Didn't work for me. I couldn't remember what I did when I woke up in the morning.
Oyster Reef Ecosystem Tank
- Thread starter Chasmodes
- Start date
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Oysters and Grasses... a nice pair to have in a house.
vlangel
Premium Member
The Potomac River tank looks great. So much activity in that tank and I love how natural it looks. You have such a knack for making tanks that are close to real life in the wild.
Always enjoy seeing your natural biotypes. Especially with how you integrate plants & seaweeds with fish.
I am moving tanks around in the house to get access for interior wall electrical repair. As part of the moving tanks around, I have located tanks outdoors. Livestock from high nutrient Gulf of Mexico is very hardy in relation to temperature swings, so instead of tight temperature controls, I have set 65 degrees as low point of temperature control. Aside from evaporative cooling, there is no heat removal so thus experiment is seasonal thru March.
I am moving tanks around in the house to get access for interior wall electrical repair. As part of the moving tanks around, I have located tanks outdoors. Livestock from high nutrient Gulf of Mexico is very hardy in relation to temperature swings, so instead of tight temperature controls, I have set 65 degrees as low point of temperature control. Aside from evaporative cooling, there is no heat removal so thus experiment is seasonal thru March.
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Short answer: a few.
In September, I received 80 Blue Israeli Tilapia fingerlings for use as janitors in six different hardy water lily tanks at about 1500G total. I choose to experiment with acclimating 10 tilapia fingerlings to full salt by adding 1G of mature display tank water to 30G glass tank outdoors. Included with tilapia were 6 mosquito fish. Sometime during the next month, the water in 30G tank of tilapia turned dark green with phytoplankton. Due to neglect on my part, salinity got > 40ppt: one tilapia and 3 mosquito fish survived and were put in 40G Rubbermaid tub with established live rock & ornamental sponges. I don’t know how fish are doing as the whole point of the experiment was to develop temperature hardy janitors in mariculture tanks to eat nuisance algae, so I don’t feed the fish. However, a 30G continuous culture of phytoplankton is more valuable to me than janitor fish.
Shortly, I will add 150G Rubbermaid tub that is counter sunk in ground for geothermal passive temperature control. Heater low temperature setting at 65 degrees falling. Today with 60 degree high air temperature, full sun increased 55G tank water temperature to 77 degrees at which point I removed glass lid to allow evaporative cooling.
Except for 150G Rubbermaid tub, tanks on top of ground will be shut down in April, due to Texas heat for 6 months.
In September, I received 80 Blue Israeli Tilapia fingerlings for use as janitors in six different hardy water lily tanks at about 1500G total. I choose to experiment with acclimating 10 tilapia fingerlings to full salt by adding 1G of mature display tank water to 30G glass tank outdoors. Included with tilapia were 6 mosquito fish. Sometime during the next month, the water in 30G tank of tilapia turned dark green with phytoplankton. Due to neglect on my part, salinity got > 40ppt: one tilapia and 3 mosquito fish survived and were put in 40G Rubbermaid tub with established live rock & ornamental sponges. I don’t know how fish are doing as the whole point of the experiment was to develop temperature hardy janitors in mariculture tanks to eat nuisance algae, so I don’t feed the fish. However, a 30G continuous culture of phytoplankton is more valuable to me than janitor fish.
Shortly, I will add 150G Rubbermaid tub that is counter sunk in ground for geothermal passive temperature control. Heater low temperature setting at 65 degrees falling. Today with 60 degree high air temperature, full sun increased 55G tank water temperature to 77 degrees at which point I removed glass lid to allow evaporative cooling.
Except for 150G Rubbermaid tub, tanks on top of ground will be shut down in April, due to Texas heat for 6 months.
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Jey @Chasmodes , I didn’t read this yet (gotta get dinner ready in 15), but thought you’d be interested.
NYC oyster reef
NYC oyster reef
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Hi Everyone.
It's been a long time since I've provided an update of this tank, or done a video. I've been doing a LOT of fishing and haven't kept my tanks "pretty" enough for videos LOL.
Anyway, my expensive Ecotech Radion XR30 Pro LED light crapped out on me after 2 years of use, so I apologize for the rough lighting in this video. It made my tank beautiful while it worked, but now it's a pile of junk. I'm going to send it back for repair, but of course, I bought it in 2014 and the warranty had expired long ago even though I didn't start using it until 2022. I'm really disappointed. We'll see what happens with the repair saga. If the results aren't satisfactory, then my next fixture will be another brand for sure.
About the tank. I collected a lot more hermit crabs and they really make the tank and bottom come alive. They're so active. I'm thrilled as I found several good collecting spots. I also collected an NPS whip coral (Leptogorgia virgulata) which is really cool. I guess my tank is now a real reef tank LOL. Any tips on whip coral husbandry will be much appreciated.
I hope you enjoy the video update!
It's been a long time since I've provided an update of this tank, or done a video. I've been doing a LOT of fishing and haven't kept my tanks "pretty" enough for videos LOL.
Anyway, my expensive Ecotech Radion XR30 Pro LED light crapped out on me after 2 years of use, so I apologize for the rough lighting in this video. It made my tank beautiful while it worked, but now it's a pile of junk. I'm going to send it back for repair, but of course, I bought it in 2014 and the warranty had expired long ago even though I didn't start using it until 2022. I'm really disappointed. We'll see what happens with the repair saga. If the results aren't satisfactory, then my next fixture will be another brand for sure.
About the tank. I collected a lot more hermit crabs and they really make the tank and bottom come alive. They're so active. I'm thrilled as I found several good collecting spots. I also collected an NPS whip coral (Leptogorgia virgulata) which is really cool. I guess my tank is now a real reef tank LOL. Any tips on whip coral husbandry will be much appreciated.
I hope you enjoy the video update!
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Looking great! My experience is gorgs seem to enjoy high flow (however it usually causes them to bend in our tanks unless it alternates directions).
If you want a similar light to the XR30, I’ve heard the AliExpress version of the XR30 is pretty decent, but if you use more than one, there can be some issue linking them and the app can be a bit clunky as it isn’t as refined like the original Radion version.
If you want something completely different, I’m not sure what your price range is but the ReefiUno Pro 2 seems to get great reviews and Luca just came out with the new Quanta Atlas which is said to have a spectrum similar to a 14k halide. Its very new though but Quanta has always received good reviews in the past form what I can see. Both the Reefi and the Quanta have similar price ranges (around $500 each).
Hope this helps!
If you want a similar light to the XR30, I’ve heard the AliExpress version of the XR30 is pretty decent, but if you use more than one, there can be some issue linking them and the app can be a bit clunky as it isn’t as refined like the original Radion version.
If you want something completely different, I’m not sure what your price range is but the ReefiUno Pro 2 seems to get great reviews and Luca just came out with the new Quanta Atlas which is said to have a spectrum similar to a 14k halide. Its very new though but Quanta has always received good reviews in the past form what I can see. Both the Reefi and the Quanta have similar price ranges (around $500 each).
Hope this helps!
SantaMonica
Well-known member
How many oysters are alive now?
Chasmodes
Well-known member
I don't have any oysters alive right now SM. Just mussels, barnacles, tunicates and a gorgonian. My last oyster died off this spring, and I chose not to keep any more. They simply need too much food to survive for a long period of time. The longest that one lasted for me was 9 months.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Must be why they are so meaty... having consumed so much food.
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