There is a baby brittle in that shot...No! Not the high flow! NOOO!!! (eh, I expected it)
At that point, the only inhabitants were leftover micro brittle stars and bristleworms from the previous temperate system. High cycling temperatures definitely stressed them out, but they survived and are thriving today.
I have got to update this thread!
The LEDs on the display have a pretty low output (probably under 100 micromoles/m2/second PPFD according to my phone) but the manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) still barely manages to survive. The refugium manatee grass is doing much better and has spread countless new shoots under approximately 500-600 micromoles/m2/second PPFD.
Sadly, no plans for seahorses. I don't know much about their care (they're pretty difficult to feed I hear?) and I doubt they could fight the strong current in the tank well. I always thought ringed pipefish (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus) looked cool, though.
"Oh, seaweed is cool, seaweed is fun!"
Thanks! Biodiversity rocks!
I don't know about White Point anymore. I noticed in the fall it has some white fungus like stuff along the rocks and there is not a good smell now. Either side of it seems fine... But yes there are some great macros that wash up on that beach.11/17: Collected native macroalgae at White Point Beach, California (outside my state’s MPAs)
Species included, but were not limited to:
Brown
- Sargassum muticum
- Stephanocystis osmundacea
Green
- Codium fragile
Red
- Bossiella
- Calliarthron
- Corallina
- Gelidium
- Microcladia coulteri
- Rhodymenia pacifica
FTS on December 26
Codium fragile (I later split the individual in two, sending one piece to the refugium)
Ultimately, since these are predominantly coldwater macroalgae, several might perish, though I am curious to see what will survive (P.S. some coldwater Gelidium from the previous temperate build has hitchhiked and was already growing in the Anti-Reef prior to 12/26)
1/3
I decided to change the aquascape to incorporate more variation; now there is a large cave on the left side of the build and a sandy expanse in the center:
FTS on January 1
The cave
I still do not know where this flat piece should go, though. What do you guys think?
I might be wrong, but from what I remember on government websites, all seagrass, even when floating, is illegal to collect. Macroalgae (with a weight limit) with hitchhikers is fine. The only permanent source of coldwater seagrass I know (in the states) is this:
Those are some great sources!
Many Nassarius snails (note the big, black one on the bottom right, I actually think it is Ilyanassa obsoleta, so it is currently on time out in the holding tank; the others appear to be true Nassarius snails with either smooth, ivory shells or darker, wrinkled shells)
Looking over the Charm website, I found the snail Telasco velatus (now accepted as Nassarius velatus) which looks awfully similar to the "Ilyanassa obsoleta" I supposedly have. It appears to be a beneficial scavenger, so I returned the snail to the refugium of my main tank a few months ago.Here is my Eastern mudsnail (Ilyanassa obsoleta) which I received mixed up with Nassarius snails and removed from my main tank before it did any harm:
Nowadays, it hangs out in my 10 gallon holding tank at room temperature water (it naturally thrives in temperate regions) and I sporadically feed it bits of Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers.
I would go with Francois or Pepe...Mini update:
After moving all residents of the holding tank into the Anti-Reef, I converted the former into a 10-gallon quarantine tank on 6/8/2022.
Equipment:
- Aqueon 10-gallon Standard (purchased way back in 2011; the thermometer sticker is dead)
- Artificial turf (cushion)
- Old furniture
- MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia 1 1/2” Spheres (pre-seeded)
- AquaClear 50 Biomax (pre-seeded)
- AquaClear 50 Foam
- AquaClear 50
- Eheim Jager 50 Watts
- AQUANEAT 1 Pack Aquarium Thermometer
- H2Pro 20" Glass Canopy
- Instant Ocean Full Range Hydrometer
- Seachem Prime 50mL
- Blue PVC elbow
- Weco Marine Pro Green Giant Kelp 6"
- Weco Marine Pro Red Giant Kelp 6"
No equipment is being shared between the Anti-Reef and the Quarantine.
Fish were later introduced on 6/15/2022, the first fish I have purchased since 2014! These fish were from Aquatic Collection in Hayward, California, a great store in my opinion!
PraziPro treatment lasted for the recommended 12 days. Copper Power (around 2.4 ppm)/Metroplex treatment is ongoing and should end at the beginning of August.
On 7/3/2022, two PVC crosses were purchased.
Inhabitants:
"Feo" the tail-spot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) generally hangs out near the blue PVC and is very camera shy, though ventures out to scrape algae off the glass when no one is looking. Probably is a male as he has streamers on his caudal fin:
"Queen Uronema" the blue-green chromis (Chromis viridis), who does not appear to have Uronema, is the boss of the tank and the most aggressive eater. At night, she rests in the branches of the artificial macroalgae. Probably a female, since she was the largest in her school at the aquarium store.
This blue reef chromis (Chromis cyanea) used to get chased around by "Queen Uronema," though this now occurs less frequently. When initially introduced, "Queen Uronema" and the blue reef chromis swam together, though this no longer occurs unless they are spooked by my camera or a flashlight. Does anyone have any name suggestions for this fish?
I would suggest Jeff II after the murder.Mini update:
After moving all residents of the holding tank into the Anti-Reef, I converted the former into a 10-gallon quarantine tank on 6/8/2022.
Equipment:
- Aqueon 10-gallon Standard (purchased way back in 2011; the thermometer sticker is dead)
- Artificial turf (cushion)
- Old furniture
- MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia 1 1/2” Spheres (pre-seeded)
- AquaClear 50 Biomax (pre-seeded)
- AquaClear 50 Foam
- AquaClear 50
- Eheim Jager 50 Watts
- AQUANEAT 1 Pack Aquarium Thermometer
- H2Pro 20" Glass Canopy
- Instant Ocean Full Range Hydrometer
- Seachem Prime 50mL
- Blue PVC elbow
- Weco Marine Pro Green Giant Kelp 6"
- Weco Marine Pro Red Giant Kelp 6"
No equipment is being shared between the Anti-Reef and the Quarantine.
Fish were later introduced on 6/15/2022, the first fish I have purchased since 2014! These fish were from Aquatic Collection in Hayward, California, a great store in my opinion!
PraziPro treatment lasted for the recommended 12 days. Copper Power (around 2.4 ppm)/Metroplex treatment is ongoing and should end at the beginning of August.
On 7/3/2022, two PVC crosses were purchased.
Inhabitants:
"Feo" the tail-spot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) generally hangs out near the blue PVC and is very camera shy, though ventures out to scrape algae off the glass when no one is looking. Probably is a male as he has streamers on his caudal fin:
"Queen Uronema" the blue-green chromis (Chromis viridis), who does not appear to have Uronema, is the boss of the tank and the most aggressive eater. At night, she rests in the branches of the artificial macroalgae. Probably a female, since she was the largest in her school at the aquarium store.
This blue reef chromis (Chromis cyanea) used to get chased around by "Queen Uronema," though this now occurs less frequently. When initially introduced, "Queen Uronema" and the blue reef chromis swam together, though this no longer occurs unless they are spooked by my camera or a flashlight. Does anyone have any name suggestions for this fish?
Remember that inconsequentially small piece of Chaetomorpha (which I assume is Chaetomorpha spiralis)? Well, it got knocked into more direct light at some point and turned into a beast... which I sold to Aquatic Collection on 6/7/2022:Hitchhiker Chaetomorpha on the roll!
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