Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank - Page 81

Michael Hoaster · 09/21/2016, 09:58 PM

Michael Hoaster · 09/22/2016, 10:18 PM

Lookdown update: Small one eats frozen and live food with gusto. Large one still won't eat frozen, but has eaten some live food.

Main pump is still off, for now. Once he gets strong, I'll turn it back on. He may be ready now. He plays in the current of the mangrove powerhead. Cool fish to watch.

The grammas are pretty much back to normal, with little fear of the new guys. They conduct their business right under their noses. Five out of six barnacle blennies are living in the barnacles! There's just one holdout, hanging out up on/in the caulerpa overhang. The lockdowns go after her sometimes, but she easily evades them. Toughest little fish!

Tank is pretty junglishious right now. The dragon's tongue frag disappeared. Hopefully it'll turn up. With all the extra feeding, I'm not dosing ammonia. I did dose some iron. Pretty much all macros are growing very well right now. I'm still waiting for another growth spurt from the manatee grass. The blue scroll algae looks like it's going to make it, but it's taking its time. Once it gets established, maybe it will pick up.

Big change to the community, with the new additions. Three levels of carnivores. S'frickin' awesome.

cHRoNzZe 619 · 09/23/2016, 12:48 AM

Awesome fish !!!! Have you try to feed them a mix of foods? To see if he likes something one food might have?

Side note... Let me know if your willing to part out with some of the nemastoma!

Michael Hoaster · 09/23/2016, 08:17 AM

Thanks cHRoNzZe 619! They are awesome. It's hard to focus on anything else in the tank.

I try feeding them my tank brew everyday, which has a variety of stuff in it. That's a good point though. There are other things I could add to it. I'll try that, thanks!

I should be able to part with some nemastoma. Maybe a trade for some string of pearls?

Chasmodes · 09/23/2016, 03:18 PM

Very cool addition to the tank. Sorry about the loss of the one fish. I hope they don't take to eating blennies!

Michael Hoaster · 09/26/2016, 01:04 PM

Thanks Chasmodes! Losing one was a heartbreaker for sure.

They have shown some interest in the blennies, but they are (so far) no match for their abilities. I also think it has to do with the fact that they are from different environmental niches. The lookdowns are pelagic, being very good in open water. The blennies, being benthic, makes it easy for them to evade them. I think the lookdowns would have a field day with a school of silversides!

Michael Hoaster · 09/26/2016, 09:31 PM

Over two weeks without any pruning! Hopefully tomorrow I can do some. Some caulerpa went sexual today. Clouded up the tank for a long while. I hope the sponges enjoyed it.

I may do an actual water change as well. That way, I can refill the QT with tank water and maybe move the big lookdown in. He needs to feed without competition.

I'm really getting tired of live feeders! Expensive, messy, stinky. I'm also growing tired of focusing entirely on keeping one fish alive. I've got so many other things to focus on!

McPuff · 09/27/2016, 06:12 AM

Have to be careful with the caulerpa for this reason... it can wipe out your tank is the biomass is high enough.

Chasmodes · 09/27/2016, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Some caulerpa went sexual today. Clouded up the tank for a long while. I hope the sponges enjoyed it.

I was wondering about that too. I wonder if a bivalve like an oyster would survive if that happened a lot. It might be something to think about in my fuge or main tank even.

Michael Hoaster · 09/27/2016, 07:36 AM

That may be true in a reef tank, McPuff, but not in a heavily planted tank, chock full of Mother Nature. It's like extra deluxe plant food. I'm thinking the sponges and other filter feeders loved it too.

I know nothing about oysters' needs, Chasmodes, but I would not be surprised to find that they filter phytoplankton. If so, a sexual event like that could be a welcomed feast.

I would think these things happen in nature all the time, and when they do, someone's going to eat it. Plants, filter feeders, and zooplankton should all benefit.

Michael Hoaster · 09/27/2016, 07:52 PM

Michael Hoaster · 09/27/2016, 11:44 PM

Full tank.

Five blennies. "Lookdowns shlookdowns, we're not going anywhere."

Colors.

G. hayi is getting big.

Seagrasses are good. Also note caulerpa removed from back wall.

I did a water change today, with a large caulerpa export. I dosed potassium nitrate and sodium silicate. The manatee grasses appear to be growing again.

I moved Norbert, the large lookdown, into quarantine. He's sharing it with three female silver mollies, and their babies. I've got to get him fattened up. Sheldon, the small lookdown, is doing very well, if a bit lonely now. These fish have a strong schooling instinct.

Chasmodes · 09/28/2016, 12:26 PM

I love the tank. Hopefully Norbert fattens up and returns home soon. The blenny pic is fantastic (but of course, I'm biased)

McPuff · 09/29/2016, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasmodes

I love the tank. Hopefully Norbert fattens up and returns home soon. The blenny pic is fantastic (but of course, I'm biased)

I agree. That picture is great.

Chasmodes · 09/29/2016, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McPuff

I agree. That picture is great.

It's my wallpaper at work

Michael Hoaster · 09/29/2016, 08:18 AM

Well, thanks guys! You've given me new appreciation for them.

Norbert, the lookdown is doing well in QT. I got ten feeders in him last night. If I can get him back to full vigor, I think I'll have a better chance of getting him to go for frozen food.

He's sharing the tank with five silver mollies-four females and one male. They are producing babies, so he's got snacks if he wants them between feedings. Mollies are unbelievably easy to adapt to salt water. One hour acclimation and done!

I brought the main pump back online on the display. Sheldon, the smaller lookdown, is having no problem with the increased current. I think I will put it on a timer, so it goes off at night. Give everyone a rest.

EdimarOliveira · 09/29/2016, 10:20 AM

Michael, you want to put Berghias or Shrimp Dancer for control of Aiptasia?

Beautiful view photo of red macroalgae growing!

Michael Hoaster · 09/29/2016, 01:31 PM

Thanks Edimar! I love the red macros.

I do have berghia nudibranchs in my tank, for aiptasia control. At least I hope I do! I added them months ago and progress is slow. They are small and they work at night, so I haven't actually seen them since I added them. I have noticed fewer aiptasias here and there, but, as you can see in the pics, they are nowhere near gone.

In hindsight, I may not have added enough. In order for them to really be effective, they need to reproduce. In a tank this big, it may take them a long time to find each other. I added them in pairs for this reason. So I wait. Hopefully, they will find each other and get busy!

Michael Hoaster · 09/29/2016, 08:43 PM

Sick day today. So I set up on the couch in front of the tank!

I got 15 small feeder fish in Norbert this morning and 20 more this evening. Plus, I saw him eat a mollie fry as well. So the mollie thing is working! Thanks, giant head!

I discussed the idea waaaaaaay back in this thread. It's funny to finally see it work. The original idea was to do it in the display, but this is good for a beat up fish.

He's still in rough shape. I'm so glad I got him into QT. I got really lucky catching him. He associated the net with food!

McPuff · 09/30/2016, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

He's sharing the tank with five silver mollies-four females and one male. They are producing babies, so he's got snacks if he wants them between feedings. Mollies are unbelievably easy to adapt to salt water. One hour acclimation and done!

I did try to acclimate black mollies one time... I gave them a couple hours but they did not make it. I'm not sure why but it's definitely something I want to try again. I figure the near-constant source of fry will be nice extra food for the fish in the tank. And they are super effective algae eaters!

Michael Hoaster · 09/30/2016, 11:29 AM

I'd definitely try it again. I got mine on sale at petsmart for a buck each. They did fine with my usual, one hour acclimation. I do run my salinity on the low side, but that shouldn't make much difference.

mountainraised · 09/30/2016, 12:43 PM

I love your red macro-algae!

Michael Hoaster · 09/30/2016, 12:55 PM

Thank you mountainraised, and welcome!

Michael Hoaster · 09/30/2016, 11:29 PM

Norbert is improving, eating more aggressively than before. Having the mollie fry to add to the feedings is great! It keeps him hunting all day, sharpening his skills. It's bizarre watching his belly fill, being such a thin fish.

Sheldon is geting picky at times, spitting out mysis. No more feeders for him. The blennies and the grammas are loving the extra food. The blennies will take ridiculously large bits, in their ridiculously large mouths.

I added some mussel to the food brew, and gave a big chunk to the anemone. I grated it too small to interest Sheldon, but everyone else liked it.

This whole lookdown ordeal has turned out to be much more of hassle than I anticipated. It's taking my attention away from everything else. Not good. But I bought them and they are in my care. So I'm doing everything I can think of to keep them alive. I just have to refocus on the rest of the tank as well. I'm pretty sure Sheldon is all good, and it's a joy to watch him, surfing the currents and stuff. He's not much bigger than Zippy, the atlantic blue tang. Kind of reminds me of him, or a chromed version of him. Hopefully, I'll have Norbert up to speed soon. Getting him in quarantine was the right call. I guess I could move the mollies up to the display with him-we'll see.

Having in-tank carnivore food generation is pretty handy. And this gets back to the self-sustaining aquarium ideal. I supply light and current, Mother Nature makes the algae, the mollies eat the algae and make babies, and the carnivores eat the babies. Circle of life. Of course it's not that simple, but an ideal to reach towards, that I find fascinating.

Chasmodes · 10/01/2016, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Having in-tank carnivore food generation is pretty handy. And this gets back to the self-sustaining aquarium ideal. I supply light and current, Mother Nature makes the algae, the mollies eat the algae and make babies, and the carnivores eat the babies. Circle of life. Of course it's not that simple, but an ideal to reach towards, that I find fascinating.

Very cool!

Sounds like Norbert will be ready for home pretty soon.

09/21/2016, 09:58 PM	#2001
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	__________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/22/2016, 10:18 PM	#2002
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Lookdown update: Small one eats frozen and live food with gusto. Large one still won't eat frozen, but has eaten some live food. Main pump is still off, for now. Once he gets strong, I'll turn it back on. He may be ready now. He plays in the current of the mangrove powerhead. Cool fish to watch. The grammas are pretty much back to normal, with little fear of the new guys. They conduct their business right under their noses. Five out of six barnacle blennies are living in the barnacles! There's just one holdout, hanging out up on/in the caulerpa overhang. The lockdowns go after her sometimes, but she easily evades them. Toughest little fish! Tank is pretty junglishious right now. The dragon's tongue frag disappeared. Hopefully it'll turn up. With all the extra feeding, I'm not dosing ammonia. I did dose some iron. Pretty much all macros are growing very well right now. I'm still waiting for another growth spurt from the manatee grass. The blue scroll algae looks like it's going to make it, but it's taking its time. Once it gets established, maybe it will pick up. Big change to the community, with the new additions. Three levels of carnivores. S'frickin' awesome. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/23/2016, 08:17 AM	#2004
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks cHRoNzZe 619! They are awesome. It's hard to focus on anything else in the tank. I try feeding them my tank brew everyday, which has a variety of stuff in it. That's a good point though. There are other things I could add to it. I'll try that, thanks! I should be able to part with some nemastoma. Maybe a trade for some string of pearls? __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/23/2016, 03:18 PM	#2005
Chasmodes Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,322	Very cool addition to the tank. Sorry about the loss of the one fish. I hope they don't take to eating blennies! __________________ Blennies Rock! --Kevin Wilson Current Tank Info: 101g 3'X3'X18" Cubish Oyster Reef Blenny tank, 36"X17"X18" sump

09/26/2016, 01:04 PM	#2006
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks Chasmodes! Losing one was a heartbreaker for sure. They have shown some interest in the blennies, but they are (so far) no match for their abilities. I also think it has to do with the fact that they are from different environmental niches. The lookdowns are pelagic, being very good in open water. The blennies, being benthic, makes it easy for them to evade them. I think the lookdowns would have a field day with a school of silversides! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/23/2016, 12:48 AM	#2003
cHRoNzZe 619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 60	Awesome fish !!!! Have you try to feed them a mix of foods? To see if he likes something one food might have? Side note... Let me know if your willing to part out with some of the nemastoma!

09/26/2016, 09:31 PM	#2007
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Over two weeks without any pruning! Hopefully tomorrow I can do some. Some caulerpa went sexual today. Clouded up the tank for a long while. I hope the sponges enjoyed it. I may do an actual water change as well. That way, I can refill the QT with tank water and maybe move the big lookdown in. He needs to feed without competition. I'm really getting tired of live feeders! Expensive, messy, stinky. I'm also growing tired of focusing entirely on keeping one fish alive. I've got so many other things to focus on! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/27/2016, 06:12 AM	#2008
McPuff Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,735	Have to be careful with the caulerpa for this reason... it can wipe out your tank is the biomass is high enough.

09/27/2016, 07:36 AM	#2010
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	That may be true in a reef tank, McPuff, but not in a heavily planted tank, chock full of Mother Nature. It's like extra deluxe plant food. I'm thinking the sponges and other filter feeders loved it too. I know nothing about oysters' needs, Chasmodes, but I would not be surprised to find that they filter phytoplankton. If so, a sexual event like that could be a welcomed feast. I would think these things happen in nature all the time, and when they do, someone's going to eat it. Plants, filter feeders, and zooplankton should all benefit. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/27/2016, 07:52 PM	#2011
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	__________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/27/2016, 11:44 PM	#2012
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Full tank. Five blennies. "Lookdowns shlookdowns, we're not going anywhere." Colors. G. hayi is getting big. Seagrasses are good. Also note caulerpa removed from back wall. I did a water change today, with a large caulerpa export. I dosed potassium nitrate and sodium silicate. The manatee grasses appear to be growing again. I moved Norbert, the large lookdown, into quarantine. He's sharing it with three female silver mollies, and their babies. I've got to get him fattened up. Sheldon, the small lookdown, is doing very well, if a bit lonely now. These fish have a strong schooling instinct. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/28/2016, 12:26 PM	#2013
Chasmodes Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,322	I love the tank. Hopefully Norbert fattens up and returns home soon. The blenny pic is fantastic (but of course, I'm biased) __________________ Blennies Rock! --Kevin Wilson Current Tank Info: 101g 3'X3'X18" Cubish Oyster Reef Blenny tank, 36"X17"X18" sump

09/29/2016, 08:18 AM	#2016
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Well, thanks guys! You've given me new appreciation for them. Norbert, the lookdown is doing well in QT. I got ten feeders in him last night. If I can get him back to full vigor, I think I'll have a better chance of getting him to go for frozen food. He's sharing the tank with five silver mollies-four females and one male. They are producing babies, so he's got snacks if he wants them between feedings. Mollies are unbelievably easy to adapt to salt water. One hour acclimation and done! I brought the main pump back online on the display. Sheldon, the smaller lookdown, is having no problem with the increased current. I think I will put it on a timer, so it goes off at night. Give everyone a rest. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/29/2016, 10:20 AM	#2017
EdimarOliveira Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brazil Posts: 60	Michael, you want to put Berghias or Shrimp Dancer for control of Aiptasia? Beautiful view photo of red macroalgae growing! __________________ Edimar Oliveira "It's amazing what people do when they do not know that they can not!" Current Tank Info: Reef of 43 gallons

09/29/2016, 01:31 PM	#2018
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks Edimar! I love the red macros. I do have berghia nudibranchs in my tank, for aiptasia control. At least I hope I do! I added them months ago and progress is slow. They are small and they work at night, so I haven't actually seen them since I added them. I have noticed fewer aiptasias here and there, but, as you can see in the pics, they are nowhere near gone. In hindsight, I may not have added enough. In order for them to really be effective, they need to reproduce. In a tank this big, it may take them a long time to find each other. I added them in pairs for this reason. So I wait. Hopefully, they will find each other and get busy! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/29/2016, 08:43 PM	#2019
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Sick day today. So I set up on the couch in front of the tank! I got 15 small feeder fish in Norbert this morning and 20 more this evening. Plus, I saw him eat a mollie fry as well. So the mollie thing is working! Thanks, giant head! I discussed the idea waaaaaaay back in this thread. It's funny to finally see it work. The original idea was to do it in the display, but this is good for a beat up fish. He's still in rough shape. I'm so glad I got him into QT. I got really lucky catching him. He associated the net with food! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/30/2016, 11:29 AM	#2021
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	I'd definitely try it again. I got mine on sale at petsmart for a buck each. They did fine with my usual, one hour acclimation. I do run my salinity on the low side, but that shouldn't make much difference. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/30/2016, 12:43 PM	#2022
mountainraised Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 55	I love your red macro-algae!

09/30/2016, 12:55 PM	#2023
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thank you mountainraised, and welcome! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/30/2016, 11:29 PM	#2024
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Norbert is improving, eating more aggressively than before. Having the mollie fry to add to the feedings is great! It keeps him hunting all day, sharpening his skills. It's bizarre watching his belly fill, being such a thin fish. Sheldon is geting picky at times, spitting out mysis. No more feeders for him. The blennies and the grammas are loving the extra food. The blennies will take ridiculously large bits, in their ridiculously large mouths. I added some mussel to the food brew, and gave a big chunk to the anemone. I grated it too small to interest Sheldon, but everyone else liked it. This whole lookdown ordeal has turned out to be much more of hassle than I anticipated. It's taking my attention away from everything else. Not good. But I bought them and they are in my care. So I'm doing everything I can think of to keep them alive. I just have to refocus on the rest of the tank as well. I'm pretty sure Sheldon is all good, and it's a joy to watch him, surfing the currents and stuff. He's not much bigger than Zippy, the atlantic blue tang. Kind of reminds me of him, or a chromed version of him. Hopefully, I'll have Norbert up to speed soon. Getting him in quarantine was the right call. I guess I could move the mollies up to the display with him-we'll see. Having in-tank carnivore food generation is pretty handy. And this gets back to the self-sustaining aquarium ideal. I supply light and current, Mother Nature makes the algae, the mollies eat the algae and make babies, and the carnivores eat the babies. Circle of life. Of course it's not that simple, but an ideal to reach towards, that I find fascinating. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018