Weeds

[vlangel]

Secret about the yellow-tails (or Azures) is that you really need to put them in at the same time... or in Groups. I ended up with a situation where I had to put 2 into my 300 gallon where there were already 2 established Azures. One got beaten to death (I thought) and the other got beaten up but ended up fine. I nursed the other one back to health and put him in again. Same story... beaten to death?? No, but again had to nurse it back to health. Didn't even try to put him in again. Instead, I put him in the lagoon and that's where he'll stay. I would probably have to try and add 6 or so if I wanted them all to survive as each of those 3 damsels (and a half black) have carved out very specific territories in the tank. The half black even bites and tools or hands that I put in the tank. Thankfully it's tiny but still... not what I expected at all!! They are WAY more polite than the usual a$$hole damsels (domino, 3/4 stripe, etc.) but I am still surprised. The Talbotts is definitely the nicest one and picks on nothing. Even the chromis I have will chase other fish bigger than it once in a while. In short (or is it?), even the nice damsels have a mean streak if the aquarist does not take the proper precautions or just gets unlucky. :0) But I really do like having them in the tank, the situation is stable, and they are really pretty.

Today I visited a LFS and they had 6 yellow tail damsels. These are the damsels with a neon blue body and only the tail is yellow. They were all in the same tank so I bought them all. They had been at the LFS for 3 weeks so I am acclimating them in the first chamber of the sump, rather than a QT. I hope that decision does not haunt me later. I will keep them there a week or so and then move them all together into the display tank.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Sadly, the sponges didn't make it. The package was damaged in shipping. No worries. I added them anyway. You never know, some cells could have survived and they could pop up somewhere down the line. It happens.

 

[vlangel]

Sadly, the sponges didn't make it. The package was damaged in shipping. No worries. I added them anyway. You never know, some cells could have survived and they could pop up somewhere down the line. It happens.

Bummer, I should not have sent both of them but I wanted you to have as much as possible. I will send some more if none of those revive. It may take 3 months or so before I have another big piece but I will get you some sponge one way or another.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

It's OK, Dawn. You held up your end of the bargain. We're square. Nothing more to do.

 

[vlangel]

It's OK, Dawn. You held up your end of the bargain. We're square. Nothing more to do.

No way, I am determined that you will get some of this purple sponge. It's tough stuff and it would not surprise me if it is resurrected. However, if it does not I know where you live and I will be sending more, LOL!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

OK, let's wait and see.

For now, this ecosystem-in-a-box is cruising along. It's a bit bushy, with all the feather caulerpa.

Looking forward, I find myself considering adding an herbivorous fish to crop the macros back. I've done this before, in the previous version of this tank (v1). I got a juvenile, yellow phase Atlantic Blue Tang, named Mr. Zippy. He gradually grazed the macros down to almost nothing, before I removed him. I thought I might have gotten more time if I had let the tank get overgrown first. So, if I try this again I will attempt to do that.

Of key importance is will I like the look of the tank with the macros mostly gone? With new real estate available for colonization, I can focus on other cool encrusting life forms, like sea squirts and sponges. Overall, it'll look pretty different! Probably kinda stark at first. I did want the seagrass to dominate the tank visually. This would accomplish that.

Considering possible future sponges steers me away from pygmy angelfish, and towards a tang, perhaps.

 

[vlangel]

I am really pleased with the tomini tang. Of course Tommy, (the name I gave the tomini tang) has not been in the display long enough for me to know just how his grazing is going to ultimately effect my macro algae. He does not even look at the red halimeda and I doubt he would bother codium. I have some feather caulerpa up high near the overflow and nems and he has not bothered it as of yet but when he has the nuisance algae gone that could change. Also I am heavily feeding frozen green food like emerald entree, spiralina enriched brine shrimp and formula 2 so Tommy is getting a lot of greens in his diet. Since most of my other fish are herbivores or omnivores I can do that. Anyway, I will keep you up to date as to how Tommy's addition to my display effects my macro algae in it.

 

[ThePurple12]

I had bad experience with tangs, at least a yellow tang. As soon as I added it to the tank, it started mowing down the shoal grass! It would have eaten it all if I hadn't caught it. I don't know if it's most tangs, just the yellow tang species, or if it was just a rogue tang. Or maybe tangs will eat shoal grass, but not the thicker manatee grass?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Good luck with Tommy! I think he'll leave your macros alone. I've been looking at the bristletooth tangs myself lately, and I believe they prefer detritus and micro algae. Good idea to get him on the veggie fish food, so he doesn't get any ideas.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I remember you posting about your yellow tang eating your grasses, ThePurple12. I don't think they're supposed to do that. Seagrass is too fibrous. Isn't their preference filamentous algae? Maybe the shoal grass was the closest thing available?

I'm glad you brought it up again, because I've considered one for my tank. I've got a smorgasbord of algae, but would it go after my seagrass after that? I agree that the manatee grass is a good bit more substantial than the shoal grass, so maybe it would be fine.

I'd like to find a fish that eats most macro and micro algae, but not Manatee grass or sponges. Ah research…

 

[ThePurple12]

If that was a "defective" yellow tang, it's great news for me, that way I can get another one! I'll probably try a different species just in case. I'll be interested to see how it goes with you, whatever fish you choose.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I'm tempted to get another Atlantic Blue Tang. The yellow juveniles are gorgeous! It's also fun to see them change color over time. Eats Caulerpa.

On the other hand, it's fun to try something new. Of the Bristletooth Tangs, the Whitetail looks amazing and costs a lot. These fish also have a yellow juvenile phase, but their adult coloring is also striking. These eat detritus, which might be a good addition.

Now that Yellow Tangs are being captive bred, I should get one of those. But since their diet is mostly filamentous algae, they might ignore the caulerpa, which would be bad. I need whatever I get to LOVE Caulerpa.

 

[vlangel]

Hey Michael, my new tomini tang likes caulerpa. I am bringing caulerpa up from the fuge and putting some in my display to offer my tomini real greens in addition to the frozen that I offer. He might have eaten even more if I did not offer so much frozen.

I can not vouch that it would not eat seagrass however since he does not have access in the display.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Good to know, thanks Dawn!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Well, the fall camping season didn't help with my aquarium maintenance. Today I finally got my hands wet and tidied up, exporting feather caulerpa and assorted other algae. I've even got some cyano to clean up. I made a pretty good dent in it today. I'll finish up tomorrow and try to get some pics.

 

[vlangel]

Well, the fall camping season didn't help with my aquarium maintenance. Today I finally got my hands wet and tidied up, exporting feather caulerpa and assorted other algae. I've even got some cyano to clean up. I made a pretty good dent in it today. I'll finish up tomorrow and try to get some pics.

I will look forward to seeing those pics.

 

[3D-Reef]

Hey Michael, glad to see Your still at it!:wavehand:
I logged on to show someone some pic's, and seen Your thread was still active. So I thought I'd chime in and say howdy.
I can't believe it's been 5 years since I took down My tank.In some ways I miss it,but in some ways not.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Hey 3D! Great to hear from you! Yeah I'm still plugging along. Hopefully learning stuff!

Five years, huh? I can see the kinda do, kinda don't miss it thing. For me I'm hooked.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Hey, a quick update, I'm still working on the tank so I don't have new pics yet. As soon as I get it pretty enough, I'll be ready to show it off!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Ok, prettyish enough! Snapped some pics with my wife's phone.

The seagrasses look great, with many blades reaching the surface. The 'splash of red' patch reef got yet another scalping, leaving space for some new guys to flourish. See Seymour, the sea cucumber bottom right. I've had him around five years now, and he has grown. This kind of tank suits him.

From the deep end. Red macros trimmed waaaaay down.

It was good to get after it again, after slacking for so long. It's funny how much work it is just to get mediocre pics! But it gets me off the couch…

I was thinking how our aquariums are our forms of self expression. They're like art installations with living art. Science and Nature provide the boundaries. We are the artists/scientists, trying to make something beautiful and functional.

We are AQUARISTS!