Where can I buy cryptic zone critters?

[tonyespinoza]

I have had good luck with sponge growth and such, but am wondering if anyone could recommend a place to order other cryptic-zone (non-photosynthetic) organisms.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Here's one:

http://www.dynamicecomorphology.com/farmsponge.htm

 

[tonyespinoza]

Thanks Randy!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:thumbsup:

Happy Reefing.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks Randy, that link is very useful!!

 

[Bricky]

I just ordered the small cryptic seed pack from there and I'm very happy with what I received. I put most in my cryptic fuges and a few in my display (the nice colored ones).

The cryptic fuges are on top.

 

[tonyespinoza]

nice bricky! enjoyed reading through your thread too.

killer!

 

[Bricky]

So, I just checked on all the sponges that I added to the fuges and they are all open and pulling in water. I can't wait for them to take hold and start spreading.

I'm glad you had a chance to look at my thread too. Hopefully, there are some ideas you can use.

 

[tonyespinoza]

it's funny, for the past year i've been working on a big peninsula design. the current plan is 80 x 44 x 24 with angled panels on 3 sides for a slight look-down. (i may end up just angling the end tho to save on cost.)

i'm also going to have a bunch of auxiliary tanks (fuge, cryptic zone, frag, and low flow species zone for my cowfish and some sea horses).

if you had it to do over again, is there anything you'd do differently with regard to your cryptic zone? flow? dimensions?

i'm curious to see if i could get away with the new vortechs and forgo the false-wall. my fabrication skills/knowledge is nonexistent and i think yours works because you sweated the details.

(obvious concern with the vortechs is the length of the tank.)

 

[kmckay]

Mostly not cryptic organsms per se, but a few may be of use in such a set up:

http://www.inlandaquatics.com/profile/about_us.html

 

[tonyespinoza]

thanks kmckay...

 

[tonyespinoza]

i posted another thread asking: should i be careful not to introduce any predators into the cryptic zone? (might bristle worms or vermetids be an issue?) this might be a reason not to use live rock and instead go with marco rock...

 

[ludiNano]

You should still seed the marco rocks with live rock. And you cant really insure there wont be any bristle ect...

Because turning base rock to live, is more that just bact. and coralin algea. Its all the micro organisims living within. I doubt all the seed packs you can buy wont compare to some quality live rock.

You could use some kind of micron filter to stop anything from geting in.

 

[Bricky]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12752134#post12752134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonyespinoza

if you had it to do over again, is there anything you'd do differently with regard to your cryptic zone? flow? dimensions?

As of right now I don't think I would change my fuge dimesions. I'm not overdoing any one refugium and thus I give each a chance to establish without any single refugium being overkill. Each section is apprx. 30"x24"x18" and I believe this allows for enough growth for a large population of whatever will grow....

 

[tonyespinoza]

cool. thanks for the dims bricky.