Ornamental seaweed lagoon

[Subsea]

I started this 30G high aquarium 3 months ago as a backup to cure 75lbs of diver collected Gulf live rock. So rock has been out of the GOM for 7 weeks. The two best macro rock were placed in this tank due to least grazing. One rock has 4 different red macro attacked: 2 types of Halymeni, Bortacladia and another red macro. Also in this tank are two fast growing Caulerpa, Paspoidies & Prolifer, and a third Halymenia, which is the Pacific variety.

Because of seaweed dominated display, I choose to establish cryptic refugium using a canister filter to hold reef rubble in baskets.

 

[PeterC99]

Very cool - like the cryptic refugium!

 

[Subsea]

Very cool - like the cryptic refugium!

I also like the cryptic refugium. Cryptic sponges are the third leg of biofiltration in my reef tank: bacteria, algae, cryptic sponges. This feeding loop uses food webs that recycle inorganic & organic nutrients into live food that moves carbon up the food chain using the microbial loop.

All photosynthetic organisms has waste grouped as DOC, dissolved organic carbon.. DOC from coral are lipids & proteins and DOC from macro is carbohydrates.. Cryptic sponges process huge volumes of both doc and would double in size in 6 hours if it were not for huge volumes of Detritus sloughed off. This detritus is the marine snow that moves carbon up food chain using the “microbial loop”

 

[Dcal]

Looks sweet! microbial loop is quite amazing

 

[PeterC99]

Is there any mechanical filtration in your setup?

 

[Subsea]

@PeterC99
The canister filter bottom basket has a course sponge which is more for growing algae to feed pods. This is to be inspected when next opened up. The second basket is filled with reef rubble collected from 25yr mature sump. The third basket is empty and will soon have dry reef rubble to be seeded by second basket.

 

[Subsea]

I am considering a pair of mandarin dragonet for this tank. I will wait ar least one more month to establish a robust population of pods that are sustainable to feed mandarins.

 

[Subsea]

Very cool - like the cryptic refugium!

My 25 year set up 75G display has a 30G cryptic refugium converted 2 yrs ago from EcoSystem mud/macro refugium to unlit cryptic refugium

 

[PeterC99]

My 25 year set up 75G display has a 30Gbcryptic refugium converted 2 yrs ago from EcoSystem mud/macro refugium to unlit cryptic refugium

Could you please explain the difference between the cryptic & ecosystem refugiums?

 

[fragit]

I just converted my 40 breeder refugium to half lit half cryptic. My fuge was not working the way intended after 5 years, so I’m giving this set up a go for a bit.

 

[Subsea]

Could you please explain the difference between the cryptic & ecosystem refugiums?

EcoSystem mud/macro refugium has 3 compartments: first compartment is wet/dry reef rubble, display tank effluent cascades into rubble with aggressive gas exchange and mechanically breaks up detritus to settle into largest compartment. In 25 yrs mud depth has increased from 1/2” to 1”. It is crawling with bugs & worms. The mud part of ecosystem recycles inorganic & organic nutrients into live larvae to feed hungry mouths. Above the mud, the macro growing can be nutrient export or nutrient recycling.

cryptic refugium use cryptic sponges to recycles nutrients using detritus as the method to move carbon up the food chain using the microbial loop.

 

[PeterC99]

Very cool! Thank you for the explanation.

Might give one of these refugiums a try one day. What is the minimum size aquarium you would recommend for these refugiums?

 

[Subsea]

You don’t need a refugium to have cryptic sponges, Diver collected live rock will have cryptic sponges. When moving mature live rock in display, I often find cryptic sponges on backside away from light. Even a high flow canister filter will grow cryptic sponges & pods.

Very cool! Thank you for the explanation.

Might give one of these refugiums a try one day. What is the minimum size aquarium you would recommend for these refugiums?

That is difficult to quantify. In general, to be effective at reducing nutrients an algae refugium should be 50% of display. Cryptic refugium is more subtle in its effects. You will start seeing more diversity in micro fauna & fana. I think size is less important with cryptic refugium. I used hi flow canister filter on 25yr mature tank. After 6 months it was full of amphipods & cryptic sponges.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Looks good @Subsea.

 

[Subsea]

@Eagle_Steve
I am amazed at how good this tank looks after 3 months setup. Once I get more pods & detrivores established, I plan on adding a mated pair of mandarin dragonet, but my main focus is filter feeders like sea apples & flame scallops as well as Christmas tree worms.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

@Eagle_Steve
I am amazed at how good this tank looks after 3 months setup. Once I get more pods & detrivores established, I plan on adding a mated pair of mandarin dragonet, but my main focus is filter feeders like sea apples & flame scallops as well as Christmas tree worms.

Sweet. I can say that the fern caulerpa works wonders for pods to breed. I had a ton of pods already in my fuge on the 180, but after changing it to a Florida based display fuge, the pods went crazy. My breeding pair of mandarins in the display never had to worry as had little pudges of bellies. Now they look like little sumo wrestlers lol. The glass also stays cleaner in the sump and display now lol.

I know it is the fern, as you used to have to look hard at the sump to see them. Now you just see them running around it all the time. Basically they can breed faster than the 2 pinfish in the sump can eat them lol.

 

[Subsea]

Out of the six Fern/Feather Caulerpa, I like Caulerpa Paspoides the most.

Marine Plants in the Aquarium

macroalgae, marine plants, caulerpa, refugium substrate, marine macroalgae for sale

www.marineplantbook.com

 

[Subsea]

Sweet. I can say that the fern caulerpa works wonders for pods to breed. I had a ton of pods already in my fuge on the 180, but after changing it to a Florida based display fuge, the pods went crazy. My breeding pair of mandarins in the display never had to worry as had little pudges of bellies. Now they look like little sumo wrestlers lol. The glass also stays cleaner in the sump and display now lol.

I know it is the fern, as you used to have to look hard at the sump to see them. Now you just see them running around it all the time. Basically they can breed faster than the 2 pinfish in the sump can eat them lol.

I thought that Caulerpa Paspoidies & Prolifera would outcompete everything. I was wrong.

First picture:
Two red macros, Bortacladia & Halymeni, are crowding out Caulerpa Paspoides in 30G macro lagoon.

Second & third picture shows Paspoidies & Halymenia going somewhat sexual. Yet, note robust new growth on Bortacladia.

 

[Subsea]

last night, moved 30G tank from coffee table t9 it’s own stand in dining room.

 

[fish farmer]

I thought that Caulerpa Paspoidies & Prolifera would outcompete everything. I was wrong.

First picture:
Two red macros, Bortacladia & Halymeni, are crowding out Caulerpa Paspoides in 30G macro lagoon.

Second & third picture shows Paspoidies & Halymenia going somewhat sexual. Yet, note robust new growth on Bortacladia.

Very cool.

The one time I used gulf live rock I had one pesky red algae that was branchy, brittle, red with bluish tips. It spread everywhere. It looks like you don't have what I had.