High Nutrient Macro Algae/Sea Grass Reef

[vlangel]

Yes, I believe that I probably have plenty of nutrients. My sponges are doing well and I think they need nutrients. My red titan is growing great as well.

You are right about the CO2 however. That is a big upgrade and it scares me a little as it can wipe out the fish if not done right and fish are my first love.

 

[Chasmodes]

Your tank is amazing Dawn. Do macros still grow well in your fuge? If so, maybe they're outcompeting the grasses? I dunno. I couldn't get any plants to grow in my brackish tank, and in my FW tank, it took me a year. Last year, I was a plant killer, and this year, they're growing like mad and I didn't do anything but plant them LOL. I guess I did add more plant sticks than I did last year, that's the only difference.

A buddy of mine gave me a CO2 system, but I have yet to use it. For me, it's the fear of the unknown, because I have no idea how I'd do it.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I was thinking. With all the fish you have, you probably have enough CO2 already. So maybe the only thing holding back the grasses is light. Besides getting a new light (employee discount?), you could try lengthening the photo period in the fuge to see if that helps. Otherwise, just let the grasses go and focus on the great stuff you already have.

 

[vlangel]

Your tank is amazing Dawn. Do macros still grow well in your fuge? If so, maybe they're outcompeting the grasses? I dunno. I couldn't get any plants to grow in my brackish tank, and in my FW tank, it took me a year. Last year, I was a plant killer, and this year, they're growing like mad and I didn't do anything but plant them LOL. I guess I did add more plant sticks than I did last year, that's the only difference.

A buddy of mine gave me a CO2 system, but I have yet to use it. For me, it's the fear of the unknown, because I have no idea how I'd do it.

Fear of the unknown also is intimidating to me too Kevin. I took a good look at the grasses this morning when I went down to do a water change and feed the fish. Actually the grasses that I still have look decent. Also there are areas where there is brown bushy places where perhaps grass roots are growing under the sand??? I can hope anyway.

I am having luck with codium and red titan in the fuge. Of course caulerpa will grow great guns but I keep it pruned back as far as possible.

 

[vlangel]

I was thinking. With all the fish you have, you probably have enough CO2 already. So maybe the only thing holding back the grasses is light. Besides getting a new light (employee discount?), you could try lengthening the photo period in the fuge to see if that helps. Otherwise, just let the grasses go and focus on the great stuff you already have.

So having fish creates a carbon source? I did not know that. Maybe I just need to lower my light fixture so that it is closer to the water. I can not imagine that a 4 bulb high output T5 fixture does not have the ability to grow seagrass. Perhaps my color is not right for the seagrass. I could lengthen the photophase easily too. I should not give up just yet.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Fish produce CO2 (plants' favorite form of Carbon) through respiration, just like we do. So, all those fish you have are mini CO2 reactors!

Yes, definitely lower the fixture if possible. Couldn't hurt. I would think T5s would work too, since people regularly grow corals with them. 5000-6000 Kelvin is recommended for seagrass. Lengthening the photo period, lowering the fixture, and maybe changing bulbs could make the difference.

It seems like they are so close to making it, a few adjustments might just do the trick!

 

[vlangel]

Doh, I guess I should have realized that. We breath out carbon dioxide, I should have known that fish do as well. It is so obvious and yet I missed it, hence the 'doh', ha ha!

It is easy for me to move the lights down the way we hung them. I had them at the chosen height because salt spray did not coat the lens cover at that height. I will need to clean the cover weekly if I move it down, which is not a deal breaker since I still do weekly water changes. I will think about changing the bulbs and lengthening the photo phase too since those are easy changes. Who knows unless we give it a shot?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

We're all still learning. That's one of my fascinations, how fish and plants balance each other.

Making those adjustments could help. It's worth a try for sure!

 

[Subsea]

Your tank is amazing Dawn. Do macros still grow well in your fuge? If so, maybe they're outcompeting the grasses? I dunno. I couldn't get any plants to grow in my brackish tank, and in my FW tank, it took me a year. Last year, I was a plant killer, and this year, they're growing like mad and I didn't do anything but plant them LOL. I guess I did add more plant sticks than I did last year, that's the only difference.

A buddy of mine gave me a CO2 system, but I have yet to use it. For me, it's the fear of the unknown, because I have no idea how I'd do it.

Kevin,
It’s been a while. When you said CO2 system, do you mean calcium reactor?

 

[vlangel]

I have been busy so still have not moved the light fixture closer to the water, or lengthened the photo phase. I need to do at least one of those to start with but the fuge looks like the remaining seagrass is holding its own. I wondered since Michael shared that fish give off CO2 as respiration, if adding more fish to the fuge could help? Currently there is the donated Percula clown, Guardian the YCG and Molly McGuire the converted to saltwater molly. The drain from the living room display into the fuge makes a fair amount of turbulence and surface agitation. The Aquaclear filter also creates surface agitation. Is it possible that the CO2 in the system is being off gassed before the seagrasses can utilize it? Then I wonder if more fish in the fuge would help increase the CO2? What do you guys think?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

That agitation would definitely off gas CO2. It's a great excuse to add a fish or two! You also might try mitigating some of the agitation to preserve the CO2 you have, if possible. For fish, you might try adding another Molly or two, to get 1 male to 2-3 females. Soon, you'll have a small school of babies! They are little eating machines, and will keep your fuge neat and tidy. Male Mollies have a modified anal fin (kind of a tube), plus they have a sailfin dorsal fin.

It's a thought. Have you got anything in mind?

 

[vlangel]

That agitation would definitely off gas CO2. It's a great excuse to add a fish or two! You also might try mitigating some of the agitation to preserve the CO2 you have, if possible. For fish, you might try adding another Molly or two, to get 1 male to 2-3 females. Soon, you'll have a small school of babies! They are little eating machines, and will keep your fuge neat and tidy. Male Mollies have a modified anal fin (kind of a tube), plus they have a sailfin dorsal fin.

It's a thought. Have you got anything in mind?

I definitely would love for mollies to spawn in my fuge but I did not have a lot of luck keeping mollies. I even bought some already converted to salt but probably not at reef tank salinities. Molly McGuire was my only long term success, so I am hesitant to condemn anymore mollies to a fateful end.

I was thinking perhaps a firefish goby or two. I have always had good luck with them and I like them a lot. Also I thought of a citrin goby. They do tend to irritate coral but that is not an issue in the fuge.

 

[vlangel]

Oh my, I have been MIA so long that my thread disappeared and I had trouble finding it, ha ha!

I found that my life is too busy to work. Yesterday was my last day. I loved the job and the people but I couldn't juggle an elderly aunt's needs with the part time job. It turns out that older folks don't schedule when they are going to fall. Actually in spite of my cynical sounding humor, I love being able to be there for this wonderful aunt, so it's all good.

In fact, it will probably be better for my tank. I have been keeping up with water changes (mostly) but haven't really done anything else. I look forward to being able to tinker in the tank more. The fish are doing pretty well but recently my green citrin goby disappeared along with my firefish goby. I am suspecting that Rice Krispies may have something to do with at least one of their disappearances. The firefish has been looking a bit rough so was not surprised about it but the green goby seemed active, vibrant and very much alive. Unfortunately Rice Krispies has undermined all my rockwork, and poor Piper probably got swept into a cavern never to be seen again. Rice Krispies is the last snapping shrimp I will ever add to the display. I would love to bring Guardian up from the fuge but am afraid, even though he has grown a lot. The only real small fish I have left is the last barnacle blenny, Barney. Luckily he resides in a coworker tube half way up the aquarium.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Good to have you back! I look forward to hear of your next tinkering. I still have one Barnacle Blenny too!

 

[vlangel]

Good to have you back! I look forward to hear of your next tinkering. I still have one Barnacle Blenny too!

Thanks Michael. I am not sure what direction my tinkering shall take me yet but I will figure it out. We shall see what 2022 brings.

 

[vlangel]

Today after visiting family out of state, I am back home, settled and ready to tend to my tanks. This morning I made water, did a water change and cleaned the glass in the fuge. My salinity has crept up slightly so will gradually decrease it in the coming weeks.

Guardian, the ywg has grown a lot since I got him. He has developed that endearing (at least to me) grumpy face that bigger watchman gobies get. Perky, the rescue Percula looks fat and sassy. Molly McQuire is showing his age, or maybe the .026 salinity is hard on him. Normally I keep it closer to natural seawater.

I plan to work on the display when the lights come on shortly. The glass definitely needs attention.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Back to the grind! Sounds like your fish are fat and happy!

 

[vlangel]

They are doing well. Today I had some time to sit on the sofa and just enjoy watching them now that the glass is clean.

I am thinking about doing feather duster worms again. I have always had a fascination about them. They are such a unique creature and I was having good luck with the last ones I got until I tried to move them. Where ever I put them or they move to will be where they stay this time around.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I'll be couch-bound here myself shortly. Looking forward to the show!

Feather Dusters are cool. Good luck with them, if you get 'em!

 

[vlangel]

I probably will not do anything drastic until an aunt we are helping is done with cataract surgery. She will have a multitude of limitations that may actually require me to stay at her house for a week. Both eyes need done and they are a month apart so I will be tied up until the end of Feb so nothing new til then.

My rainbow nem divided again. Rose bubble and rainbow bubble nems seem to divide very readily. I had a sebae anemone for years that never divided and this nem has divided at least 4Xs. Both nems look healthy and happy. I like them and they stay confined to the pinnacle of the stoney coral that they reside on so it's not a bad thing. I just wonder why it happens. Of course there will always be some mysteries in regards to our tanks.