Tide simulation for a mangrove tank

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

Looking good so far. How much is your water level changing??
I totally understand not wanting to take the tank apart. You would only need to drain it to a bit below where your bulkhead will be. Use black or gray PVC so it is less obvious. You could hide the overflow behind the mangroves.

I haven't set up the tide movement yet. but when I do I was thinking of having it fluctuate about 3-5 inches, enough for the top of the rocks where the mangroves are to be out of water. I go back and forth with your way of creating the tide. I know it is the best solution and using a smalll 1/2 inch buikhead and black pipe would not be that noticeably especially once the mangroves and macro grow in.

 

[laverda]

Been thinking about how I could lower my bulkhead an inch or two. I would need to patch the existing hole, reinforce it and drill a new hole in the curved acrylic. I would also need to lower the slots to the AIO section which would be a challenge.
I could possibly put a bulkhead in the bottom, but that would have its own challenges.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

Picked up a ric and flower for the mangrove tank. I am slowly acclmating them from freshwater to saltwater. I am at 1.010. Once I get to full salinity I will decide if I want to break it down and drill it or leave it undrilled.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

Update: Installed the lighting for the tank. I am using a free 48 inch reefbrite strip over th 29 gallon soft coral tank and the mangrove system. It has 1 dayligh, 1 actinic and 1 50/50. I am controlling them independently using a wifi power strip so they ramp up and down on a schedule. I am also using a 75 watt grow light fixture to supplement the mangroves and an Ai Prime for the side of the tank that will have the flower anemones and mushrooms. Even I will switch out the lighting for two Kessils, one for the mangroves (a150 Sun) and one for the coral ( a150 Blue), but for now I am using what I have And spending my money on some sweet livestock for the tank see below.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

So I did the deed. I drilled it. So I am going to laverda idea. Next step is to plumb the tank.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

So I did the deed. I drilled it. So I am going to laverda idea. Next step is to p

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

So my collection of Caribbean/ Florida livestock is increasing. I now have a yellow and blue ricoreda to add to the orange, a St. Thomas mushroom and some other type of red Caribbean mushroom.

 

[laverda]

So I did the deed. I drilled it. So I am going to laverda idea. Next step is to p

How come you decided to drill it? Is that working out the way you hoped? What water level differences are you getting?

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

I decided to go with your suggestion for a few of reasons:
1) It was the simplest way of doing it with the least likely for failure.
2) If is doesn’t work out I still can use it as an overflow
3) It is the cheapest

I just drilled it last night I hope to have it plumbed up and running in about a week. I will update.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

Here is a short video and a couple of pictures of the tank set up at low tide. I have not tested the low tide/high tide stimulation. I think I was able to hide the plumbing pretty good.

 

[laverda]

Looking good!

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

So the tide simulation is up and running. It all worked out pretty well. I takes about 2 and half hours to go to low tide which empties about 2-4 gallons in my sump and the water level drops 3-4 inches and about the same time to fill it up. I think I am going to set it to start going to low tide around 3 o'clock and then start filling again around seven. The tank will be full at ten. Thanks laverda for your suggestion. I will have to take a time lapse video and post it.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

Here are some pictures of the flower nems and coral I have added.

 

[laverda]

Glad to hear it is working out for you.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

Went and did a little shopping for the Caribbean Mangrove biotope tank. Picked up a couple of feather dusters, is St. Thomas mushroom and a royal gramm. Can’t find any good macro andI live in Florid, lol

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

I created a video showing the tide simulation.

 

[laverda]

Looking good. Wish I had set mine up for more of a tide change like you did.

 

[inland_reef]

I love how you created this high tide/low tide setup. That’s really freaking cool and I will definitely look to trying this out in the future!

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

I love how you created this high tide/low tide setup. That’s really freaking cool and I will definitely look to trying this out in the future!

Thanks it works pretty well. I do have to tame a toothbrush about 2x per month to the overflow pipe to keep the low tide hole clear of debris and algae growth.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

Here’s an update on the tank. All the livestock is doing well and looks healthy. I added an unique invert. Banded Coral Shrimp, Gold (Stenopus zanzibaricus).

My royal gramma is doing well but hides all the time. Looking for a Caribbean/Keys species that might be out more. The flower anemones are all doing well. Visually during the daylight they aren’t much to look at but at night when the blues are on they really pop.

The paly granda are continuing to multiply, unfortunately they are hard to photograph well, but at certain times of the day they show a nice green with blueish spots.

The ricorida are also healthy and look good under all lighting conditions.

The mangroves are continuing the slow growth. The leaves are a healthy green color but not as dark as the ones I am growing outside.

One issue I am still fighting with is the hair algae growth. I rented a sea hare for the tank and it wiped out the algae but has since started to creep back. I haven’t found the right CUC for the tank yet.
August

Today

Overall for a 7-8 month tank it’s doing swimmingly. Future plans are to add some more ricorida and flower anemones. Add some sexy shrimp and maybe a variety of macro algae or two to fill in the open areas.