Looks amazing! Nice macro-scape. I like the codium too!
God point on the C. brachypus, BlueCat1949.
God point on the C. brachypus, BlueCat1949.
Husker 12g long "dirty" macro tank
- Thread starter HuskerBioProf
- Start date
Oh yeah, on the harem thing; bigger is better, so no one female gets too much aggression/attention from the male. I doubt that's a big issue with sailfins, but a good general rule. I bet you could do 4.
HuskerBioProf
New member
Yah, the prolifera doesn't seem to be doing what I hoped. I may switch to actual sea grass for the look I want. Maybe look into the other Caulerpa species that you suggested.
I like the idea of the harem of sailfins. But I can't find anyone that sells them by male/female. Do I have to put them all in at once?
I like the idea of the harem of sailfins. But I can't find anyone that sells them by male/female. Do I have to put them all in at once?
I bet KP Aquatics would. Tell them you want 3 light ones, one dark one.
HuskerBioProf
New member
It is only 12 gallon. Are we sure multiple sailfin blennies would be okay?
Are we ever sure? I'm not one to advise you, since I have no experience with a tank that size.
I will say that with a macro algae tank, a higher bio load is helpful in maintaining the higher nutrient levels the macros need. In reef tanks, we struggle to keep nutrients low. With macros, we struggle to keep nutrients high enough to maintain growth. It's a different mindset that a lot of macro keepers have a difficult time adjusting to.
But you have just started the tank. Right now, you have a tank full of macros, with almost nothing in there to feed them. Lots of instability, as bacteria and algae get established. I tried to keep nutrients low when my tank was new. I still got a nasty algae phase, and my macros got smaller and smaller, until they disappeared. When I added fish, the macros came back.
In the end, you're going to run your tank as you see fit, and Mother Nature will do her part. You'll make adjustments, depending on your priorities, and eventually you'll realize your vision.
I will say that with a macro algae tank, a higher bio load is helpful in maintaining the higher nutrient levels the macros need. In reef tanks, we struggle to keep nutrients low. With macros, we struggle to keep nutrients high enough to maintain growth. It's a different mindset that a lot of macro keepers have a difficult time adjusting to.
But you have just started the tank. Right now, you have a tank full of macros, with almost nothing in there to feed them. Lots of instability, as bacteria and algae get established. I tried to keep nutrients low when my tank was new. I still got a nasty algae phase, and my macros got smaller and smaller, until they disappeared. When I added fish, the macros came back.
In the end, you're going to run your tank as you see fit, and Mother Nature will do her part. You'll make adjustments, depending on your priorities, and eventually you'll realize your vision.
HuskerBioProf
New member
Yep. I am not so worried about nutrients (I can't even keep detectable nitrates on my SPS tank), I am more worried about them killing each other competing for space. Have you seen anybody keep a sailfin harem?
"I am not so worried about nutrients (I can't even keep detectable nitrates on my SPS tank)"-HuskerBioProf
This suggests the "reefer mindset" I mentioned above. Maybe you should be worried about the opposite-not ENOUGH nutrients for your macros.
No, I have not seen anyone keep a harem of sailfins. I am considering keeping one myself, so I have done a little reading. Everything I can recall would suggest that sailfins would be good candidates for a 9small)harem in a small tank. But don't take any one person's word for it. Study up and draw your own conclusions. And let us know what you find out.
This suggests the "reefer mindset" I mentioned above. Maybe you should be worried about the opposite-not ENOUGH nutrients for your macros.
No, I have not seen anyone keep a harem of sailfins. I am considering keeping one myself, so I have done a little reading. Everything I can recall would suggest that sailfins would be good candidates for a 9small)harem in a small tank. But don't take any one person's word for it. Study up and draw your own conclusions. And let us know what you find out.
Whoops! I'm sorry, I hope I wasn't insulting. I did not mean to be. I wanted to point out the mindset change needed to succeed with macros, that I, more than most, had to grapple with too.
Macros, like any other plant or animal, need food. Greedy ones, like caulerpa need even more. They will quickly strip your tank of necessary nutrients, which is why dosing becomes so important.
Anyway, you don't really need me to tell you these things, being a biology professor, so I'll try to control myself!
Macros, like any other plant or animal, need food. Greedy ones, like caulerpa need even more. They will quickly strip your tank of necessary nutrients, which is why dosing becomes so important.
Anyway, you don't really need me to tell you these things, being a biology professor, so I'll try to control myself!
HuskerBioProf
New member
Yep, I get it. I am just saying how my SPS tank sucks up more nitrate/phosphate than people think. Symbiotic algae require inorganic nutrients, too, and people overestimate how "sterile" SPS tanks need to me. I imagine even more so in a macro tank. The trouble in my SPS tank is you can only put so many fish in a space before they start to attack each other. I will look into it and see if it seems like it would work. They do seem like cool fish.
I agree. Definitely more so in macro tanks. I applaud your care in fish picking. You do have a real space issue to deal with. I do think you can have a descent, tiny fish community in there. You know, the duds might not be as duddy in your 12. A small group of one of those tiny gobies could look cool. I really enjoyed watching the social interaction of my barnacle blennies, despite the fact that they stayed in their holes most of the time.
Ron Reefman
Active member
Husker, that tank is looking very nice! Congratulations.
HuskerBioProf
New member
Thanks folks. I will keep thinking about fish and keep an eye out for neat groups/pairs of fish that might work.
HuskerBioProf
New member
Well, I decided to just let myself be inspired by something when I saw it. I stumbled across this bonded pair of radial filefish on Diver's Den. I couldn't pass them up. They are really neat to watch in the macro tank as they interact. You really have to look for them as they swim around because they can be quite camouflage at times.
Nice. It's great that you got two of them. They're so much more interesting, interacting together. Great pic too!
Jessie2406
Member
They are beautiful!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Ron Reefman
Active member
A mated pair, that's cool. I think file fish are nice. I'd love to get a tasseled file fish but they get too big for my tanks.
HuskerBioProf
New member
They aren't super colorful, but they have neat patterning and eyes. I was hoping they might prevent the aptaisia problem that some people tend to have in macro tanks, as well.
BlueCat1949
New member
Cool looking fish, how big do they get? Is the bigger one the male or the female?
