Weeds

[Michael Hoaster]

It's payback time. I've been slacking this spring and summer. Now I'm paying for it.

My tank has gotten overgrown and I'm now trying to get it back under 'control'. I realized pretty quickly that this was going to need to be a multi-day effort. I've put several days together, working on it. Oddly enough, I've been inspired to take it further then I planned. I'd been hoping to pull out the Shoal Grass for months, but I knew I'd need to get the sand bed free of Caulerpa first. This made it quite a daunting task.

I managed to get rid of said Caulerpa, so I figured this was my chance to pull Shoal Grass. So I did. Woo! Dawn, are you ready? I rechecked your thread, and you posted you had grandkids until July 16th, so the timing will be tight. I hope I don't put you in a tough situation.

I also had to pull a bunch of Manatee Grass that had grown into and around the patch reef. This will be replanted in bare patches, after the shoal grass and (sand bed) caulerpa are gone.

Another issue is cyanobacteria. With the tank so overgrown, water movement has been reduced, and cyano has taken the opportunity to 'move in'. I'm doing as much manual removal as possible. Once the replanted manatee grass has had time to take root, I'll do a blackout/erythromycin treatment to hopefully finish it off.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Quite the multi-day experience. So much work! You know that feeling when your tank is on the brink, and you know you'll either step up to regain control, or you bail. Yeah…

I put shoal grass in the mail today. I pulled more manatee grass that was too close to the front glass. That had to be sorted and pruned, and combined with the other grasses I processed yesterday, for replanting. I manually removed another round of sand bed cyanobacteria, before replanting at least a hundred plants.

There's more to do. But the worst of it's done!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I took a break yesterday, but today I went after stragglers-sand bed caulerpa. The manatee grass looks well-spaced, without the shoal grass and caulerpa. I thinks that's important, in the confines of an aquarium. Scarlett was really cleaning up the grass today. That a girl! All the fish are much happier, with much more room to move.

It's coming along!

 

[vlangel]

I am posting a pic so I need to see a pic of your tank with the shoal grasses exit!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I look forward to showing off! I'm getting there. Next, I need to focus on the macros on the patch reef. They went from best-they've-ever-looked, to ratty, in just a couple of weeks. As soon as I get the tank looking good, I'll get pics. Should be this weekend.

 

[vlangel]

It's funny how macro algae can do that looking awesome and then not so much in a week, ha ha!

Ok, I will look forward to seeing them.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Here's a few pics!

Overall, not as shaggy and more 'controlled'.

Pretty good spacing on most of the Manatee Grass. Scarlett's grazing activity has increased, with more elbow room now.

The patch reef is a hive of activity.

Some plants were pulled for getting ratty, so coverage is a touch sparce.

Fiery colors!

The gorgonian that didn't die is doing great.

 

[vlangel]

Oh wow Michael, everything looks so good! I do not think the patch reef looks space at all, it looks wonderful. It appears as your ecosystem is moving exactly where you envisioned.

 

[Chasmodes]

Fantastic pics Michael! Your tank is amazing and evolving every time I see a new set up pics. It's always a pleasure to view them, and I crave more

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Dawn!

It's funny. It took A LOT of work, just to get it back to this state. Even the grasses were overgrown. To me it looks a little less impressive than the last pics, but it was time to reign it in!

I'm also amused with how it went from peak lushness to 'rat's nest' in a couple weeks. That's entropy I guess!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Kevin!

It's kind words like that keep me going! I almost lost control of it. There's still more to do. I need to get a new water change vac, so I can vacuum up some detritus. I'm waiting for the transplanted grasses to take root, so I can do an erythromycin and blackout treatment. In the meantime, I've been obsessively picking caulerpa stragglers off the sand bed, every few days. Its impossible to get them all in one go.

Not surprisingly, all this work has me thinking about adding new fish to help out. I went ahead and fired up my large (36 gal) quarantine tank today. I'd like to get it properly cycled this time, to avoid ammonia spikes.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Well that didn't take long. Yesterday afternoon, I swung by my 2 LFSs, and picked up some fish! First, I got a juvenile Sailfin Tang at one store, then I got 4 Talbot's Damsels at the other.

Both of these species will help out with tank cleaning. The damsels will eat algae and detritus, the tang will eat algae and hopefully get my Caulerpa under control. There is also a chance he may go after my prized red macros. I imagine that it may eat ALL my macro algae, eventually.

How will I deal with that? At this point, I think I am ready to let things change in my tank, if I end up with less algae labor to do. With my tall tank, it's brutal, back-breaking work, and it's (I'm) getting old.

I've never kept this tang. They get huge! My wife won't have any trouble seeing this one!

These damsels hang towards the bottom, so I'm hoping the Allen's Damsels tolerate them without too much aggression.

QT2

 

[vlangel]

Thanks Dawn!

It's funny. It took A LOT of work, just to get it back to this state. Even the grasses were overgrown. To me it looks a little less impressive than the last pics, but it was time to reign it in!

I'm also amused with how it went from peak lushness to 'rat's nest' in a couple weeks. That's entropy I guess!

LOL, the whole entropy thing is a constant thorn in our side, isn't it! I suppose it keeps us from getting complacent, ha ha.

Speaking of not getting complacent, I see you may be taking your reef eco-sysyem in a new direction? Perhaps I can help by sending some leftovers from my tank. I will PM you about that.
I will be excited to see the new fish plus the new direction. Incorporating everything with your seagrass should be fascinating.

 

[Chasmodes]

After a year of not being able to buy fish, it must be fun to shop for them and add fish again, from the initial gramma purchases earlier this year to now. I'd love to see a dwarf angel in there or a blenny, but, I'm biased LOL. Whatever you choose will be fun to follow.

 

[Chasmodes]

Oh, I was just going over the KP site and saw that they carry pike blennies. Ever thought of them? I watched YT vids about them and they're pretty cool.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Dawn. Not sure if I'll be going in a new direction or not. I'm really just trying to make my life easier. A 30 inch tall tank on a 36 inch high stand, means I'm working on a step ladder, and it's back-breaking work to work on the tank. I feel a bit like a hypocrite, telling folks to make sure their tanks are easy to work on, when mine is not!

I received the package! Nicely packed. Looks good! Unfortunately, the anemone didn't make it, but the sponge and codium look great.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Kevin. I really want some type of pygmy angelfish, but I don't want anything that eats sponge, so, rock and a hard place…

Those pike blennies are cool. I've actually tried them, without success. From my brief experience, I'd say they are best kept in a slow-moving species tank. Similar to a mandarin, it is a slow feeder, but not as picky food-wise. With that big mouth, they can eat bigger stuff, like mysis.

If I ever did a species tank, they'd be on my list!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

A quick update on the new fish - they're doing well. No signs of illness. I have added no medications. The only thing I've done is hypo salinity, which takes care of ick and maybe a few other things. I've had so much better luck with locally bought fish.

I may do a water change on the quarantine tank today. I bought a new gravel vac yesterday to change some water in the display.

QT12

 

[vlangel]

I realize that I have been MIA lately. I am still in SC watching grandchildren. Ha ha, it was easier watching them on our own turf!

I can imagine that a tall tank on a tall stand is amazing for viewing but cleaning it needing a step ladder not so much. When I took care of tanks, I learned pretty quick what I would not do for my own tank, ha ha!

I also understand easier. After seahorses I wanted the same thing. Maybe most of us that have been in the hobby a long time come to this place eventually.

I am glad to hear that the new fish are acclimating in quarantine well. That will be fun having more fish. I do enjoy all my fish a lot. The different shapes, colors and personalities can add a lot of interest to a tank. Of course that is coming from an aquarist whose main interest is fish, ha ha!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Same here. No grandchildren yet though.

The tall tank and stand is a tough combo. I need help. I'm very interested to see how this pair of Tangs will 'help me out'.

The fish in QT are doing well. I lost one damsel. No clue what happened to it. It shouldn't be too much longer on quarantine. I need to count up the days…looks like 22. So I'll be adding the new fish to the display around the weekend!