Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank

[C.Eymann]

Love this thread so much, such a unique build and biotope you just don't see in the hobby much, I'm sure I said something similar a few pages back, just haven't been on much lately. Love the way this has developed. Me personally- when I neglect my tank a bit and see coralline rapidly growing on the glass it's just reassuring to me that my calrx and kalk rx are doing their job.

[Michael Hoaster]

Thank you and welcome, Orqidz!

After 3 weeks of neglect, nature comes back strong.

[Michael Hoaster]

Kind words, C.Eymann, thanks!

It was just strange to get a burst of coralline growth, right on the front glass, where it usually doesn't grow. My calcium supplementation is limited to one compartment of my canister filter. So why the increase? What changed? It generally grows on the fringes of the light. The lighting changed when the overhanging caulerpa grew about two-thirds of the way across the tank, back to front. That's probably it!

And that's the beauty of forums-talking about stuff leads to figuring stuff out. Yay!

[Michael Hoaster]

Well, I got a bucket load of caulerpa out, but there's more tidying to do. I uncovered a lot of red macros that are coming along nicely! The grasses look good too.

It's nice to be able to take trips and leave the tank for a while. The only automation I used was the timer for my singe bulb. By allowing Mother Nature to look after my tank, I get free automation! I step out of the way for a few weeks…and it flourishes.

Building my little ecosystem from the ground up, is the key.

[nawilson89]

Looking great! I love all the caulerpa! Having it grow out like that and it still looked amazing

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[Darth_Tater]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Gorgonians, even photosynthetic ones, require feeding, and are tough to keep alive long term. If you have success with them, please share your methods!

I got a photosynthetic Gorgonian from Gulf Coast Ecosystems a few months ago and there's no picture proof but I'm pretty sure it's doubled in size (it's the Purple Ribbon). It's in my 40 breeder with 5 T5-HO bulbs above it. I do feed frozen rotifers 3-4 days a week for my Goniopora, so I'm sure it gets some of the leftovers. I have no mechanical filtration except for my skimmer.

I keep it in a very high flow area of the tank. It has shed it's skin a couple times already, which is normal for them. I know that 4-5 months isn't long enough to be considered success, but the thing is growing like crazy. I will definitely order a couple of the other varieties when I get my new tank set up.

[StephenRU]

Also how's your tang doing with the macro algae would love to have a tang but I was wary of them munching...


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[jraker]

Originally Posted by StephenRU

Also how's your tang doing with the macro algae would love to have a tang but I was wary of them munching...

He got rid of it. It was eating too much macro.

[StephenRU]

Originally Posted by jraker

He got rid of it. It was eating too much macro.

Figured aww


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[Michael Hoaster]

nawilson89, thanks! So, you like the overgrown look, huh? Me too, but that was a bit much.

Darth_Tater, thanks for sharing your successful experience with gorgonians! Very impressive. I've added rotifers to my tank brew (food) as well.

StephenRU and jraker, I was really missing the atlantic blue tang Sunday, when I was ripping out caulerpa!

[Michael Hoaster]

Man, there are a lot of cool planted tanks, here in the macro section! It's such a pleasure to have a great group, pushing the limits of the hobby and making some real progress in our niche. It's important that we keep a dialog running, sharing our successes and screw-ups. Without the glut of information that reefers enjoy, we all need each other, as a source of up-to-the-minute information.

My tank is approaching its second year. It's pretty stable now. Many of you guys' tanks are new, with their ecosystems still in development. Some of you will struggle in the coming months. Don't be embarrassed, ask for help-that's why we're here, right? About 50 pages back, I went through 3 months of cyanobacteria hell. It was rough! Water changes every weekend, along with tedious manual removal. Yuck. I guess my point is, we all struggle at some point, but at least we have each other to help. So don't hesitate to ask. There's some pretty smart guys hanging around…

[nawilson89]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Man, there are a lot of cool planted tanks, here in the macro section! It's such a pleasure to have a great group, pushing the limits of the hobby and making some real progress in our niche. It's important that we keep a dialog running, sharing our successes and screw-ups. Without the glut of information that reefers enjoy, we all need each other, as a source of up-to-the-minute information.

My tank is approaching its second year. It's pretty stable now. Many of you guys' tanks are new, with their ecosystems still in development. Some of you will struggle in the coming months. Don't be embarrassed, ask for help-that's why we're here, right? About 50 pages back, I went through 3 months of cyanobacteria hell. It was rough! Water changes every weekend, along with tedious manual removal. Yuck. I guess my point is, we all struggle at some point, but at least we have each other to help. So don't hesitate to ask. There's some pretty smart guys hanging around…

In my interim in checking reefcentral (I guess you can say I just go dormant for a while on the web, I've also been working alot and helping out my friends shop when i can, I do a lot of web stuff and writing) I went through a crazy (also amazing) bacterial bloom in my 29. Which then turned into fern caulerpa going sexual. It's been a wild ride, but I did take a page from your book and let "nature take it's course". Only adding an aquaclear filter with carbon, I waited. As the tank cleared up (took more than a week) my grape caulerpa had taken in almost all the excess nutrients and had exploded in growth all over the tank. Then a dark red/ brownish macro that I had found while in the gulf had also exploded in growth and does to this day ( I pull large amounts almost weekly). Then a few weeks later the grape went sexual, again I just waited it out. When the tank cleared up, prolifera had taken that nutrients and was everywhere! Again the brown algae also had become large bushes.

My red grapes have gotten larger. Ulva is growing off the back walls and on the outtake of the aquaclear. With just some pulling of heavy plants and dosing, it's really taking care of itself! I haven't run into cyano yet with this tank (last time I ran into cyano was years ago in a much older tank), but I am prepared to combat it when it rears it's head.

[Michael Hoaster]

It's sounds like all is well, nawilson89!

One macro's loss is another macro's gain. And nice job, sitting back and letting Mother Nature do her thing!

[Michael Hoaster]

Foam wall degradation.

[McPuff]

Wow you did some serious pruning!!! Looks great!

[sam.basye]

Looks great!
Love the blues and reds.

What do you attribute to the wall degradation? I think it might be from the lighting/uv in mine.

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks McPuff. Pretty serious pruning. It's kinda like opening presents-ripping out caulerpa to get at the pretty red macros! I wish I had a genetically modified tang that only ate caulerpa racemosa.

Thanks sam.basye! The blue hypnea is popping up everywhere. Pretty cool, for a macro I never bought! Since my degradation is happening close to the light, that seems the likely culprit. That part is usually buried in caulerpa, so maybe it's something the caulerpa puts out, or it's a combination of both. You'd think that since it's made for ponds, light wouldn't be a problem.

[sam.basye]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

You'd think that since it's made for ponds, light wouldn't be a problem.

You'd think...


Do you remember what brand of foam you bought?
I used two different kinds, but don't recall which I used where of course...

For my next foam wall build I'm going to foam rocks across the top instead of straight foam. This should eliminate the degradation off the top of the wall.


What puzzles me is that it's supposed to be UV resistant! I put a copious about of foam at the top of my wall. It eventually started to degrade and look like natural, really porous, rock; which looks really good and natural. Then it just kept going until the white eggcrate started showing in thin spots.

It should probably be completely sealed with some sort of epoxy, or similar, and completely covered with sand or crushed coral to prevent the degredation.
I bet the saltwater probably had something to do with it as well. I'm sure they never tested it in sw during production..


I wonder if I can get some free cans if I complain? Lol

[Michael Hoaster]

I used the Touch & Foam Landscape stuff.

Yes, I wasn't very careful or thorough with the sealant. God, I hope to never do this again, but for future reference, I would heavily seal areas close to the light.

[sam.basye]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

I used the Touch & Foam Landscape stuff.

Yes, I wasn't very careful or thorough with the sealant. God, I hope to never do this again, but for future reference, I would heavily seal areas close to the light.

I think I used 1 or 2 cans of Beckett pond foam and the rest (3 or 4) of Touch & Foam.

I'm pretty sure the touch & foam was what I used on the top portion.


It's not THAT bad...
Aside from the fumes and adhering to anything and everything. Lol
Oh, and being expensive for those of us who are cheap!

[Michael Hoaster]

So that creepy, brown macro I've got, and I act like it's some undiscovered species…turns out it's just…grasilaria. I was visiting Florida Pets (.com), looking at their macros, and there it was - grasilaria on a rock. So apparently, there's a brown variety. Oh well, another macro I didn't pay for! A couple of new ones have popped up too. One is on the fake wall in some strong current. It will be interesting to see how different it grows up there. Phenotypic plasticity. I love it when I get to say that.

I do enjoy getting the macros back, after Mr Zippy's banishment. I've got hypnea all over the tank now. Each clump is like a mini refugium. The pods love it. And I love the color. I'm also hoping for the return of the cotton candy algae. Once upon a time, this one tried to take over the tank, but I all but eradicated it. There was a small bit on the main pump return grate. I picked some off and tried rubbing it on the fake root. That just seems like it would work. Rub the plant on a rough surface, and leave behind some plant cells, starting a new plant. I've tried it a couple of times, and so far, no luck. If it doesn't work this time, I'm hoping the bits I lost will start new plants, and then I can try to get them onto the mangrove root again.

I noticed the purple condylactis anemone looked bigger and happier, when I returned from my trip. From this I deduced that it doesn't like the dosing so much. I'm thinking I'll reduce the frequency of dosing a little. Maybe wait until it fully expands again before the next dose. I may also try another substrate fert, for the grasses.

Overall, the tank seems good. I'm starting to see some detritus buildup. I'm looking into adding some diversity to the detrivore crew. Maybe shrimp, a cucumber, or perhaps a harem of cherub angel fish!

[nawilson89]

I have a brown gracilaria that I never bought. I found it in the gulf. It's grows way to fast and I pulled 99% of it once and left a clip that threatens to overtake.

[EdimarOliveira]

Brugges your Michael progress!

Blue algae are really a sideshow ...

These days I received the substrate and salt for reassembly mine. I look forward to start now with a beautiful aquarium as your as a model for me.

Congratulations!

[Michael Hoaster]

I think I've seen the one you are talking about, nawilson89, in your pics. I think yours is a different species than mine. Yours grows fast, mine pretty slow. Despite the extra pruning needed, fast growers are pretty handy for uptake/export. Now if I could just get up the courage to put 'em in a salad…

[zachxlutz]

This is so cool!