Adding to Aquarium Biodiversity

[tdileo]

I'm hoping to get lots and lots of input here as I don't think there is a single reefer who wouldn't benefit from learning of the topic!
As most of us know biodiversity (especially of microfauna populations) is vital to the mini ecosystems we have in our houses that we put so much time, money and effort into. We are trying to replicate the natural oceans as much as possible, so why isn't this subject touched on more? I would think that with more diversity when it comes to beneficial bacteria, copepods, and other cool tiny critters the more we have the more stable and natural our systems would be. What are the best ways we could we go about adding to the biodiversity of our microfauna and other organisms in our reef tanks?

 

[kashman100]

Live rock is a big one. Of course you have to deal with good and bad critters

 

[tdileo]

Live rock is a big one. Of course you have to deal with good and bad critters

That's been one of my ideas as well. I've been thinking about buying small amounts of LR from all over like Fiji, Hawaii, Florida, and the Caribbean and then watching it carefully in a rock QT for a few weeks, putting it in the main tank and then removing it after a month or so when the little things inside have began to populate other areas inside the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm hoping to get lots and lots of input here as I don't think there is a single reefer who wouldn't benefit from learning of the topic!
As most of us know biodiversity (especially of microfauna populations) is vital to the mini ecosystems we have in our houses that we put so much time, money and effort into. We are trying to replicate the natural oceans as much as possible, so why isn't this subject touched on more? I would think that with more diversity when it comes to beneficial bacteria, copepods, and other cool tiny critters the more we have the more stable and natural our systems would be. What are the best ways we could we go about adding to the biodiversity of our microfauna and other organisms in our reef tanks?

While I have collected natural seawater to try to add some new species of bacteria to my system, I'm not entirely clear on what the actual benefit is of a more diverse set of bacteria in the aquarium rather than letting the system evolve to have the most efficient bacteria outcompete the less efficient ones (and hence have less biodiversity).

So I would challenge the fundamental assumption that more biodiversity is necessarily better.

Perhaps a more diverse initial set allows even more efficient ones to win out in the end, without maintaining the biodiversity long term.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Everyone is too afraid of cooties.
And worms.

Bad is actually relative.

Some folks fear diatoms.
Some have been known to encourage them.

 

[tdileo]

While I have collected natural seawater to try to add some new species of bacteria to my system, I'm not entirely clear on what the actual benefit is of a more diverse set of bacteria in the aquarium rather than letting the system evolve to have the most efficient bacteria outcompete the less efficient ones (and hence have less biodiversity).

So I would challenge the fundamental assumption that more biodiversity is necessarily better.

Perhaps a more diverse initial set allows even more efficient ones to win out in the end, without maintaining the biodiversity long term.

Thats an interesting way to look at it and very smart! The more diverse set initially would definitely be best but for those of us who didn't (i started with about 10 pounds of established rock and the rest dry) I don't think I may have the best stuff. In addition I also meant we may get some things that are not always found without introduction, for example some species of copepods or micro brittle stars or even bristleworms.

 

[Grey Guy]

There are many places on line that provide bio-diversity packs, with flora and fauna. My concern with bio-diversity, is the care and commitment it takes to properly manage and maintain a bio-diverse aquarium. There is no doubt in my mind, that bio-diversity is the purest, best option for a healthy reef tank. But, your bio population can crash, just like your corals. If your corals are depending on the bio-diversity of your system and you have a flora or fauna die out, then what happens. You can replenish your system, but it takes time to have an effect. But, again, if you want the challenge of providing the best environment possible for your tank mates, then bio-diversity is the way to go.

I just think it gives me one more huge thing to worry about.

 

[tdileo]

Everyone is too afraid of cooties.
And worms.

Bad is actually relative.

Some folks fear diatoms.
Some have been known to encourage them.

The only thing I fear getting in my tank is pest anemones and Eunice worms. Just about everything else is welcome in there lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Some folks fear diatoms.
Some have been known to encourage them.

Nooooo.

 

[tdileo]

There are many places on line that provide bio-diversity packs, with flora and fauna. My concern with bio-diversity, is the care and commitment it takes to properly manage and maintain a bio-diverse aquarium. There is no doubt in my mind, that bio-diversity is the purest, best option for a healthy reef tank. But, your bio population can crash, just like your corals. If your corals are depending on the bio-diversity of your system and you have a flora or fauna die out, then what happens. You can replenish your system, but it takes time to have an effect. But, again, if you want the challenge of providing the best environment possible for your tank mates, then bio-diversity is the way to go.

I just think it gives me one more huge thing to worry about.

I've thought about this as well. If we could keep a population of zoo/phytoplankton alive in our tanks I think everything would thrive but since our tanks aren't the oceans they would eventually die out and cause something to go wrong.