High Nutrient Macro Algae/Sea Grass Reef

[Michael Hoaster]

Come to think of it, I have 2-3 bivalves still living in the live rock, so I guess I have kept clams. Just not the fancy kind. It sounds like the one you have is a less gaudy, sturdier species. And you're adding even more diversity to your community, so it should be a good addition. How about a pic?

 

[vlangel]

I got a new clam and named it Clam Chops!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Very nice. How big do they get?

 

[vlangel]

Very nice. How big do they get?

I was disappointed that he was closed up when I took the pic. He had been opened most of the day. I think they get to be about 6" which is a good size for my relatively small tank. They are a fast growing clam too. I named the blue crocea that I had so I thought I should give this one a name too. So he is Clam-chops!

 

[vlangel]

Clam chops is now open.

 

[vlangel]

This afternoon I sold my chiller and skimmer. This tank never runs hot with the basement sump and I do not need a skimmer with a high nutrient tank. I don't save (even good) stuff anymore if I think someone else can be using it right now. Also I don't want to create a nightmare for my kids to go through someday when I am gone. LOL

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Right on, Dawn. That totally makes sense.

How's the refugium section doing? Getting any macro growth? Any conclusions/obsevations on the new system? Will you be interested in some shoal grass anytime soon? I ask because I'm close to being ready to remove some, so I'd like to send you some.

 

[vlangel]

Right on, Dawn. That totally makes sense.

How's the refugium section doing? Getting any macro growth? Any conclusions/obsevations on the new system? Will you be interested in some shoal grass anytime soon? I ask because I'm close to being ready to remove some, so I'd like to send you some.

The 30 gallon fuge is doing great and yes there is lots of macro growth. I predominantly have feather caulerpa in it but I would love shoal grass and would be happy to buy your leftovers. I will remove the caulerpa off the sandbed and just leave it grow on the live rock that is in the fuge. PM me an address and what you would like for them and I will be thrilled.

My observations are that the macro algae will probably continue to do well if I make sure the nutrients are plentiful. Shamefully I have not tested nitrates or PO4 to see where things are exactly. I am assuming(and that can get me in trouble)that since the inverts (snails, shrimp and crabs)are doing well that the nitrates are not off the charts high.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Good to hear, the fuge is doing well!

I'm still building up my gumption for pulling shoal grass, but when I do, I'll make arrangements with you. In my mind, the ideal scenario would be a trade, where you send me something and I send you something, and no money changes hands. The challenge is that I'm so particular. Any macros you think I might like?

 

[vlangel]

Knowing what I do about your tank I don't think I would have anything of interest for a trade. I am down to just feather and green grape caulerpa and red grape caulerpa, red titan and codium in the macros. I do have some purple photosynthetic sponge which is nice if you are interested in that and a nice green/chocolate brown palythoa but both of those may not fit with the vision you have for your tank. I have 2 scallops that naturally grew on some rock I have and I might be able to cut the rock so you can have one of them? Other than that I can not think of anything in my system that might be of interest.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

The purple sponge might work. We'll figure something out. I'll let you know when I get started on this. Currently hoarding gumption…

 

[vlangel]

The purple sponge might work. We'll figure something out. I'll let you know when I get started on this. Currently hoarding gumption"¦

That sounds like a plan so just let me know when you are ready. I am in no hurry and in fact the longer we wait the bigger piece of purple sponge I can give you.

 

[Chasmodes]

Dawn, your new system looks fantastic, especially with the new fish. I'm glad that Samson seems to be doing well. When you convert to seagrass, that might be a natural fit for him since they are often caught in grass beds in the wild.

As far as more fish goes, have you considered adding a few more barnacle blennies? It might be fun to see if you can get that spawning activity that Michael talked about in his tank.

 

[vlangel]

Dawn, your new system looks fantastic, especially with the new fish. I'm glad that Samson seems to be doing well. When you convert to seagrass, that might be a natural fit for him since they are often caught in grass beds in the wild.

As far as more fish goes, have you considered adding a few more barnacle blennies? It might be fun to see if you can get that spawning activity that Michael talked about in his tank.

Hey Kevin, welcome back! Where are things with your aquarium plans? Are you going to start the oyster shell biotope back up? I really liked that tank and all the personality the fish had.

I am really enjoying this tank system more than any aquarium I have ever had. It had been on my mind for a couple of years but I did not want to move on it while I had the seahorses. And yes, it was really really hard losing Eve. I know at 6+ years old that she had a very good life but because she was my 1st she was extra special.

Samson was committed to someone who wanted to try seahorses but they backed out after I had already tore down the seahorse tank. That was a bummer because having him in the same water as the high nutrient reef is not optimal for his health but he actually is doing quite well. I am running the system at 74° F or a little less which helps with reducing bacteria. Also I only feed him frozen mysis once a day and he gets live ghost shrimp for his 2nd meal which also will reduce the chance of him developing a gut infection. Hunting the shrimp should offer some stimulation since he is all alone without a friend. I would still re-home him if someone who would take good care of him would take him.

Unlike Michael I would consider myself a fish person first and the rest of the reef is for the fish and invert's comfort. I do enjoy the growth and color of the macro algae as well as the coral however. I guess that is why I am enjoying this aquarium system so much. It allows me to keep a fairly large density of fish in my relatively moderate sized 56 gallon display but everything is still relatively low maintenance. I do an easy quick water change every week, clean the glass once a week and pour in some strongium or coral vite when I think of it. This works for me and I like the natural look of the display. It's not a reef for everyone but it suits me.

It will be fun seeing how Michael's grasses will do in the 30 gallon fuge. And you are right, maybe it will make Samson feel right at home since that would be a more natural habitat for him. The feather caulerpa is grass like though so I am hoping for now it's good enough.

You know I have thought about adding more barnacle blennies. They are the cutest little fish and it would be fun to see if I could get a pair so some spawning could happen. Maybe I will think on that. I have seen barnacle blennies at my favorite lfs. At any rate nothing fish wise is going to happen until the 'stay at home order' is lifted and Pennsylvania starts to open up stores again.

 

[vlangel]

I worked in the 30 gallon fuge this morning. It will always look utilitarian since I built my own overflow and my drain is a reverse durso to keep the display tank from being too noisy at the drain. Again since I built it myself its a bit shall we say 'homespun' to put it nicely.

I decided to move the rockwork so that it hides the reverse durso more and made more space on the sand bed for grasses when they come. I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Its not display worthy but it is more aesthetically pleasing in a functional sort of way. Hopefully the caulerpa on the rockwork will get enough light to still flourish.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Ha ha, homespun! I love it. You're not the only one! It's gotta work first, right? THEN we'll see about pretty!

With your tinkering, I know it will gradually turn into a beautiful display. It sounds like you got closer today. Hopefully I'll have some shoal grass for you soon.

 

[Chasmodes]

I'm sure that you will make the fuge display worthy in no time. I was wondering, perhaps, would it be possible to set up a small nano tank for Samson to satisfy his requirements, like a 10g or so? Or, would that be too costly and too much work? If you did that, you could go all out on your new system without worry about its effect on Samson.

My oyster reef, yep, this time, going big...I should have it up and running totally by summer. As soon as our stay at home order is up, I'm going to take a week off work just to set it up.

 

[vlangel]

I'm sure that you will make the fuge display worthy in no time. I was wondering, perhaps, would it be possible to set up a small nano tank for Samson to satisfy his requirements, like a 10g or so? Or, would that be too costly and too much work? If you did that, you could go all out on your new system without worry about its effect on Samson.

My oyster reef, yep, this time, going big...I should have it up and running totally by summer. As soon as our stay at home order is up, I'm going to take a week off work just to set it up.

I am really glad to hear how close the oyster reef is. I will definitely look forward to that. How big will this new and improved oyster reef be?

Yes, I wish I could keep Samson in a 10/20 gallon high dedicated seahorse tank but that would mean 5 gallon or so water changes every 3rd day or so and that is just more than I know that I will stick with long term. I even feel bad having him in this system and it was never the plan. However it is the compromise I can live with and Samson seems to be doing reasonably well.

 

[Chasmodes]

This oyster reef build is the original build that I never completed (shame on me). It's a 100g 3'x3'x18" tank with a 40g sump. I have almost everything that I need to complete the entire system along with a water changing station. I have everything that I need to get the tank up and running if I take some short cuts. It all depends on how much I can get done now while the stay at home order is in place. Anyway, I'm making progress on the overall plan.

I even feel bad having him in this system and it was never the plan. However it is the compromise I can live with and Samson seems to be doing reasonably well.

That's cool. Maybe the more realistic grass bed environment will keep him happy.

 

[vlangel]

This oyster reef build is the original build that I never completed (shame on me). It's a 100g 3'x3'x18" tank with a 40g sump. I have almost everything that I need to complete the entire system along with a water changing station. I have everything that I need to get the tank up and running if I take some short cuts. It all depends on how much I can get done now while the stay at home order is in place. Anyway, I'm making progress on the overall plan.



That's cool. Maybe the more realistic grass bed environment will keep him happy.

Wow, this oyster reef will really be able to house a lot of creatures! Do you have a lot more oyster clusters to put in it or will this build have some rock/ dead coral skeletons or some other structure altogether to fill in some of the space. Am I correct in remembering the prior oyster biotope was a 20 gallon long?