Weeds
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
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That was a surprise, for sure, Dawn. A whirlwind romance. Now that they're in the big tank, I haven't seen them interact that way. Otherwise they're doing great. They colored up better today too. They're still settling in. Everybody is adjusting to each other. I'll watch them for a couple weeks to see if I want to add more. I'm enjoying the fish watching!
Thanks Kevin! Having more of these beauties in the tank is great. I'll decide on more damsels or not after I see how they settle in. As for non-damsels, I'm thinking a harem of captive bred Orchid Dottybacks. I'm also looking into something a bit bigger, like a dwarf angel or a tang, or something else.
The trick with choosing a bigger fish is to get one that doesn't disrupt the overall system. Ideally it would contribute to it. So I've been looking at fish that eat detritus, like some of the dwarf angels and tangs of the Ctenochaetus genus.
The trick with choosing a bigger fish is to get one that doesn't disrupt the overall system. Ideally it would contribute to it. So I've been looking at fish that eat detritus, like some of the dwarf angels and tangs of the Ctenochaetus genus.
Nice of you to say, Kevin!
Right now, I'm leaning towards a Herald's Angel. From what I've read, they seem to eat more detritus than algae, but some algae. I guess the big question for me is would they go after any of the macros I'm trying to keep?
In a perfect world, this fish would help with detritus cleanup and take small nibbles here and there of my macros, so I wouldn't have to prune.
The Ctenochaetus tangs have a mouth designed for detritus, but they tend to get a bit bigger than I'd like.
Kevin, do any of the angels you've kept sound like what I'm looking for?
Right now, I'm leaning towards a Herald's Angel. From what I've read, they seem to eat more detritus than algae, but some algae. I guess the big question for me is would they go after any of the macros I'm trying to keep?
In a perfect world, this fish would help with detritus cleanup and take small nibbles here and there of my macros, so I wouldn't have to prune.
The Ctenochaetus tangs have a mouth designed for detritus, but they tend to get a bit bigger than I'd like.
Kevin, do any of the angels you've kept sound like what I'm looking for?
Hey thanks lapin! Nice to hear from you again. How's that 500?
I exported a lot of the ulva I had on the sand bed. It looked cool but it was getting huge and I worried that it was shading out some seagrass. I left some there to start it up again. I also decided to remove the Dictoya that was growing on the back wall. It had some iridescence but not a lot, so I made the call. I would not be surprised to see more of it pop up.
The new damsels are fitting in well I think. Everyone seems to be getting used to each other. It's cool to see a bunch of different sized ones. You can see how they change as they grow. Unlike a lot of damsels, these get prettier as they get older.
The new damsels are fitting in well I think. Everyone seems to be getting used to each other. It's cool to see a bunch of different sized ones. You can see how they change as they grow. Unlike a lot of damsels, these get prettier as they get older.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Yes, I kept a Herald's angel many years ago and it was very hardy. It ate everything that I gave it to eat, not picky at all. It even ate flakes when I went on vacation. I think if you can get it to eat food that you introduce into the tank, it shouldn't have a huge effect on the overall balance of your tank. It may graze a little bit, but a full belly will keep it from grazing too much, I suspect.
This was way before ordering fish on-line, so whatever the LFS had to choose from, that's what you had to choose from. I was hoping for a lemon peel angelfish, but decided on the Herald's because I needed a splash of yellow in my tank. I'm glad that I chose that fish, because it got along well with everything, and, as it turns out is quite beautiful. The faint orange and green pastel markings on the fins and tail look like an artist's fine detail. They're a beautiful fish. I think it would look wonderful in your tank.
This was way before ordering fish on-line, so whatever the LFS had to choose from, that's what you had to choose from. I was hoping for a lemon peel angelfish, but decided on the Herald's because I needed a splash of yellow in my tank. I'm glad that I chose that fish, because it got along well with everything, and, as it turns out is quite beautiful. The faint orange and green pastel markings on the fins and tail look like an artist's fine detail. They're a beautiful fish. I think it would look wonderful in your tank.
Awesome Kevin, thanks! I really like the Heralds'. I just don't know if one would wreck my macros. Gorgeous fish! I'll keep reading.
I may move the last Allen's Damsel up to the display tomorrow, depending how it looks. It seems to be finally getting fatter. That would bring them to six. I could probably add more but when I think of adding a harem of Orchid Dottybacks, it makes me think maybe I shouldn't. I'll keep watching and thinking…
I may move the last Allen's Damsel up to the display tomorrow, depending how it looks. It seems to be finally getting fatter. That would bring them to six. I could probably add more but when I think of adding a harem of Orchid Dottybacks, it makes me think maybe I shouldn't. I'll keep watching and thinking…
Today I got the last Allen's Damselfish into the display. It's the smallest and skinniest, so I was worried it might get picked on. It dove into the live rocks for a few minutes, then popped out to join the rest. Would they notice the one additional member? It kind of blended right in, even joining everyone at feeding time. Smooth! Normally, with 'normal' damsels, you couldn't do that. But with these mellow souls, no problemo!
I'd highly recommend these fish except for their uronema problem. If you are not seriously ready to invest in the meds and time and effort, don't bother. It's heartbreaking to watch them die so quickly. IF you can get them through QT, they grow more beautiful as they grow bigger-stunning!
The fern caulerpa is crisscrossing the back wall, but snails are eating the 'fronds' quicker than they can grow back. It's weird because the ones on the sand bed have not been eaten. The brown grasilaria that's been dying off is still mostly gone. Some is coming back on the wall but it's full of snails, so I don't know if it will succeed.
I added a second peppermint shrimp last week. Having two will hopefully give me babies. I don't expect any to survive into adults, but you never know. Most will be eaten by the fish.
The tank looks so much more lively with all the damsels. I think there's room for a few more, but I'll watch them a bit longer before I decide.
All three QTs are shut down now, and will get disinfected before another round. I may be giving the big one in my office to my wife for the winter. She wants to bring in our garden pond goldfish, before it freezes. Maybe now I can clean up my office…
I'd highly recommend these fish except for their uronema problem. If you are not seriously ready to invest in the meds and time and effort, don't bother. It's heartbreaking to watch them die so quickly. IF you can get them through QT, they grow more beautiful as they grow bigger-stunning!
The fern caulerpa is crisscrossing the back wall, but snails are eating the 'fronds' quicker than they can grow back. It's weird because the ones on the sand bed have not been eaten. The brown grasilaria that's been dying off is still mostly gone. Some is coming back on the wall but it's full of snails, so I don't know if it will succeed.
I added a second peppermint shrimp last week. Having two will hopefully give me babies. I don't expect any to survive into adults, but you never know. Most will be eaten by the fish.
The tank looks so much more lively with all the damsels. I think there's room for a few more, but I'll watch them a bit longer before I decide.
All three QTs are shut down now, and will get disinfected before another round. I may be giving the big one in my office to my wife for the winter. She wants to bring in our garden pond goldfish, before it freezes. Maybe now I can clean up my office…
Hey McPuff! Yep, those are mangroves!
Thanks Dawn! I went camping over the weekend. When I returned, there were only five Allen's damsels visible, so I presume the small one perished. Ugh. Maybe I should have kept it in QT longer.
I agree, they're underrated. They're nearly perfect aquarium fish. Finding and learning about 'my' damsels has been very rewarding. For now I'll watch them to see how they interact, and how their social structure evolves and stabilizes. I find it very entertaining.
Next, I want to figure out what's next for the plants. I think I need to prune back a few, and choose a direction. It feels a little unfocused right now. Most of that is because the plantscape is still in transition, but I want to steer it along towards the vision.
I have to be more patient in this second version, since I want more specific plants this time. For example, I really want the turtle weed to cover the back wall, but so far I'm just happy to keep what I have alive. It seems very touchy, so I'm not confident ripping a chunk off and sticking it up on the wall. I just have it against the wall. I hope I can make it happy enough to grow and spread.
I agree, they're underrated. They're nearly perfect aquarium fish. Finding and learning about 'my' damsels has been very rewarding. For now I'll watch them to see how they interact, and how their social structure evolves and stabilizes. I find it very entertaining.
Next, I want to figure out what's next for the plants. I think I need to prune back a few, and choose a direction. It feels a little unfocused right now. Most of that is because the plantscape is still in transition, but I want to steer it along towards the vision.
I have to be more patient in this second version, since I want more specific plants this time. For example, I really want the turtle weed to cover the back wall, but so far I'm just happy to keep what I have alive. It seems very touchy, so I'm not confident ripping a chunk off and sticking it up on the wall. I just have it against the wall. I hope I can make it happy enough to grow and spread.
Thanks Kevin! It's humming along. The manatee grass looks good this week, if a little overrun by the fern caulerpa. I'm not sure I like the look. If they don't do well on the back wall, I may not want it at all. I think this weekend I'll make some choices and some changes.
Here's a shot from my bike ride Saturday in Crested Butte. Enjoy the fall colors, everyone!
Chasmodes
Well-known member
That looks beautiful! Our trees are just starting to turn now for the most part. I think that a lot of our trees lost leaves early because of our drought situation, but that's a guess.
Sorry about the potential loss of your small damsel. Maybe it will turn up. You have a lot of hiding spots in the wall.
Sorry about the potential loss of your small damsel. Maybe it will turn up. You have a lot of hiding spots in the wall.
