lifeoffaith
Member
Where are you getting your live rock?
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- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
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That's a great question, lifeoffaith. With very few live rock options remaining, a lot of people are using dead rock.
I'm getting farmed, Florida live rock from gulfliverockdotcom. I used this same rock in v1. It's good stuff, with macros, sponges, and a whole lot of diversity. And it's reasonable, with shipping included in the price.
I'm getting farmed, Florida live rock from gulfliverockdotcom. I used this same rock in v1. It's good stuff, with macros, sponges, and a whole lot of diversity. And it's reasonable, with shipping included in the price.
lifeoffaith
Member
Cool. I really want to buy some like that, it's just crazy expensive to ship. I've looked at Tampa Bay Live Rock, but haven't really looked at Gulf Live Rock.
McPuff
New member
Michael, you have unknowingly convinced me to buy some more damsels. I've got a half black (one died or I'd have 2) and 2 azure damsels going through TTM right now. Tonight they'll go into tank #2 so it's early. Already enjoying their "rambunctiousness" and attitudes. I assume the Talbott's will not bother them much once they are finally added to the display. :0) Still contemplating some platys/mollies as well.
That's cool McPuff! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying them. In my research and limited experience with them, the Talbots are likely the most timid of all the damsels, so you were right to get them in first. How many of them do you have? Do they do OK in your community?
I like the Silver (white) Mollies. The black ones are very difficult to see. With their algae diet and live bearing reproduction, mollies effectively turn algae into feeder fish. They don't look too out of place in my tank, but may look weird in a reef tank. So maybe that's a point in the black mollies' favor. They won't look weird if you don't see 'em!
I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
I like the Silver (white) Mollies. The black ones are very difficult to see. With their algae diet and live bearing reproduction, mollies effectively turn algae into feeder fish. They don't look too out of place in my tank, but may look weird in a reef tank. So maybe that's a point in the black mollies' favor. They won't look weird if you don't see 'em!
I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Thanks Kevin! I appreciate the encouragement.
It is nice to be able to get the tank looking good. I can enjoy it for a few days, then the uglies come back. Part of the process. I am very happy with the progress of the Manatee Grass. A few blades are getting near the water surface! It is progressing a lot faster than my first attempt. I'm pretty sure my dirty sand bed had something to do with that. Also the quality of the plants I got from SaltySully was great! The algae phase is also progressing quicker, which is good. In v1, I kept the tank nutrient poor for maybe too long, delaying the inevitable. By starting this tank with higher nutrients and bio-diversity, I'm driving the system harder, earlier.
I'm enjoying the do-over. Applying what I learned before, to this tank, seems to be working well. So far, so good!
It is nice to be able to get the tank looking good. I can enjoy it for a few days, then the uglies come back. Part of the process. I am very happy with the progress of the Manatee Grass. A few blades are getting near the water surface! It is progressing a lot faster than my first attempt. I'm pretty sure my dirty sand bed had something to do with that. Also the quality of the plants I got from SaltySully was great! The algae phase is also progressing quicker, which is good. In v1, I kept the tank nutrient poor for maybe too long, delaying the inevitable. By starting this tank with higher nutrients and bio-diversity, I'm driving the system harder, earlier.
I'm enjoying the do-over. Applying what I learned before, to this tank, seems to be working well. So far, so good!
McPuff
New member
I just have the one Talbott's. Don't plan to get any more of them. He's been a great citizen for about 3 years. As for the mollies, I may even consider the silver or white so they DO stand out. They add some more movement to the reef which is always great. And having fresh food for the other fish sounds like a great benefit. :0)
THREE MONTHS IN!
Yesterday marks the three month point in my aquarium's life. I still have lot's of algae, but the Manatee grass is doing very well. Last weekend I removed a large patch of (mostly) cyanobacteria from the back wall, and it hasn't returned. I'll go after another large patch on the new fake wall this weekend.
I'm walking a tightrope right now, trying to get rid of algae, while also trying to coax new macros to grow. It's tricky! It doesn't help that this time of year, the selection of macros available is pretty skimpy, and what is available isn't in great shape. I don't have all the tools I need right now, which is frustrating.
So, if you are contemplating setting up a macro tank, it's better to start it in the spring or summer, when the selection is better. Or you could do what Kataro did, and collect macros for a while in a holding tank, before starting up your display. That worked pretty spectacularly for him!
My point is that you need to have your desired macros/plants ready to step in and take up nutrients, once you've got your algae on the ropes. Otherwise the algae just comes back. It's a challenging changeover, considering algae's advantages over plants. This is where the aquarist actions play a major role. We have to keep removing algae biomass, while trying to favor the plants we want to replace them.
Yesterday marks the three month point in my aquarium's life. I still have lot's of algae, but the Manatee grass is doing very well. Last weekend I removed a large patch of (mostly) cyanobacteria from the back wall, and it hasn't returned. I'll go after another large patch on the new fake wall this weekend.
I'm walking a tightrope right now, trying to get rid of algae, while also trying to coax new macros to grow. It's tricky! It doesn't help that this time of year, the selection of macros available is pretty skimpy, and what is available isn't in great shape. I don't have all the tools I need right now, which is frustrating.
So, if you are contemplating setting up a macro tank, it's better to start it in the spring or summer, when the selection is better. Or you could do what Kataro did, and collect macros for a while in a holding tank, before starting up your display. That worked pretty spectacularly for him!
My point is that you need to have your desired macros/plants ready to step in and take up nutrients, once you've got your algae on the ropes. Otherwise the algae just comes back. It's a challenging changeover, considering algae's advantages over plants. This is where the aquarist actions play a major role. We have to keep removing algae biomass, while trying to favor the plants we want to replace them.
Off topic, but I had another rarely-seen-animal encounter yesterday. Again, it happened while I was cross country skiing at my local hill. It actually happened on the same stretch of trail I saw the moose on! I was starting downhill, when I saw an animal on the trail. When it saw me, it turned and ran, but stayed on the trail! It was a lynx! It moved so easily, it was actually pulling away from me. I skied behind it for a hundred yards or so, before it veered off into the woods. It was spectacular and thrilling, not to just see one, but to actually interact with one! They are very rarely seen. A real privilege!
Kevin, I did prune my ulva when it was growing quickly. I exported it to another tank, to keep some handy.
I think Ulva is the best macro for nutrient competition with algae. Your strategy should work. When nutrients are high, it grows spectacularly.
Now that my tank's nutrients are declining, it is less effective. Dinos and cyano have overtaken it. When I removed the large patch of cyano, I noticed there was lots of ulva remaining, so hopefully it will step in to replace it again, but right now it's kind of stagnant.
I think Ulva is the best macro for nutrient competition with algae. Your strategy should work. When nutrients are high, it grows spectacularly.
Now that my tank's nutrients are declining, it is less effective. Dinos and cyano have overtaken it. When I removed the large patch of cyano, I noticed there was lots of ulva remaining, so hopefully it will step in to replace it again, but right now it's kind of stagnant.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Interesting. That's probably why my Ulva died off...not enough nutrients and/or too much competition with dinos and cyano.
vlangel
Premium Member
That is so cool. I am jealous, not that in western PA I could ever hope to see a lynx. Maybe a bobcat but there are no lynx in my neck of the woods.
A week and a half ago Dave and I did see 2 doe in a vicious fight, which was so odd. They were on their hind legs and brutally striking each other with those sharp hooves in the face. They were ramming each other into trees and under brush making a lot of noise. It actually made the fighting that I have seen bucks do while in rut look pretty tame. I can not for the life of me imagine why 2 doe would go at it like that. Another odd thing was a buck was about 30 ft away just watching the 'girl fight'.
It was pretty cool, Dawn. It was an experience I won't forget.
That is weird about the deer. I've seen females pick on each other in what looks like a pecking order thing, but I've never seen a full-on fight. Doing it in view of a male sounds like they were fighting over him! Maybe one was challenging to be the dominant female in a harem?
That is weird about the deer. I've seen females pick on each other in what looks like a pecking order thing, but I've never seen a full-on fight. Doing it in view of a male sounds like they were fighting over him! Maybe one was challenging to be the dominant female in a harem?
Kevin, I think ulva could coexist with cyano and dinos if they didn't coat it. But they do and that prevents light getting to them, and ulva likes lots of light. And there's likely allelopathy, plants' and algae's chemical warfare.
My live rock didn't make it this week. Bummer, or blessing in disguise? Anyway, I should have it next week. I ought to take the opportunity to do a massive algae export/3 day blackout/massive water change combo, before I fire up the main circulation pump. Yeah, that's the ticket! Checking gumption levels…
Saturday I started the massive algae export/3 day blackout/massive water change combo. I removed algae from the walls, the sand and the plants. I pulled all the macros and cleaned them off, before putting them in a mesh bag, and into QT. I added a bubbler to boost oxygen levels.
With my live rock coming thursday or friday, I should have just enough time to prepare the tank for the increased turbulence turning on the main pump will bring. I'm also taking this time to save up ro/di water for the big water change.
I chose not to go the chemical route at this time, but you never know! It would be awesome if this battle ended the war, but I'm prepared to go again if needed. In past experience, I have found blackouts to be more like 'resets' than complete victories. We'll see what happens this time. I'm hoping a convergence of algae predator population increase, competition for nutrients from new macros and the blackout reset will 'team up' and win.
Stay tuned…
With my live rock coming thursday or friday, I should have just enough time to prepare the tank for the increased turbulence turning on the main pump will bring. I'm also taking this time to save up ro/di water for the big water change.
I chose not to go the chemical route at this time, but you never know! It would be awesome if this battle ended the war, but I'm prepared to go again if needed. In past experience, I have found blackouts to be more like 'resets' than complete victories. We'll see what happens this time. I'm hoping a convergence of algae predator population increase, competition for nutrients from new macros and the blackout reset will 'team up' and win.
Stay tuned…
vlangel
Premium Member
Good luck and hoping for the best!
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Good luck with the black out and other tactics. I think your plan sounds logical and should work. If it doesn't, and you try it again, would you try chemicals at the end of the process to finish them off?
I also don't think that my current lighting is adequate. That should all change when i set up the big tank. I have been taking steps to get ready for that, albeit slow. I still am using the tank stand as a work bench for my FW tank and other projects. One project is to build a better workbench, LOL. Anyway, I have a really good light that should do the trick, so I'm not that worried about it. I was on vacation for a week, then was sick for 10 days, and when I was sick, I didn't feel much like working on anything.
I also don't think that my current lighting is adequate. That should all change when i set up the big tank. I have been taking steps to get ready for that, albeit slow. I still am using the tank stand as a work bench for my FW tank and other projects. One project is to build a better workbench, LOL. Anyway, I have a really good light that should do the trick, so I'm not that worried about it. I was on vacation for a week, then was sick for 10 days, and when I was sick, I didn't feel much like working on anything.
