Dan's planted 120g seahorse tank

[TikiDan]

it is still maturing but it already look better than any other tank I have had :)
I started planning this tank in February as an SPS tank but I was lead to the dark side. Thanks again Bluenassarius and Redmangrove :)

I will start from when I added water to now. if you want to see the whole build, click the little red house.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_5991.jpg

got the first macro planted in the sand bed on 4/13/08
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6186.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6188.jpg

After moving everything over from my 34 gallon
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/4-16a.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/4-16c.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6195.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/4-16b.jpg

[midna]

following with interest

[TikiDan]

It's been a few days now, and temps are pretty stable between 71 and 73 degrees with a 6 hour light cycle and fans. I have some time until I can afford my chiller but the fans seem like they will do the trick until summer gets closer.

[TikiDan]

Here is the update for today

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6254.jpg

[TikiDan]

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6244.jpg

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Dude, love the sea-grass look of the sand. Very nice.

[TikiDan]

thanks! It will look even better when it fills in like a grassy field :)

[TikiDan]

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/5-6-08.jpg

here is a shot from today to show the grass growth.

[jcgso]

What kind of grass is it?

[TikiDan]

I used caleurpa prolifera because that was all I could find. If I find enough turtle grass I will switch it all out though.

[jcgso]

I did the same thing in my seahorse tank, since I couldn't locate any true sea grass. the prolifera really grows fast!

[TikiDan]

Full Tank Shot
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/FTS5-21.jpg


I picked up this little piece of red macro. Not sure what it is but it looks cool!
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/RedMacro.jpg



One of my females
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/reidifemale.jpg

[Diatome]

The red algae is called Red Titan, at least that is what they call it at reefcleaners.org. I do have some in my display and it is actually attractive and doesn't grow out of hand. Probably would be good for the horses as I see pods run across it and it's like serving them up on a plate for my fish.

[Samala]

Looks like things are growing in nicely. The Caulerpa may appreciate a little longer photoperiod.. but I certainly understand the heat battles. :)

>Sarah

[TikiDan]

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/HorseInTheGrass.jpg

Got a pic of one hanging out looking for pods :)

[TikiDan]

Here is the shot from today. Picked up some new bulbs, it is pretty yellow but it is toning down a little. Also added a 54 watt actinic T5.

My old bulbs were pushing 2 years old :) So I thought it was about time. Got 2 10k ushios from Pacific Garden supply.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/5-31FTS.jpg

[TikiDan]

here are two shots to show growth of the grass.

the first is from 4-13-08
the second is from 5-31-08

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6188.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/5-31RS.jpg

[Toglco]

Nice before/after pics, looks like the tank is coming along really nicely :)

[TikiDan]

took some new pics today :)

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6494.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6485.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6483.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6473.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6468.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6462.jpg

[rivoth]

Your tank is fleshing out very nicely TikiDan. You have a really attractive cross section of marine life there.

[johnmaloney]

Cool tank! Can't believe I haven't seen this until now. It does look like one of the titanophora sp., telling the difference between species in that genus can be difficult though without a microscope.

[Bluespot22]

looks like your male is pregnant. Are you going to try to raise them?

[TikiDan]

i don't have room for another tank or time to raise them right now. I might raise some eventually, but not any time soon.

[TikiDan]

well I decided to open up my landscape so i could have some more room to plant seagrass. Not completely happy yet but its a start.

Before:

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/5-31FTS.jpg

After:

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6582.jpg

[TikiDan]

Progress photos!

4-13-08
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6188.jpg

5-31-08
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/5-31RS.jpg

7-21-08
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6597.jpg

[TikiDan]

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6603.jpg

[sweetleaf]

This is a bloody awesome tank.

I have to say, I like the rearrangment, it will look really cool filled out. Are you going to transplant the grass to the new spots, or just let it slowly spread? And how high will that macro-algea grow?

[TikiDan]

the Caulerpa Prolifera that is there wont get much taller than it is. I plan on ordering a bunch of seagrass of the web and will replace all of the macro algae on the sand with vascular plants. But before I can do that I need to add another 3 inches of sand so that the roots have somewhere to go.

[GoblinFish]

is there any online vendor that has this caleurpa prolifera or the Sea grass that you are looking for? I really like the look of it!

Great tank!

[TikiDan]

not sure about online vendors, check with your local club and see if anyone has it growing in their fuge.

[GoblinFish]

Where are u ordering the seagrass from?

[gsxunv04]

looking good, seahorse tanks are awesome!

[TikiDan]

Hooray! I just added 60 LBS. of sand! Now in a few weeks I can place an order for some seagrass!

[TikiDan]

After talking to a few members I decided to take out even more rock to make room for the seagrass. here are before, and after pics of the transformation my rock work has gone through.

3-25-08

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_5975.jpg



5-21-08

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/FTS5-21.jpg


7-21-08

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/_MG_6582.jpg


7-28-08

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/7-28FTS.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/rocks.jpg


And here is the Sandbed :)
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/DSB.jpg

[Bluespot22]

Lookin' good. Did your male ever give birth?

[TikiDan]

if it did, It got knocked up again the same day :)

[TikiDan]

Got a few leaves of Halophilia decipiens, Only about 4 runners though, so I hope it grows in pretty quick

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/HalophilaD.jpg

[TikiDan]

Full tanks shot

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/FTS8-7-08.jpg

[CoralKingdom]

very nice. THat's the good thing about that plant, it grows so fast!

[CNoonan]

Wow this aquarium is awesome.

Are you adding anything to help this stuff grow out?

[TikiDan]

I actually pulled out all of the caulerpa and will be putting in bunches of sea grass in there when i get off work :) will post pics on friday

[CNoonan]

Where did you get the sea grass from?

Dibs to buy some when you're ready to get rid of some!

[TikiDan]

I just finished planting the sea grass!!!! Tanks a little cloudy so I will double check to make sure the roots are all buried in the morning and then I will take pictures!!!

Here's a teaser for you guys.... a little blurry and cloudy but it will bring you back for more!!! :)

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/Newgrasscopy.jpg

[GoblinFish]

Looking good! Keep the pics coming!

[TikiDan]

Here is the long awaited Update!

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/Grass.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/Rightside.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/new%20120g/FTS8-15.jpg

[CoralKingdom]

lookin good

[sunfishh]

Your tank is awesome :)

[k9asia]

Been a long time. How is the tank doing?

[wastememphis]

Just found this thread... awesome tank! What are you using for flow in the tank??

[TikiDan]

Well....Unfortunately, i had to take to tank down. I recently moved into a new place and couldn't bring the 120. I have the plans for a planted 60g in the future but not sure when it will come to reality.

[TikiDan]

as for the flow, i had a vortech in the back middle of the tank set to lagoon mode. For the return i had a 700gph eheim split into 4 locklines to spread the flow out for the ponies.

[tyler_hamilton]

WHERE DO YOU BUY YOUR SEA GRASS??

[Travisxrs05]

It was such an amazing tank, sorry that it had to come down would have loved to see the progression of the sea grass. What ever happened to the horses???

[TikiDan]

Not sure if I can post the name of the company I got the grass from so I will PM it to you.
The ponies were sold to a local breeder for a good price in hopes that I can purchase some from him in the future.

[HighlandReefer]

I love the tank setup. Thanks for sharing. ;)