New TBS Tank

[gforce2002]

I should add that the red algae I'm experiencing does not really grow in slimy mats, but rather has a consistency more like "normal" algae. It can be scraped off in sheets from the glass and has an almost "dusty" consistency on the rocks.

 

[BillyBee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14055282#post14055282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
I've kept my tank FL biotope. It makes an excellent teaching tool. It took a bit of research to get fishes that fit in, but it's been alot of fun.

I am thinking of doing the same. What typically is in the FL waters around Tampa?

The Bee

 

[BillyBee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14055282#post14055282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
I've kept my tank FL biotope. It makes an excellent teaching tool. It took a bit of research to get fishes that fit in, but it's been alot of fun.

Care to share what's in your FL biotype?

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14200056#post14200056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BillyBee
Care to share what's in your FL biotype?

Do you want the fish list or the invert list or both?

 

[BillyBee]

Both would be great.
Your help and research is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Yogre]

Can I tag along? I just recently set up a 215g with the package ( I'm working on getting a thread up) and I'm seriously considering a biotope.

Thanks!

 

[noahm]

Can't wait to see your 215.

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14207494#post14207494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BillyBee
Both would be great.
Your help and research is appreciated.

Thanks

You're most welcome! I've fallen into this hobby and I absolutely love it. These organisms are in my main display:

Fish list:
Blue Reef Chromis*
Neon Goby*
Fairy Basslet* (a.k.a. Royal Gramma)
Zebra Tail Blenny
Tiger Stripe Goby

Invert list:
Coral Banded Shrimp*
Lettuce Nudibranch*
Condylactis anemone
Flower anemone
Haitian Mushrooms
Sea Star
Long spined Urchin
Collector Urchin
Jewel Box Clams
Striped Clams (don't know proper name, shell is striped and elongate)
Serpent Star
Slipper Lobsters
Mantis Shrimps
Blue Legged hermit crabs
Astrea Snails
Orange Turbo Snail
Purple Sea fans
Blade Gorgonian
Candelabra Gorgonian
Corky Gorgonian

Do Sponges count?:
Orange Flower Sponges
Red Tree Sponges
Red Box Sponges (don't know proper name)
Yellow Ball Sponge
Red Frilly Sponge (growing on a clam's shell and don't know proper name)
Blue vase sponge

*denotes organism that did not arrive with Package from Richard

As you can see my invert list is much longer than my fish list. The fish add just enough color and movement for viewers who enjoy seeing fish.

I can post my list of fish I considered that I've seen while diving the Keys in FL (like the Bi-color damsel for example)

 

[BillyBee]

Teri,

These are terrific, I have dived most places from the Barrier Reef, Bermuda, Caribbean but never in the water off Tampa or even the Gulf for that matter.
I have a condo in Clearwater, so there is no excuse but as I get older I have a lesser desire to dive.

This is greatly appreciated.

Don

 

[Yogre]

Thanks for sharing, Teri! That's a neat list, I've saved it for the point when my tank is quite a bit more mature.

A slipper lobster... so THAT'S what that thing is! Different looking critter for sure!

 

[shadowbearwv]

I was thinking of getting the Blue Reef Chromis.

I was wondering, do they really school in captivity, and what is the correct count that you should have, say for a 75 gallon tank?


Thanks

SB

 

[noahm]

There was just a thread in the general area about schooling fish. They will 'swim together' . About half the thread was people arguing about schooling and shoaling when all the OP wanted was fish ideas.

The consensus with the blue/green Chromis seems to be have at least 5 or they will pick on the weakest till there's no group left. Buy them all at the same time from the same stock. Finally, they will become a loose group most likely (instead of a shoal) after they get comfortable w/o predators. some say buy odd #'s but there are plenty of examples of even # groups. Odd generally looks better to the eye.

I am going for probably 7 in my 125 as they will be the primary open water swimmer. I would say 5-6 for your 75 in case one dies (seems to be common when you get that many of anything)

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14215226#post14215226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BillyBee
Teri,

These are terrific, I have dived most places from the Barrier Reef, Bermuda, Caribbean but never in the water off Tampa or even the Gulf for that matter.
I have a condo in Clearwater, so there is no excuse but as I get older I have a lesser desire to dive.

This is greatly appreciated.

Don

Don, isn't there springs or a river in Clearwater that is popular with divers? Getting in and out of the water with all that SCUBA gear on can be physically demanding. I seldom dive in freshwater for fun anymore. I've not been diving off Tampa but some day I would like to dive Richard's aquaculture site.

There is a small reef system in the Gulf called Flower Gardens Marine Sanctuary. I've seen slipper lobsters there big enough to easily feed two people. There was a gigantic star coral colony the size of my house.

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14222573#post14222573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noahm
There was just a thread in the general area about schooling fish. They will 'swim together' . About half the thread was people arguing about schooling and shoaling when all the OP wanted was fish ideas.

The consensus with the blue/green Chromis seems to be have at least 5 or they will pick on the weakest till there's no group left. Buy them all at the same time from the same stock. Finally, they will become a loose group most likely (instead of a shoal) after they get comfortable w/o predators. some say buy odd #'s but there are plenty of examples of even # groups. Odd generally looks better to the eye.

I am going for probably 7 in my 125 as they will be the primary open water swimmer. I would say 5-6 for your 75 in case one dies (seems to be common when you get that many of anything)

It seems I read somewhere that the blue reef chromis stress out when netted giving them a high mortality rate. Last August I put 5 in my tank thinking there would be die off and now I'm down to 2. It's a good number for the size tank I have and these remaining 2 are doing very well. People really enjoy them because they are "open water swimmers." They don't really school or shoal but sometimes they swim together and other times they don't.

 

[noahm]

My bad, the Blue reef Caribbean Chromis cyanea is diff from the blue/green viridis and it gets a bit bigger. Nicer looking, but might want a few less in a 75. Ask around.