ThePurple12
New member
Hm, looks like I have something else. Definitely not mini strombus.
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- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
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vlangel
Premium Member
It sounds like I need to go back into the archives to read and learn more about seagrass and their clean up crews. Thanks for the info and link!
ThePurple12
New member
Sure! If you haven't read this already, I highly recommend it. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/sl/index.php
Oh yeah, that's a good one. I've read it, but I'll read it again! You never know what's going to jump out at you from rereading stuff. If you keep pointing out articles, you're going to find out that I'm just repeating stuff!
ThePurple12
New member
I've read that one at least 4 times by now!
I got my CO2 running again. First I had to clean up my canister filter. What a mess! The thing was filthy. I also received some phytoplankton I had ordered. I haven't added any to the tank yet, but I will today. This should be a boost to filter feeders. I'm hoping to see an uptick in sponge growth. I should go ahead and dose some silicate too.
Other than that, I did a quick Caulerpa straggler export. The Ulva Intestinalis is still hanging in there. It looks like some are getting bigger, some smaller. I haven't found any snails on them since I went scissor-crazy.
Speaking of snails, how about a round of applause for ThePurple12, finding the correct species and common name for my tiny snails! Hip hip Hooray! Henceforth I will refer to them as Collumbellid or Dove snails. Nice work, ThePurple12, on the snail research. Dove sounds very nice, and it's a lot easier to type, so bonus!
What's next? I was thinking it might be a good idea to get my two Quarantine tanks cleaned up and running again. I've been a very good boy and didn't buy a single fish in 2020. It would be nice to get some new fishies! All I have to do is formulate an elaborate plan to make it my look like my wife's idea…
Other than that, I did a quick Caulerpa straggler export. The Ulva Intestinalis is still hanging in there. It looks like some are getting bigger, some smaller. I haven't found any snails on them since I went scissor-crazy.
Speaking of snails, how about a round of applause for ThePurple12, finding the correct species and common name for my tiny snails! Hip hip Hooray! Henceforth I will refer to them as Collumbellid or Dove snails. Nice work, ThePurple12, on the snail research. Dove sounds very nice, and it's a lot easier to type, so bonus!
What's next? I was thinking it might be a good idea to get my two Quarantine tanks cleaned up and running again. I've been a very good boy and didn't buy a single fish in 2020. It would be nice to get some new fishies! All I have to do is formulate an elaborate plan to make it my look like my wife's idea…
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ThePurple12
New member
Interested to hear what you come up with
Thanks The Purple12! Forming diabolical plan…
I added some phytoplankton and Sodium Silicate. Then I noticed one of my large Limpets had been munching on one of my sponges. Not cool. I may go Limpet hunting. Those things look like they'd be hard to remove. Pliers?
I saw a Tomini Tang at my LFS yesterday. It was gorgeous! Dawn, how do like yours?
I added some phytoplankton and Sodium Silicate. Then I noticed one of my large Limpets had been munching on one of my sponges. Not cool. I may go Limpet hunting. Those things look like they'd be hard to remove. Pliers?
I saw a Tomini Tang at my LFS yesterday. It was gorgeous! Dawn, how do like yours?
I had one in my 75g softie reef 10ish years ago, it was a great fish.
Thanks Apercula, and welcome! I had read that it was on the aggressive side, for a bristletooth tang. How was yours?
vlangel
Premium Member
New fishies! Hooray!!! I love my tomini tang. He continually picks at the rocks and sand, I am guessing for filamentous algae. Occasionally he will go for a little caulerpa that has found its way into my display but not as much as I would like, ha ha.
The only fish Tommy, the tomini showed aggression toward was Marmalade, the orange spot blenny. That always surprised me because Marmalade was well established in the tank as the alpha fish before Tommy came. Also I do not know if Tommy's presence in the display contributed to Marmalade getting sick and perishing. I suspect that is the case. I do not know if it was aggression because they were competitors for the same food since they both ate herbivore foods. There was definitely enough greens to go around but try telling that to a greedy fish!
Aside from the Marmalade incident, I have really enjoyed Tommy. He never even harasses any of the other fish. Nor does he go after the other macro algae.
Thanks Dawn. That's good info. I have heard of other tangs and blennies not getting along, and I'm pretty sure it's a food/territory competition thing. That Tommy doesn't go after any other fish or macro algae is very encouraging. Maybe there's a bristletooth tang in my future!
This morning I removed the Limpet that was devouring the largest sponge on my live rock. He was still there, munching away! He's been parked there for days! This seems strange to me, as most grazers tend to keep moving. The sponge is devastated. So Mr Limpet had to go. I think there are one or two others, so I may have to remove them too.
This falls under the 'ecosystem as a whole is more important than any one member' philosophy. Another example would be my not choosing to add a Sand-sifting Sea Star, because they are carnivorous and consume the sand bed worms that are very important food chain members. In the tight confines of our aquariums, some critters just don't work.
This falls under the 'ecosystem as a whole is more important than any one member' philosophy. Another example would be my not choosing to add a Sand-sifting Sea Star, because they are carnivorous and consume the sand bed worms that are very important food chain members. In the tight confines of our aquariums, some critters just don't work.
vlangel
Premium Member
Since Tommy is my first bristletooth tang I can not say for sure that his behaviour is typical but he has worked well in my display. He has fattened up and really turned into a stunning looking fish too. My display needed a fish with a different shape and size to create a focal point fish. He is a good size for my smaller tank too. Your display is so much larger a tomini tang might not make as much of a statement in your tank.
vlangel
Premium Member
I remember when you were in the initial stages of v2 that you drew very clear parameters for yourself to protect the tenets of your ecosystem. When we have a vision of where we want our aquariums to go in terms of ecosystem, then we have to be true to those parameters that protect that vision. I am sure that that is difficult to do sometimes, like now with limpet removal but you will never fully realize your goal if you give in to opposing creatures. It's all part of being an aquarist.
I kind of understand from keeping the seahorses. When I first set the tank up everything was geared toward catering to their needs. That is definitely when they did the best. Once I began to make even small concessions, the ponies suffered for it. I guess that is why my pendulum has drastically swung the other way to a tank that has much greater flexibility.
I admire your will power to stay true to your original vision.
I'm not too crazy about big fish in this tank anyway. Medium is fine. I've been looking at the bristletooths for a while now, to help with detritus. Seeing a Tomini in person the other day rekindled my interest. I agree, he makes a great focal point!
Well said Dawn. It is hard sometimes to stay the course. Especially if it's a fish. It was tough removing Phyllis the Filefish and Mister Zippy the Atlantic Blue Tang, but they both became bad for the overall ecosystem, and had to go.
By making these tough choices, I'm rewarded with a diverse ecosystem that functions well.
By making these tough choices, I'm rewarded with a diverse ecosystem that functions well.
duplicate post…
vlangel
Premium Member
If you decide to go with a tomini or one of the other bristletooth tangs, I hope they behave in a manner that benefits the ecosystem. It seems that there are the occasional renegades who do not follow the rules of their species.
I too would have liked to try a sandsifting starfish but never have, even when I had a bigger tank because I did not want the substrate depleted of worms and such. I even wonder if f a YWG is bad idea for the biolife in the sandbed. At least I have the refugium to replenish things, but I will have to ask more questions on that.
Maybe visit a LFS with your wife so she can see some beautiful fish. My hubby actually asked if I needed anything at the LFS. I have spent enough $ lately so I am going to refrain and use some self control.
Yes, renegades are a big concern. What if my bristletooth decided he liked String of Pearls? Yikes!
I'm not sure, but I believe Yellow Watchman Gobies are sand bed killers as well. I can see the attraction though. A clean, sterile sand bed is attractive, especially if you are fighting sand bed algae. I would think that there are sand sifting fish that don't go after worms, etcetera, but I don't know which ones. That's why I've chosen a Cucumber and Fighting Conch. Their mouths are tiny and selective. When I look at my sand with a magnifying glass, I see wall to wall spaghetti worms. That's how I like it!
Not a bad idea on the wife. I'm already laying the groundwork. Today I told her I was thinking of getting my QTs ready to go. "Wouldn't it be nice to get a bigger fish you could see better?" She said YES!
I'm not sure, but I believe Yellow Watchman Gobies are sand bed killers as well. I can see the attraction though. A clean, sterile sand bed is attractive, especially if you are fighting sand bed algae. I would think that there are sand sifting fish that don't go after worms, etcetera, but I don't know which ones. That's why I've chosen a Cucumber and Fighting Conch. Their mouths are tiny and selective. When I look at my sand with a magnifying glass, I see wall to wall spaghetti worms. That's how I like it!
Not a bad idea on the wife. I'm already laying the groundwork. Today I told her I was thinking of getting my QTs ready to go. "Wouldn't it be nice to get a bigger fish you could see better?" She said YES!
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