two tanks into the sump/fuge for the other? If so, would the top tank be a reef, and bottom one macros?

Or is it two separate displays draining to a common sump?

Either of those ideas sound doable. My concern is that it may make your overall setup more complex.

Could you flesh your idea out a little more clearly, so we all could better understand your idea?
Click to expand...

Sure thing, I would be happy to.

The current blenny DT tank would mostly remain as it is except a partial fake wall and that the stand will probably get a 6" platform built for underneath it. This will raise tank and stand 6" higher. The reason for this is so I can build an overflow with pvc using a weir to overflow water into the lower (and what is now the current seahorse tank). Here is a YouTube link to the diy overflow I am considering.

https://youtu.be/UZytENJZtJw


The seahorse tank would be a display fuge, but using many of the principles in your 'Weeds v2'. It will have a DSB using mud, and different sized sand. It will probably have 1 piece of LR, (for a gorgonian and some red macros). I am not set whether I will grow feather caulerpa in the sand(to look like seagrass) or take the challenge of trying actual seagrasses. I will be following your tank and that may influence my final decision. This fuge will be a display fuge as much as a working fuge removing nutrients. Anyway the fuge will have an identical pvc overflow on it going to the sump. That way I know both tanks are draining at the same rate and the return pump in my sump is an adjustable so I should not have trouble dialing it into to the proper flow rate for the diameter drain I choose.

So yes, it will be more complicated in that I have 3 tanks that will now make up 1 system all sharing the same water. As long as I trust the diy overflows it should be fine. I have been using HOB overflows for years with absolutely no problems. If the flowing going in is well matched to the drain capacity out, bubbles do not build up. The model I am looking at also deals with the bubbles in its design which I like.

I would like to incorporate your fake wall concept to hide the pvc overflow parts that show in the tanks and probably powerheads too so both tanks are wholly natural looking.

And this is ambitious. But I can start by building a diy overflow and see if I think I can trust it. Everything hinges on that. If I can't trust the diy pvc overflow, then I have to consider buying 2 identical overflows and the box style are much bulkier and will require a more complicated fake wall to cover it. Not a show stopper but something to think about.

I hope this is understandable, LOL.
 
This sounds like an exciting project! A display fuge!

I'm flattered you're doing some of the things I'm doing. I hope it works for you! I hope it works for me!

Enjoy the process! I can't wait to see your interpretation of a fake wall. If you're going with mud, you might as well try a seagrass or two. So many choices with macros too.

My only concern with this setup is balancing the needs of two different display tanks that are connected.
 
Michael Hoaster said:
This sounds like an exciting project! A display fuge!

I'm flattered you're doing some of the things I'm doing. I hope it works for you! I hope it works for me!

Enjoy the process! I can't wait to see your interpretation of a fake wall. If you're going with mud, you might as well try a seagrass or two. So many choices with macros too.

My only concern with this setup is balancing the needs of two different display tanks that are connected.
Click to expand...

With your current experience Michael, how do you see the needs differing in the high nutrient blenny tank and the display fuge with macros and/or seagrasses? I thought they would both be high nutrient so I am not sure what there will be to balance. Since I do not know much about seagrass's needs I am hoping to learn that from you and your tank.
 
Actually, that sounds perfect Dawn! A high nutrient fish tank is the perfect pairing with a seaweed tank! The fish make the CO2, nitrogen, and phosphate for you! Smart. I had the mistaken idea the other tank was a low nutrient, reef tank.
 
Michael Hoaster said:
Actually, that sounds perfect Dawn! A high nutrient fish tank is the perfect pairing with a seaweed tank! The fish make the CO2, nitrogen, and phosphate for you! Smart. I had the mistaken idea the other tank was a low nutrient, reef tank.
Click to expand...

Ok good, I am thinking about this the right way. With me currently having the low nutrient seahorse tank I can see how things are confusing. I will be leaving clean tanks behind for good when I leave seahorses behind.
 
Your plan sounds exciting! I'll be watching your progress and am eager for your review of the DIY overflow.
 
Chasmodes said:
Your plan sounds exciting! I'll be watching your progress and am eager for your review of the DIY overflow.
Click to expand...

I probably will not tackle that until 2019 since I have a lot on my plate to accomplish before Christmas and our kids come. Here is a FTS of today. I moved a few coral around so they won't get stung and will have more room.
2018-12-11_05-27-00 by Dawn Gilson, on Flickr

2018-12-09_04-29-12 by Dawn Gilson, on Flickr

2018-12-11_06-04-38 by Dawn Gilson, on Flickr

2018-12-09_04-37-23 by Dawn Gilson, on Flickr
 
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