High Nutrient Macro Algae/Sea Grass Reef

[vlangel]

The damsels seem to be doing well in the sump chamber, although I have never seen more than 4 at one time. The ones I see are eating well. There is a large conch shell and I know that they hide in there some. So hopefully all 6 are good.

I only have 2 mollies left even though I acclimated very slowly. They are a pair so hopefully they thrive and make fry, plus graze on algae.

The tomini tang adjusted well. Its eating and swims around very comfortably in the display. I did see a white mark on its top fin but it does not look like ich or any other disease. The cleaner shrimp has not shown interest in it either so I am still optimistic that the tomini is going to be fine. I will not add the damsels until I am sure however. No sense in stressing the tang prematurely with the added activity.

 

[ThePurple12]

I lost 1 out of 3 mollies when converting. I guess some just don’t make it.

 

[vlangel]

I lost 1 out of 3 mollies when converting. I guess some just don't make it.

My specific gravity is .023 but I still use an old hydrometer so it could have been higher than that which would make it riskier.

 

[vlangel]

Today I moved the damsels that I could find(which was 4) into the display tank. The lights are not on yet but I am anxious to see them in there.

I will periodically check the sump because 1 or both damsels could have been hiding in the conch shell.

 

[vlangel]

Another one showed up and is now with its compadres in the display. I am still hoping the final one will turn up too.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I'm crossing my fingers that all goes well!

 

[vlangel]

I'm crossing my fingers that all goes well!

Me too. The 5 damsels seem comfortable swimming around the tank. The tomini tang still seems healthy and everyone is eating well. The royal gramma must think he is a damsel as he is out with them swimming around like he is one of them, Haha! It's cute. None of the prior inhabitants are showing any aggression toward the newcomers.

I love how colorful and active the tank is now. If everyone settles in like I hope, it's a great combination of fish.

 

[vlangel]

So far, so good.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Dazzling!

 

[ThePurple12]

Nice, love those anemones in the corner.

 

[vlangel]

Dazzling!

Thanks Michael, that brilliant blue is very eye catching for sure. Seeing that same color blue with your damsels is what made me decide that I had to have some, even though my damsels are a different specie LOL.

 

[vlangel]

Nice, love those anemones in the corner.

Thanks ThePurple12! They are rainbow nems. A reef friend that lives near me gave me one and it split when it was transferred into my tank. I was thrilled that the nems chose that area of the tank to reside because they get food before it goes into the overflow, plus they can't sting any coral where they are located. It's the perfect spot for them.

 

[vlangel]

Even though I had never found a body I had pretty much given up on finding the 6th damsel in the sump. However this morning I went down to look very early and lo and behold, there it was! I snagged that little guy immediately and now he is in the display with the other damsels! Woohoo!!!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Rainbow nems? Are they Condlylactis? I ask because I once saw a huge, rainbow colored anemone, while snorkeling in Tortolla. I think it was a Condylactis.

I was in a similar boat with my damsels. For several days I only saw 4 of the 5. Finally, this morning all five were swimming about. Whew!

Dawn, looking at your tank makes me want more fish!

 

[vlangel]

Rainbow nems? Are they Condlylactis? I ask because I once saw a huge, rainbow colored anemone, while snorkeling in Tortolla. I think it was a Condylactis.

I was in a similar boat with my damsels. For several days I only saw 4 of the 5. Finally, this morning all five were swimming about. Whew!
/QUOTE]

I do not not think my nems are condy's. The friend who gave them to me said that they are rainbow bubble tips. They did have bubbly tips when I first got them but I think I feed too much for them to keep their bubble tips. They look and act a lot like rose bubble tip anemones.

Fish really are my 1st love when it comes to my reef tank so it makes sense for me to have as many as can safely keep. In some ways coral and macro algae are only an attractive environment to keep my fish in, although I did get bored with the limitation to the reef when I was keeping seahorses. So I am by no means a fish purist.

I know that the needs of the seagrass are your first priority but with careful selection I do not think that more fish would compromise your end game.
Dawn, looking at your tank makes me want more fish![/

 

[vlangel]

https://youtu.be/Ucvy-DKGOeU

17 second video that captures the color and tranquility of the display tank. Hopefully I am not boring you all to tears with so many videos!

 

[vlangel]

I have run into an issue. Ever since adding the new fish my carpenter wrasse has gone into hiding. I was surprised by this because he is fat and healthy and none of the new fish have shown aggression. Perhaps I have pushed the boundaries of putting too many fish in a 56 gallon but I did not think the new fish who were more open water swimmers would interfere with the original residents.

The good news is I can see where the wrasse hides and I intensionally target that area with food that the wrasse likes. I can see that it is still eating. Should I just continue to feed extra heavy and target its hiding area with tasty treats until it feels more comfortable or should I be more proactive and intervene?

 

[ThePurple12]

I would wait a week and see how it goes with the wrasse. You might have to relocate it.

As for the videos, I definitely enjoy them!

 

[vlangel]

I would wait a week and see how it goes with the wrasse. You might have to relocate it.

As for the videos, I definitely enjoy them!

Thank you, glad that you liked the video of the new fish.
I was thinking the same thing about the wrasse. It does not seem like anyone is harassing it so hopefully it will just settle down and start coming out of hiding on it's own. Catching a wrasse in my tank with all the rock I have will be nearly impossible. My rockscape is complicated and I don't want to dissemble it.

 

[vlangel]

https://youtu.be/XhuNMQvjSHE

Here is an updated video on the refugium. Some of the seagrass has died off but I expected that. There is still green blades so I am hopeful that I will get some established and eventually I will have a bed of seagrass thriving in the fuge. At the end of the video clip I zoomed in on the mollies which are doing very well.