Macro Algae Tank Journal (dialup Warning)

The_Wonderboy · #1 10/20/2007, 05:43 AM

I decided to put a journal on this forum too for the ineterest of others, so without furthur ado, I'll be keeping a planted marine aquarium - it will be aquascaped to the best of my ability from my previous learning of creating natural freshwater planted tanks. So - here is everything from September 14th to present:

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The tank I'll be using is an ADA 120p cube garden. It's aprx 70ish gallons.
I'll be using the Tek light 4 bulb 48" fixture.
Bulbs will be:
1 Geisman 11000K, 1 Giesman Actinic+, 1 6700K, and 1 10000K
The filter will be a fluval 405
(2) Koralia 1s for water movement/aeration.
Skimmer = Remora
The aquarium was previously setup for CO2, so, with research, I will continue it's function on this setup.
I put about 80 lbs of live rock in the tank last night with a 120 lbs of substrate (Caribsea Bahama Oolite).
The substrate is 6-8" deep in the back and aprx 2-3" in front...
I also have a Jebo 36W inline uv sterelizer and a Hydor inline 300W heater wich may or maynot be needed.

Please visit this link so you can better visualize the equipment and customizations to this setup:
This is when the system was being used for freshwater

This is a link to the beginning of the saltwater setup I've had for a few months now: LINK!
This was the system that turned me on to marine planted because of that top seahorse tank.

And the picture of the brand spankin' new ADA saltwater setup:

The_Wonderboy · #2 10/20/2007, 05:45 AM

Here is the next update - right around Oct 10th-ish:

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I've been busy, but here's the latest:

[img width=850 height=637]http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7119/1001962rm3.jpg[/img]

Here's some of the macroalgaes ("plants") I've aquired so far:

(Red grape - Botryocladia)

(No idea)

(Sponge algae - Codium)

(Feather Algae -Caulerpa Floridana)

(Wish I knew what this was)

(No idea...)

(Mushroom Algae - Caulerpa Racemosa var. Peltata and Scroll Algae)

(Red Mangrove Tree)

Other macros/plants include: assorted halimeda, blade caulerpa, schoal grass, and a sort of broad leaf kelp...

The_Wonderboy · #3 10/20/2007, 05:46 AM

Now for the inhabitants:

(Pulsing Xenia - Red Sea Var.)

(Fromia Sp. Starfish)

(Dragonface Pipefish)

(Lettuce Nudibranch)

(Fire Shrimp)

(Banded High-fin Goby with Randalli Pistol Shrimp)

Other inhabitants include: 2 assorted gorgonian, many snails, a few assorted feather dusters, 4 trimma gobies, 3 eviota sp. gobies, 4 total randalli pistol shrimp, 1 glass goby, 1 cleaner shrimp, and 2 court jester gobies.

The end...

...for now

The_Wonderboy · #4 10/20/2007, 05:49 AM

This is the update for Oct 16th:

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New stuff today!

(Fromia Sp. Starfish) x 1

(Double Tile Starfish) x 3

(Tiger Striped Goby - Tigrigobius tifasciatus) x 3

The_Wonderboy · #5 10/20/2007, 05:50 AM

Update for Oct 17th-18th-ish

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MORE STUFF TODAY!!!

(Blue-striped Pipefish) x 2

(Fridmani Pseudochromis) x 2 m/f

(Tail-Spot Blenny) x 1

And here's some pictures of stuff I've already told everyone I have:

(Trimma Goby)

(Mushroom Algae)

(Xenia)

(Tile Star)

(Eviota Goby)

Lettuce Nudibranch)

The_Wonderboy · #6 10/20/2007, 05:51 AM

Here's some shots of one of my five yellow rose gobies getting mad at the camera:

The_Wonderboy · #7 10/20/2007, 05:52 AM

More Fish that've been in the system fo a while:

(Court Jester Goby) x 2

(Yasha Goby) x 1

More shots:

(Yellow Roses)

The_Wonderboy · #8 10/20/2007, 05:53 AM

That's everything so far - I will keep updates!

red13miller · #9 10/20/2007, 04:03 PM

wow everything looks really good.... i want to see a full tank shot of it now

graveyardworm · #10 10/20/2007, 06:04 PM

The red one that says "(Wish I knew what this was)" , is likely Scinaia sp. The red fan one below it Gelidium sp.

Here's a site where some id's are possible. The algae page

or you can try algaebase.

Can you provide a little more info on the tile starfish?

Looks great BTW, cant wit to see more pics.

55gSW · #11 10/20/2007, 08:02 PM

Beautiful!! I'd love to see a full tank shot too!!!

The_Wonderboy · #12 10/21/2007, 02:24 AM

Here is more info on the Double Star as requested by graveyardworm:

Tile Star

And here is the full tank:

Here's the left half:

And Also the right half:

Bradly88 · #13 10/21/2007, 08:14 AM

Awesome! A bit of a different approach to the hobby! I like it!

The_Wonderboy · #14 10/21/2007, 02:54 PM

Thanks - That's the idea!

Jambi · #15 10/21/2007, 03:18 PM

wow that looks incredible! very interesting, and a very successful idea.

shilo_1 · #16 10/21/2007, 04:30 PM

Looks great ! I have a 65g setup at this time thats still pretty bare. I've been considering the same kind of idea as what you've done.....I like the natural look, maybe with some more colorful zoas added. Thanks for posting. Keep pics coming !

m2434 · #17 10/21/2007, 05:54 PM

Great diversity - well done! I love looking at macroalgae tanks such as this. I wish more people would post pics of them.

The_Wonderboy · #18 10/21/2007, 07:26 PM

Thanks Everyone!

Quote:

Originally posted by shilo_1
Looks great ! I have a 65g setup at this time thats still pretty bare. I've been considering the same kind of idea as what you've done.....I like the natural look, maybe with some more colorful zoas added. Thanks for posting. Keep pics coming !

Thanks - I'm afraid to add zoas because the algae may completely drown them out given time, especially if I don't stay on top of it...

The_Wonderboy · #19 10/21/2007, 09:14 PM

Also here's a recent addition:

ATO (Auto Top Off) system:

With a 20 gallon reserve underneath:

This is the float that controls the pump on/off:

It also has another float in the reserve tank to turn off the system before the pump will run dry. Cool stuff!

This new addition has improved the quality of my life ;D

rabidcrab · #20 10/21/2007, 09:22 PM

VERY COOL!!!!!!!!!

sunfishh · #21 10/21/2007, 11:34 PM

Your tank is awesome

The_Wonderboy · #22 10/22/2007, 03:02 AM

Thank you!

The_Wonderboy · #23 10/23/2007, 06:21 PM

Here's a new fish today:

(Multiband Pipefish - Doryrhamphus multiannulatus)

Also here is a new occurance:

Before this, the yasha did not have a shrimp - now he shares one with this yellow rose!

shilo_1 · #24 10/23/2007, 06:31 PM

Its neat that they share a hole.

Do you get your pipes locally or online ?

Plantbrain · #25 10/23/2007, 06:44 PM

Nice, has lots of potential.

You might add some C serrulata for a foreground weed.
Or Halophia etc if you can get it, the Caulpera ser is easy.

Be careful, as the biomass increases, so will growth rate and demand for nutrients, particularly Fe and NO3(2-3X a week). PO4 should be kept below 0.5, ideally less than 0.2 ppm and pulsed 1x a week or so.

One thing you need A LOT MORE OF: CURRENT

These plants live in areas with far more energy than anything if the FW tanks.

Keep up on the KH and the Ca.

You need to get rid of the less desirable green hair algae in there, toothbrush etc. Keep the tank clean(2-3x a week).

Add another 500-1000GPH wave flow etc in there.

These are surf and seagrass bed type plants, rarely over a few ft deep with good sized waves crashing.

Regards,
Tom Barr