Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Chasmodes!

I hope so. Lookdown intensive care is getting old. I'd really like to see more progress. He's getting there. It is fun to watch him hunt and catch live minnows. Hopefully I'll get a mollie population explosion here soon, so I don't have to buy feeders so often.

[Chasmodes]

It sounds like you might need your own feeder tank full of adult mollies and some cover for the fry. You can keep them nice and fat by adding what you export from your DT. Or maybe that is too much (not sure of your space requirements, etc.), perhaps more expensive or not worth the effort to maintain than just buying feeders?

I need to go back and look at how you made your mangrove root. Very cool. I might do something similar in my FW native tank (make a nice root system).

[Michael Hoaster]

You are right, Chasmodes. I need to generate my own feeders, because buying them is getting expensive. Right now I have 4 females and one male mollie. I have no idea how many I need at this point. Also I'm trying to decide whether to move them into the display, when I move Norbert back in, or keep them in the QT. I like the idea of having them as part of the ecosystem in the display, but I lost 3 mollies when my plague of snails took over. Of course, I could just feed them.

Hopefully, once I get Norbert back to full strength, he'll transition to frozen foods, so there won't be as much need for feeders. Jeez, what a mess!

[Chasmodes]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Hopefully, once I get Norbert back to full strength, he'll transition to frozen foods, so there won't be as much need for feeders. Jeez, what a mess!

Yeah, that's the goal. I hope he transitions for you. Hang in there!

I just read your entire mangrove root build thread, cool stuff. I think it turned out pretty awesome.

[Michael Hoaster]

Chasmodes, I'm glad you enjoyed the fake root thread. I could see you doing something similar, maybe with some bivalves attached.

NORBERT WATCH UPDATE:

LFS was out of small feeders today, so I got some mediums. They are close to two inches, so a pretty big step up. Norbert ate four, the last one getting a little caught in his throat. He did get it down though. Maybe four is his limit at this size.

I tried some frozen mysis this morning and he ate one, discarded the rest. Small progress, but I'll take it.

[Michael Hoaster]

Wow, four days since my last post. That must be a record!

Not a ton to report. Norbert's looking really good, but still not eating frozen foods, so I'm keeping him in QT. Sheldon's doing great in the display, eating heartily.

The seagrasses and macros are doing well. I'm relieved to see that no micro algae has reared up, since the heavy feedings I've been doing with the lookdowns.

The grammas and blennies are great. They're enjoying the extra food. I have no concerns at all that the lookdowns could threaten them. In fact, spawning activity has increased, especially with five of the blennies in the barnacles.

The condylactis anemone looks great. It's getting bigger, since I've increased the size of its meals. Since it seems unlikely aquarists could ever equal the light intensity these guys get in nature, that it should be helpful to compensate by giving them more food.

As for the added, decorative sponges, the tree sponge frags are hanging in there, but not thriving or growing. The new fan sponge looks the best of them, with no sign of decline. The ridge sponge has growing areas of dead tissue, so it's not doing great. I'm tempted to remove the dead parts, but I don't want to risk dislodging the sponge. I don't know why introduced sponges don't do well in my tank, while the resident (live rock encrusted) sponges are great. Maybe they needed to be attached to a rock, or my salinity is too low, or the dosing bothers them. It's a bummer because I really wanted a healthy and beautiful sponge population. If I could get just one species to take off, I'd be happy at this point. I'll keep trying.

[Michael Hoaster]

Did a small pruning today. Getting a bit overgrown. When it gets this way, I want it to be tidier. When it gets tidied up, I wish it were more overgrown…

In Sponge News, one of the tree sponge frags shows growth! I took a good look at them today and noticed it. Now if all (4) the tree sponge frags started growing, that would be sweet!

I wonder if it's responding to the sodium silicate. I've been dosing more lately. Like calcium is for corals, silicate is for sponges - its building blocks.

[Chasmodes]

I remember reading another thread, I think for a deep water tank, where someone mentioned feeding yeast to their sponges (not powder) and they responded well to that. If I find that post, then I'll post the link.

Edit: Link found http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...&postcount=133

[sam.basye]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Wow, four days since my last post. That must be a record!

Not a ton to report. Norbert's looking really good, but still not eating frozen foods, so I'm keeping him in QT. Sheldon's doing great in the display, eating heartily.

The seagrasses and macros are doing well. I'm relieved to see that no micro algae has reared up, since the heavy feedings I've been doing with the lookdowns.

The grammas and blennies are great. They're enjoying the extra food. I have no concerns at all that the lookdowns could threaten them. In fact, spawning activity has increased, especially with five of the blennies in the barnacles.

The condylactis anemone looks great. It's getting bigger, since I've increased the size of its meals. Since it seems unlikely aquarists could ever equal the light intensity these guys get in nature, that it should be helpful to compensate by giving them more food.

As for the added, decorative sponges, the tree sponge frags are hanging in there, but not thriving or growing. The new fan sponge looks the best of them, with no sign of decline. The ridge sponge has growing areas of dead tissue, so it's not doing great. I'm tempted to remove the dead parts, but I don't want to risk dislodging the sponge. I don't know why introduced sponges don't do well in my tank, while the resident (live rock encrusted) sponges are great. Maybe they needed to be attached to a rock, or my salinity is too low, or the dosing bothers them. It's a bummer because I really wanted a healthy and beautiful sponge population. If I could get just one species to take off, I'd be happy at this point. I'll keep trying.

You still alive, Hoaster??


Haven't heard any of your nonsense in a while

[Joel_155]

Okay I need to read through this entries thread. I would love to build a reef system with two displays. One as a reef and one as a seagrass tank!

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[Michael Hoaster]

Hello! Just back from camping in the desert for a week. Tank's good, all fish accounted for. Plants all look good too, with Corpse Bride Grasilaria really getting big. How big could it get? The ridge sponge continues to decline, while other sponges are doing well.



Sheldon looks a bit thin, but he always does. Norbert is fine, still in QT, with 7 silver mollies.

I'm still debating whether to bring the mollies up to the big show with Norbert, when he goes. Adding a live food source for the lookdowns seems like a good idea. Having them in the display goes nicely with my "everything in the display" mantra. Mollies are kinda caribbean. And they occur naturally in this type of lagoonal environment. I also like the idea of the lookdowns hunting for food. The grammas and the blennies do. Why shouldn't they? Natural hunting behavior has got to be good for them, and is fun to watch! I think I've just about talked myself into it!

This very idea was discussed pretty early in this thread, back when I was going through various caribbean options on the fish list.

Welcome Joel 155! Lot's of good stuff on this thread, enjoy! Your idea of combining a reef and seagrass tanks into one system is cool! Walter Adey did the same thing at the Smithsonian.

Sam, I hope this gets you through till next time! And you? Anything to report?

[sam.basye]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Hello! Just back from camping in the desert for a week. Tank's good, all fish accounted for. Plants all look good too, with Corpse Bride Grasilaria really getting big. How big could it get? The ridge sponge continues to decline, while other sponges are doing well.



Sheldon looks a bit thin, but he always does. Norbert is fine, still in QT, with 7 silver mollies.

I'm still debating whether to bring the mollies up to the big show with Norbert, when he goes. Adding a live food source for the lookdowns seems like a good idea. Having them in the display goes nicely with my "everything in the display" mantra. Mollies are kinda caribbean. And they occur naturally in this type of lagoonal environment. I also like the idea of the lookdowns hunting for food. The grammas and the blennies do. Why shouldn't they? Natural hunting behavior has got to be good for them, and is fun to watch! I think I've just about talked myself into it!

This very idea was discussed pretty early in this thread, back when I was going through various caribbean options on the fish list.

Welcome Joel 155! Lot's of good stuff on this thread, enjoy! Your idea of combining a reef and seagrass tanks into one system is cool! Walter Adey did the same thing at the Smithsonian.

Sam, I hope this gets you through till next time! And you? Anything to report?

Not really. Lol

I did list the clowns and my big GSP rock on the CL earlier today. The damsel has been on CL for free, but no takers... Gonna try a new clown pair or maybe a 6 line wrasse. Saw a really nice looking back ice clown at the LFS this week that was small. Thinking of starting over with the clownfish.


Where was this so called 'camping trip'? Pics??


Will the Molly fry be an issue with getting sucked up in the overflow? Or do the get picked of rather quickly? I had a breeding orange swordtail Molly prior to the the reef tank. That was a neat experience.

[Michael Hoaster]

Monument Valley, Utah. Camping in the desert in the fall s'frickin' sweet.

Starting over with new clowns could be good. Maybe they won't be such ball-busters… Maybe get a few other guys in there before you add them, so they're after everybody else. Six line wrasses are pretty! But say goodbye to the bottom of your resident food chain.

I don't know if the fry would get sucked up or not. One way to find out! They don't get picked off immediately in QT with Norbert. A lot of the time they go unnoticed. Then one will catch his eye and… I would think some might even evade capture long enough to grow up.

[Chasmodes]

That pic of Sheldon... he looks like an alien!

Beautiful scenery on your camping trip. Reminds me of the old movie, "McKenna's Gold". I love it out there. I was born in Denver, family was from Westminster. My Aunt has sinced moved to Fort Collins.

I lived in Westminster for 2 summers while I was in college. I didn't have much free time for myself, but when I did, I spent most of it in Boulder Canyon chasing trout. I loved to fly fish but didn't know much of what I was doing. I've learned a lot since then, so I'd love to go back and spend a few weeks discovering and fishing. Maybe when I retire someday. I'm not sure if my wife would be happy about it LOL.

Your tank looks awesome

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks Chasmodes! The lookdowns, like the blue tang before them, are not very cooperative, when it comes to being photographed. They do look like aliens from straight on!

That movie may very well have been filmed there, as a lot of westerns were. To me, it looks like the inspiration for the "Roadrunner" cartoons.

I appreciate the tank compliment! It's getting a bit overgrown looking to me lately…

[Darth_Tater]

Most John Wayne movies were filmed in Southern Utah, so I'd imagine a lot of other westerns were too.

[Michael Hoaster]

OK, so I've made a decision. Norbert's going back into the display. I'm done with the feeder routine! Once he's in, the feeders are over. I have also decided to put the mollies in the display too. This will give the lookdowns the chance to hunt. I bought 4 more mollies today. One male three females. These new guys went straight into the display, after lights out. I think I have seven in the QT, so that will hopefully get the ball rolling.

[Chasmodes]

BTW, I think the head on view of your lookdown is really cool. I assumed that they normally look like that even well fed. The greenish hue and his face along with the laterally compressed body made him look like an alien to me, moreso than head on pics of other species of laterally compressed fish, like an optical illusion.

Good decision on the mollies. Hopefully, you can wean them off live and on to frozen food quickly.

[Michael Hoaster]

I like the head on view too. I've been struggling to get a descent pic of it. That one turned out OK. The new mollies all look good, in the display. I'll get everyone else up in there after breakfast. I think Norbert will be much happier. He better learn to like frozen food, or hope the mollies start cranking out the babies!

By the way, if anyone knows how many mollies I need to maintain a constant flow of babies, I'd love to hear from you. I'm not too worried about having too many, as the grammas and blennies will eat them too, I'm sure.

[Michael Hoaster]

Norbert and Sheldon have been reunited in the display. It was fun to watch them get reacquainted. Now they're a school of two. So cool! So comically weird and beautiful! They look much happier together. They spend a lot of time swimming in the current. So far, the treadmill concept is working.

I got most of the mollies in the display as well. I was surprised how they remained in a school at the top, with the lookdowns. They look good! Like a small school of fancy mullet. I was concerned they may not look natural, but in this lagoon tank, they fit right in.

I now have fish occupying all levels. The mollies are at the very top, eating from the surface. The lookdowns are just below the surface. The grammas are at mid level, and the blennies are at the bottom. Not that I'm done adding fish!

[zachxlutz]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Norbert and Sheldon have been reunited in the display. It was fun to watch them get reacquainted. Now they're a school of two. So cool! So comically weird and beautiful! They look much happier together. They spend a lot of time swimming in the current. So far, the treadmill concept is working.

I got most of the mollies in the display as well. I was surprised how they remained in a school at the top, with the lookdowns. They look good! Like a small school of fancy mullet. I was concerned they may not look natural, but in this lagoon tank, they fit right in.

I now have fish occupying all levels. The mollies are at the very top, eating from the surface. The lookdowns are just below the surface. The grammas are at mid level, and the blennies are at the bottom. Not that I'm done adding fish!

This is good news! I'd love to see a video of the tank showing all the fish and the macros moving around.



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[Chasmodes]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Norbert and Sheldon have been reunited in the display. It was fun to watch them get reacquainted. Now they're a school of two. So cool! So comically weird and beautiful! They look much happier together. They spend a lot of time swimming in the current. So far, the treadmill concept is working.

Very cool. Maybe the Norbert will learn to eat frozen food from Sheldon somehow (maybe as competition for food).

[McPuff]

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

I like the head on view too. I've been struggling to get a descent pic of it. That one turned out OK. The new mollies all look good, in the display. I'll get everyone else up in there after breakfast. I think Norbert will be much happier. He better learn to like frozen food, or hope the mollies start cranking out the babies!

By the way, if anyone knows how many mollies I need to maintain a constant flow of babies, I'd love to hear from you. I'm not too worried about having too many, as the grammas and blennies will eat them too, I'm sure.

I'm interested to hear about your molly situation/progress. I am eager to add some into my 300 as well. They are terrific algae eaters and add some nice extra movement to the display... not to mention a source of live food. :0)

[Michael Hoaster]

Thanks, zachxlutz. I've been playing around with video, but I haven't gotten anything good enough. Maybe I should just lower my standards a bit! I'd love to post a video. Maybe after I do some tank tidying…

[sam.basye]

Originally Posted by zachxlutz

This is good news! I'd love to see a video of the tank showing all the fish and the macros moving around.

You and me both Zach!



Maybe one of these days Michael will post one!
:not holding my breath:



What color are all the mollies?
Curious if you went with the silver/black ones or fancy colors. lol I have a feeling you didn't get bright orange ones...


IME with my two breeding mollies, the babies would pop out and kind of sink to the bottom. They blended in with the gravel and would eventually find some cover. Your plethora of macros will be perfect for them to avoid getting eaten as they mature, although they are primarily a food source for you tank.
They might have a better chance of survival since my mollies used to give birth at night after the tank lights go out.


This is your weekly "why you gotta busta my balls" post - or was the last one it??