My new rockwork

[NicoleC]

This is still very much a work-in-progress. Plus the sandstorm and afternoon glare from the window doesn't help for the photo quality. But I thought I'd share. Only the frogspawn is not staying.

Full shot:

Angle:

From the left:

From the right (against the wall):

Right side with sinularia, lobophyllia and soon-to-be-gone frogspawn (only 2 rocks!):

Right side detail:

Right side detail:

 

[NicoleC]

Middle section with halimeda:

Left side with lobophyton, sarcophyton and Botryocladia (4 rocks, total)

Left side in the back corner:

Left side detail:

 

[jay2525]

i like the rock work...whats wrong with the frogspawn? why's it going?

 

[NicoleC]

The new tank is a leather and seagrass lagoon. The lobophyllia gets to stay, but nothing else that's not a leather. Less chemical warfare, so they will grow faster and will be healthier. I will have 3 or 4 large corals. (The ones I have are closed up in the photos.)

The middle section is reserved for seagrass -- that empty space doesn't look as big in person!

 

[fish_fanatik]

Looks nice. I cant wait to see it when everything is grown out

 

[xoshagsox]

how many inches of sand did you use?

 

[laverda]

Nicole I have several different kinds leathers if you need any more. I would be glad to frag any one of them for you. Tongs had some sea grass last weekend 2 for 35.00. They were not real large but looked healthy.

 

[NanoLurker]

i wouldn't buy anything from tongs, but that's just me. hit samala up for some, aquacultured and all around good stuff. i've got some star grass coming from her next week along with a couple of other goodies. oh, wait, you're doing a specific biotope right?

 

[NicoleC]

Indo-Pacific seagrass just isn't available in the US, unfortunately. I will have to make due with a stand-in. I would like H. englemannii and H. decipiens; someone said they would send some to me, but it hasn't happened yet.

how many inches of sand did you use?

No new sand yet, but I plan to add another 1/2 to 3/4" or so. I bought a bag of sand but it wasn't as promised -- I am looking for something very fine and silty for the seagrass bed.

I have several different kinds leathers if you need any more

Thanks for the offer, Steve. I am okay for now. Once everything settles in I may add a neon polyped toadstool.

That one purple rock sure is funny next to all that bare, new rock!

 

[NanoLurker]

if you want some of the star grass (Halophila engelmannii) she's sending me, let me know. there may be a little shoal and manatee in the package as well but you probably don't want any of that. i'm experimenting with different grasses right now, i'm attempting to get some locally collected eel grass, surfgrass (Phyllospadix sp.), and a couple of red's to grow. i'm hoping the surfgrass will reattach to the rocks. temperature may be a problem with them but we'll see. will be an interesting experiment.

 

[NicoleC]

Sounds good to me! I can trade you some of the Botryocladia leptopoda (the red macro on the right) if you are looking to experiment with macros as well. It's non-invasive and is happy either attached to rocks or not.

I'll have some of the B. leptopoda at the swap this weekend.

 

[sharkdude]

Looks good Nicole. I like the open swimming room and all the little nook and cranny caves as well.

I almost missed the lobed leather in the pics. Is it doing ok?

I noticed you placed the green sinularia on the sidelines. Is that to try and slow its growth some?

spare a starter piece of the red grape macro?
and a scoop of your sand with the cool feather dusters?

see you saturday at Gho's!

 

[NicoleC]

The middle area isn't quite as big and empty as it looks in the pics for some reason. The lobophyton I got from you is on the left side towards the back. Hard to see in these lousy pics, I know, but it is doing great.

The green sinularia is off to the left because I want it to grow up in from of the overflow.

The big sandbed feather dusters haven't survived in any of the tanks I have given them to. But you can give it a try. I'll have some small fronds of that macro (B. leptopoda) at the swap; I have some more in my sump. It is NOT grade caulerpa, fortunately! But I think it is a great alternative to caulerpa.

 

[NanoLurker]

hey nicole,

the grasses were shipped today and should arrive by friday. they're being sent to my office in irvine so i can swing by your place and drop some off. let me know what your availability is thursday and friday.

 

[NicoleC]

Sarah is sending me some, too. Last week she told me she would ship Tuesday. I think I am covered! But at least we know we have a backup with each other if something doesn't make it.

 

[sharkdude]

Just curious, would you have to fertilize a marine seagrass tank much like a freshwater planted tank? Would some Eco-system miracle mud help keep the segrasses vigorous and growing?
maybe iron supplement judiciously?

 

[NicoleC]

You're supposed to have a very mature DSB (with lots of nutrients in it) and run a high bioload.

I do neither... we shall see...

About the only thing I can say about Miracle Mud is that it IS an excellent particle size for seagrass beds.

 

[hpasternak]

Since I do not have a sump I use Halimeda to help export excess nutrients. What other types of macroalgae would you recommend,
that do not go sexual and my yellow tang would not eat.

Harvey

 

[john37]

Nicole, if you need neon green toadstools let me know. i've got frags and live about 3 minutes from you.

 

[NicoleC]

John, I do want one of your frags, but I want things to settle in a bit first. I'm getting some diatoms growing now and I'd like the chemistry to settle out a bit before adding any baby corals.

Harvey - there's not much your tang won't eat. When I grow some more, you are welcome to try some Botryocladia leptopoda. (The red stuff.) The one strand is all I have right now, and I accidentally got it stuck in the siphon Sunday while doing a water change, so it's seen better days.