Weeds

[Michael Hoaster]

Though this tank is very young, I'm already having a ball! It's impossible to convey the rhythmic swaying in a still image. It's also the sound - like the real thing! I promise I'll do a video soon.

Manatee grass with Ulva. That's two greens so far. I really think the ulva will help me weather the storm of algae succession. With an algae coating, the new fake wall blends right in!

From the right end. I'm liking the sand bar/live rock scape. Super minimal, simple, Zen!

 

[vlangel]

The new fake wall does indeed blend in well. Even it's slightly different color from the old fake wall looks like it is due to that being the lighter side of the tank.

It looks like the manatee grass is greener than it was before you trimmed it. I definitely like it.

Is that a little white fresh water converted molly in the one pic?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Dawn!

It's coming along. I'm crossing my fingers the grasses will recover from transplanting and start growing new leaves. I guess the roots need to start the ball rolling, so I'm trying not to disturb them.

The new fake wall isn't perfect, but it'll do!

Yep, that's a molly. I still have a few more in QT, if needed. They were all born in my system, in salt water. They're great algae eaters. I've personally witnessed them even eating cyanobacteria. They have utility similar to snails. Plus they are livebearers, so if you need feeders, they can do that too.

 

[Chasmodes]

I think the walls look great! I love the pics and the scape too. The grasses look nice and green, and the Ulva also gives the tank nice large splashes of green as well. Lookin' forward to the vid!

 

[vlangel]

Thanks Dawn!

It's coming along. I'm crossing my fingers the grasses will recover from transplanting and start growing new leaves. I guess the roots need to start the ball rolling, so I'm trying not to disturb them.

The new fake wall isn't perfect, but it'll do!

Yep, that's a molly. I still have a few more in QT, if needed. They were all born in my system, in salt water. They're great algae eaters. I've personally witnessed them even eating cyanobacteria. They have utility similar to snails. Plus they are livebearers, so if you need feeders, they can do that too.

I hope your manatee grass takes off too.

So since you like naming your fish, what is the molly's name? Do the barnacle blennies have names too or are there too many of them to differentiate between them?

I may have to consider acclimating mollies some time. Maybe in the pony tank. I am sure the seahorses would love snacking on the fry. ( wow, that sounds heartless as I type it, LOL). Nature can be so brutal, ha ha!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Kevin!

You've really helped me appreciate the new fake wall. Lot's of green for sure. Lots of new, uninvited green stuff popping up too. I have the feeling it's about to get ugly!

I will shoot a vid, once the tank looks pretty enough to show off.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Dawn!

The manatee grass looks good so far, so I think it'll come around. I haven't named the molly yet. I haven't decided on whether it will stay in the display or not, so I haven't gotten around to it. With the blennies, I could name them if they stayed in their current locations, but they keep shopping around, so they may not get names, for awhile. Come to think of it, if I'm doing schools of all new fish, naming will be difficult. We'll see!

Would molly fry work for sea horses? They're very fast. Even adult mollies can hardly catch them. I did see a gramma eat one once.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

WEEK 5.

I ordered some pods and snails. With new algae growth, it's time to bring in more recruits - and diversity - and nature! I'm slowly gathering the players of the trophic structure party. If I get it right, my job is a lot easier. Nature does the hard part.

 

[Chasmodes]

You could name it "Molly"...:spin2:

 

[vlangel]

You could name it "Molly"...:spin2:

Hey, I like that!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Well, there was a 50% chance…but he's a he.

Today I emptied the holding tank. I got another round of snails out and had a fairly successful worm hunt too. Snails and worms went into the display. I also exported for the first time, from the display. I removed all Ulva that wasn't attached to a wall, and put it into one of two QTs. Man that stuff grows fast!

I'm going to do a water change to the big QT and the display, as soon as my salt mix arrives.

 

[vlangel]

Well, there was a 50% chance"¦but he's a he.

Today I emptied the holding tank. I got another round of snails out and had a fairly successful worm hunt too. Snails and worms went into the display. I also exported for the first time, from the display. I removed all Ulva that wasn't attached to a wall, and put it into one of two QTs. Man that stuff grows fast!

I'm going to do a water change to the big QT and the display, as soon as my salt mix arrives.

Jr is a girl, so......

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Either way, he is Molly…

Salt arrived late. Instead, I exported some algae that needed attention. It was growing on the grasses. I tidied up. I'll get the water changes tomorrow. I think my new snails arrive too.

 

[vlangel]

Either way, he is Molly"¦

Salt arrived late. Instead, I exported some algae that needed attention. It was growing on the grasses. I tidied up. I'll get the water changes tomorrow. I think my new snails arrive too.

Ha ha, hopefully Molly does not have the same experience as ' A boy named Sue!' LOL

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Today I received pods, snails, and a very small sponge frag, from aquarium depot. Thirty bucks for a less-than one inch square sponge frag is not a great deal. Also, one of the snails turned out to be a hermit crab. Lucky me!

It is good to add diversity! I'm very happy to get those pods especially. The snails include Ceriths, Nassarius, and Nerite. All but the Nassarius will reproduce in the tank, which is very good. The spaghetti worms I added yesterday have settled in too. Not a whole lot left for me to add specifically, for the bottom of the food chain. I still plan to add another ten pounds of live rock and live sand as well, which will add non-specific diversity.

So I just about have my whole crew. Now they just need to do what comes naturally!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I slipped out for a cross country ski today. I had a large moose run across in front of me. What a rush!

In the cozy confines of my home, I'm the king of beasts. Outside, I'm considerably lower in the pecking order. It gives me perspective. The natural world has much to teach. I enjoy the outdoor classroom!

 

[vlangel]

I slipped out for a cross country ski today. I had a large moose run across in front of me. What a rush!

In the cozy confines of my home, I'm the king of beasts. Outside, I'm considerably lower in the pecking order. It gives me perspective. The natural world has much to teach. I enjoy the outdoor classroom!

Amen!

 

[McPuff]

I slipped out for a cross country ski today. I had a large moose run across in front of me. What a rush!

Wow, that must have been cool! Have always wanted to see one in person.

 

[Chasmodes]

Wow, very cool! Yes, the outdoor world is truly amazing. Every time I'm on the water or in the woods, I see something either new or amazing. Many of the small things that amaze me don't phase other people though, so I guess I'm weird in that way.

 

[vlangel]

Wow, that must have been cool! Have always wanted to see one in person.

My husband and I both motorcycle and have ridden in all the lower 48 states. We have seen bear, elk, deer, coyotes, antelope like animals, prairie dogs and a multitude of cool birds. We have kept our eyes peeled for moose but bave never seen one. Maybe when we do our Alaska trip?