Monks 55g Macro Display (Pic Heavy)

The barbata is a very nice looking plant, I cant wait for it to grow out. I hope it makes it, so far so good.

I have to trim about every couple weeks so im sure ill have macros to trim whenever anyone needs them, except atm im running low. Sent out a bunch and am waiting for them to grow back out now.
 
New Coral pics

New Coral pics

Here is my Scooter Blenny perched up next to a big a$$ ric

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Here are a couple pics of some new coral I got recently from a trade.

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I know my water is a bit dirtier then a reg. reef tank with all the Macro's needing thier Kno3 and other nutrients. But im hoping for the best!!
Ill get some more pics of them up later busy atm.

Thanks for looking guys Happy reefing :D
 
What a lovely macro display tank. I like the variety very much. Mine's the opposite, only a few species. Sigh, I have to thin out the Halimeda again.

I was leaning towards Ochtodes for the id of the "mystery" macro in my tank. Thanks for the confirmation.

Subscribed. : D
 
Thanks, Ive thinned out the reds even more. It was just too red! Also im moving the macros to the back and sides so they dont distract from the rockwork as much. It was really looking too crowded out front and is now a bit more open. Ill have to post pics of it tomorrow.
 
Nice looking algae there. I wish my seagrasses wouldn't drain the life out of the macroalgae I try to put in mine, lol. I've just about given up on any sort of macroalgae growing with them, as it gradually declines until it is gone (while the grasses thrive).
 
Thanks, Ive thinned out the reds even more. It was just too red! Also im moving the macros to the back and sides so they dont distract from the rockwork as much. It was really looking too crowded out front and is now a bit more open. Ill have to post pics of it tomorrow.

Haha, you are too red, I'm too green.

I like the new rock work it's interesting. I've got reattach my Halimeda clippiings. Bleh... Saturday's job! Wanna come over and do it for me? :D
 
Haha, you are too red, I'm too green.

I like the new rock work it's interesting. I've got reattach my Halimeda clippiings. Bleh... Saturday's job! Wanna come over and do it for me? :D

LoL I dont even like having to glue my own macros let alone yours.:headwalls:

Im planning on switching everything over to a 40b with a 29g Macro display sump. I have had the 40b drilled and the stand built for over 3-4 months lol. Just kinda went lazy when making the hood and havent finished it yet. This one will be led lit. Went to Petco to buy a 29g yesterday and missed the damn dollar per G sale by a couple days. Guess im gonna have to pay full price for one lol.

Plan on doing a lagoon style with rocks all around and open in the middle, maybe a "bridge across the middle like the 55g. I ordered 50lbs more of dry rock to add to the tanks( no use in getting live rock since mine is very live and the dry will seed pretty quick) Hoping everything takes to move well. Hope to have it all rdy and the transfer done by the 7th, but im not good with deadlines so who knows lol.
 
Amphiprion do you dose your tank, are the Sea grasses taking that much nutrients out of the water?

I've tried dosing, feeding heavily, both at the same time, etc. The results end up the same. Not entirely sure why, but its apparently a competition thing. While the tank was young and grass coverage was low, I had no issues with macroalgae. Now I can't seem to keep any alive once the grasses really filled in. Granted, the algae grow, but it is very slow, even for more prolific ones (minus Caulerpa, which I never intend to introduce).

As far as whether or not the grasses are doing it entirely, I don't know--probably not, though. The tank has a very active sand bed, so that may be limiting nitrogen to an extent. Some grasses grow pretty fast once settled and, with enough biomass/light (there's a lot more below the substrate than above), I'd imagine they can assimilate a much larger share than what you'd think. There may be some chemical competition, as well--decaying seagrass and the organics/discoloration it creates may inhibit some forms of algae (microalgae not withstanding). That's all speculation, though.
 
LoL I dont even like having to glue my own macros let alone yours.:headwalls:

:(, but I don't wanna glue my macros...

Plan on doing a lagoon style with rocks all around and open in the middle, maybe a "bridge across the middle like the 55g. I ordered 50lbs more of dry rock to add to the tanks( no use in getting live rock since mine is very live and the dry will seed pretty quick) Hoping everything takes to move well. Hope to have it all rdy and the transfer done by the 7th, but im not good with deadlines so who knows lol.

Hehe. I stink with deadlines. Look forward to the transfer though. That'll be cool.

I've tried dosing, feeding heavily, both at the same time, etc. The results end up the same. Not entirely sure why, but its apparently a competition thing. While the tank was young and grass coverage was low, I had no issues with macroalgae. Now I can't seem to keep any alive once the grasses really filled in. Granted, the algae grow, but it is very slow, even for more prolific ones (minus Caulerpa, which I never intend to introduce).

As far as whether or not the grasses are doing it entirely, I don't know--probably not, though. The tank has a very active sand bed, so that may be limiting nitrogen to an extent. Some grasses grow pretty fast once settled and, with enough biomass/light (there's a lot more below the substrate than above), I'd imagine they can assimilate a much larger share than what you'd think. There may be some chemical competition, as well--decaying seagrass and the organics/discoloration it creates may inhibit some forms of algae (microalgae not withstanding). That's all speculation, though.

In FW planted, I've noticed competition between plants. Makes complete sense to me that Marine planted systems would do something similar. I don't dose. Right now, I'm relying on the nutrients in the water column and larger, more frequent water changes. So far, so good. Granted, neither Halodule or Halimeda are particularly difficult.

EDIT: Amphiprion, don't I know you from somewhere? :D

L
 
In FW planted, I've noticed competition between plants. Makes complete sense to me that Marine planted systems would do something similar. I don't dose. Right now, I'm relying on the nutrients in the water column and larger, more frequent water changes. So far, so good. Granted, neither Halodule or Halimeda are particularly difficult.

EDIT: Amphiprion, don't I know you from somewhere? :D

L

Good to know my thinking isn't completely off the wall, as it often is.

As for the rest, pure coincidence I say :D.
 
Good to know my thinking isn't completely off the wall, as it often is.

As for the rest, pure coincidence I say :D.

Unless we're both off the wall. Entirely possible. :spin2:

Hehe at the coincidence, but no laughing now! I am in mourning. If you read my journal you'll know why. :(
 
I've tried dosing, feeding heavily, both at the same time, etc. The results end up the same. Not entirely sure why, but its apparently a competition thing. While the tank was young and grass coverage was low, I had no issues with macroalgae. Now I can't seem to keep any alive once the grasses really filled in. Granted, the algae grow, but it is very slow, even for more prolific ones (minus Caulerpa, which I never intend to introduce).

As far as whether or not the grasses are doing it entirely, I don't know--probably not, though. The tank has a very active sand bed, so that may be limiting nitrogen to an extent. Some grasses grow pretty fast once settled and, with enough biomass/light (there's a lot more below the substrate than above), I'd imagine they can assimilate a much larger share than what you'd think. There may be some chemical competition, as well--decaying seagrass and the organics/discoloration it creates may inhibit some forms of algae (microalgae not withstanding). That's all speculation, though.



Ive read somewhere about chemical warfare between Macro Algae, mostly caulerpa, but it wouldnt surprise me if sea grasses used a bit of the same technique :P


:(, but I don't wanna glue my macros...

In FW planted, I've noticed competition between plants. Makes complete sense to me that Marine planted systems would do something similar. I don't dose. Right now, I'm relying on the nutrients in the water column and larger, more frequent water changes. So far, so good. Granted, neither Halodule or Halimeda are particularly difficult.

L

I havent done a waterchange in 4 months :P There isnt really a need to with all the Macro I have growing. But I do have to dose every couple days or no growth.
 
Well I acclimated a couple Molly's over to saltwater and they are doing great. My Blue devil was a bit angry but she will get over it. lol

All of them are doing very well and were eating algae within seconds of being in the tank at 100% saltwater!

Below are a couple pics of the Molly's
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It still kind of freaks me out when I see it, but it's cool. It shouldn't really as I live in Miami, and the Everglades, which can be heavily Brackish, is loaded with molly species. What did you do to acclimate them?

L
 
Yes I acclimated them over 6 hours actually. I bought 2 males and 2 females in case of deaths. Just my luck the 2 males are the ones that made it without a problem. The 2 females died after a day. My blue devil keeps them to one side of the tank, so I might move them to my 10g or trade in the *****y blue devil.


*Edit, I just looked at the Molly's a bit closer and realized I have a male/female and not the 2 males as I thought :D This makes me feel alot better lol. They are tearing up the algae on the back wall.
 
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I believe marine macro algae's compete. I have well over 20 macros and harvest about once a month and after each harvest a different macro takes off in growth.
 
I believe marine macro algae's compete. I have well over 20 macros and harvest about once a month and after each harvest a different macro takes off in growth.

I never really had that happen in mine, the Caulerpa was always king of the tank lol. Now that I ripped that out the blue ochtodes are taking off fast along with the gracillaria.
 
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The Molly's are all doing great. Eating Mysis, pellets and algae.

I plan to switch to my 40b tuesday, finish building the hood just need to paint it tomorrow. Hopefully everyone takes the switch well.

Here are some pics from my phone, (camera batteries are dead and im too lazy to go get some atm)

24k Molly Hiding out in Goby/pistol hole(asking for trouble if you ask me lol)
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lemon Peel
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Blue Devil
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Orange Spot Goby
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New Gonioporia Coral starting to extend
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More pics when I get some batteries
 
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