Mangrove/MAcro tank..

[Fishfreak218]

OK,
well after seeing a Mangrove tank that was posted on this forum about Aquascaping... (posted by Samala).. i was wondering how possible this would be.... something like this (its a 30g. Oceanic Cube):

This is just an idea and some food for thought.. (gives me something to do in math and History class ).... im going snorkeling hopefully on the 12th for a fieldtrip with my school....we will be looking at a mangrove swamp/biotope [whatever] and maybe i could get some ideas from what it looked like.... lighting is a 150w MH with 130w PC (i already have the light///)... the tank would have a few corals and some inverts and a few fish.. (maybe a blenny and something else..)... is this possible?? How would i make the island ??? Does anyone know if fidler crabs are reef safe??? Also whyat should i do about flow?? (im guessing some powerheards hidden in some rock ... (BTW thats not really an aquascape i want.. i just put something there to get a feel for the tank) thanks in advance
-josh

 

[Fishfreak218]

also forgot.. i want to have a few Rock/flower anemones..

 

[Fishfreak218]

anyone???

 

[graveyardworm]

You're gonna need a way to keep the sand from leveling, you could hold it back with a retaining wall made out of LR.

edit: as far as the fiddlers are concerned they require time out of the water so you'll need some sand out of the water.

 

[Fishfreak218]

so you mean rocks inside the sand to like.. give it support??

 

[graveyardworm]

A retaining wall like you might see along a driveway to hold back dirt. I would step it back as it gets higher.

 

[Fishfreak218]

hmm... you mean do the sand mound and then put like a "sheet" or "layer" of Liverock over it???

 

[graveyardworm]

like this

 

[Fishfreak218]

ya... thats what i meant... thank you VERY much... could i have some spaces of sand inbetween???? or does it have to be full wall???

 

[graveyardworm]

You mean spread tthe rock out more to create some plateau's? I dont see why not.

 

[icyuod2]

have you ever looked at perfectos river tank ecosystems?
you could do something similar.
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/brookhavenes/archive.html

maybe one of there tanks would already suit your needs, if you fill one of the eddies with sand/mangroves.

theres a few to chose from.
http://www.carolina.com/tips/95jan/index.asp

 

[icyuod2]

http://www.carolina.com/tips/95jan/index.asp

 

[Fishfreak218]

ya i have seen those... but i want it too be all (ok most) natural... the only things that arent alive in the tank are going to be the Powerheads.. and those will be hidden in some rocks probably... thank you icyoud2... (P.S. your tanks rock)

 

[Fishfreak218]

here is what i want the tank to kind of look like... the green patch in the tank is Caulerpa Prolifera...:

also the aquascape in the second pic isnt the one i want... the aquascape in the 1st pic is the aquascape im going for (as far as rocks go)

 

[graveyardworm]

The pictures are neat, it'll be very interesting to watch as the project progresses.

 

[Fishfreak218]

thank you.. il start a journle once it gets going

 

[icyuod2]

ok 1 more link ya gotta see, if you havent already

this rocks!
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/ac/feature/index.php
and thank you for the kind words.

can wait to see your idea up and rolling.

 

[Fishfreak218]

thanks for the link.... i have read it.. i have read most of the popular articles.. by Calfo, Knopps, and some others.... i just dont know what to stock the tank with

 

[graveyardworm]

I have also done quite a bit of research on mangrove/lagoon habitats and may be able to help with stocking questions.

 

[Fishfreak218]

ok then..i need fish and invert stocking help i know for sure that i dont want clowns and that i do want a Bangaii Cardinalfish and a Yelllowtail blue damsel and rock anemones and some kind of urchin.. i forget the name... il go look it up.. they are associated with Bangaii Cardinals in the wild.. any other suggestions on fish inverts or corals??