Weeds - Page 58

Michael Hoaster · 06/14/2020, 07:31 PM

Today I did another water change, to hopefully get calcium levels down to the point that it won't precipitate on the grasses. I also pinched off all blades that were coated, so we're back to just green. It's thinned out but looks okay. I got a few pics.

vlangel · 06/16/2020, 04:51 PM

Loving these pics Michael! Thanks for sharing.

Michael Hoaster · 06/16/2020, 05:50 PM

Thanks Dawn! It's good to have something decent to show. I haven't forgotten about getting you the shoal grass. Sorry it's taking so long. With all the work just to get to this point has been a huge effort. Hang in there!

vlangel · 06/18/2020, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Thanks Dawn! It's good to have something decent to show. I haven't forgotten about getting you the shoal grass. Sorry it's taking so long. With all the work just to get to this point has been a huge effort. Hang in there!

It's fine Michael and no need to be sorry. Everyone is busy this time of year and I figured that you will get to it when you have time and I can be patient. I just appreciate you offering it.

I have your purple sponge ready to send as well.

Michael Hoaster · 06/26/2020, 11:57 AM

So I have seaweed on the way today, I think. It's taken a looong time. I ordered on June 6th. It's a new vendor for me, and like most online sites, they said orders will take longer, with the pandemic. But Jeez!

My biggest concern is how long have my weeds been sealed up in a box? I'm half expecting a bunch of green goo. We shall see! I'll report back…

vlangel · 06/26/2020, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

So I have seaweed on the way today, I think. It's taken a looong time. I ordered on June 6th. It's a new vendor for me, and like most online sites, they said orders will take longer, with the pandemic. But Jeez!

My biggest concern is how long have my weeds been sealed up in a box? I'm half expecting a bunch of green goo. We shall see! I'll report back…

Here's having fingers crossed that you do not get green goo!

Michael Hoaster · 06/26/2020, 01:32 PM

I waited 20 days and received the wrong seaweed. This is just unacceptable. No glowing review for this lame-@ss vender! I won't even mention their name. Did they think I wouldn't notice? Utterly disgusted…

ThePurple12 · 06/26/2020, 05:15 PM

Wow, that's disappointing. What did you order?

vlangel · 06/26/2020, 07:01 PM

Ahh, I am sorry Michael, that stinks!

Michael Hoaster · 06/30/2020, 07:16 AM

I ordered Ulva Intestinalis, they sent Ulva Lactuca. I informed them of the mistake, they say they will correct it. So now I guess I just wait.

Michael Hoaster · 07/12/2020, 08:36 PM

Dusk Lighting

vlangel · 07/13/2020, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Dusk Lighting

Cool effect!

Michael Hoaster · 07/13/2020, 05:48 PM

Thanks Dawn! I actually meant to get shots before the lights went out. But I was too late, so I took one with just the blue light still on.

ThePurple12 · 07/13/2020, 08:05 PM

Nice! Are those mangroves still growing? They might need some air eventually.

Michael Hoaster · 07/13/2020, 09:24 PM

Thanks ThePurple12! Yes, the mangroves are still growing. It is my hope they will eventually reach the surface and get some air. For now, they are soaking up nutrients from my yard dirt substrate. I was not willing to float them with styrofoam blocks or some other hideous temporary setup, in my display. So, they make it this way, or they don't. They seem to be doing pretty well, and growing slowly. I think I've had them for about a year now. I still don't know if they'll make it, but I've enjoyed having them.

Chasmodes · 07/14/2020, 07:41 AM

The tank looks fantastic. Thanks for the pics, love 'em. It's funny, you see the work that you need to do for and end goal, and we see a terrific tank as is

.

I love the dusk pic too!

Sorry for being away for a while. I've been in that same COVID funk for a while now. It's weird that I'm home more, but less motivated than before, and that's not good. I said something to my daughter, and now she's helping me by nagging me to do the things that I want to do that I've procrastinated on. LOL. It's a good thing, she's trying to help me.

Michael Hoaster · 07/14/2020, 08:43 AM

Thanks Kevin! So true about the covid funk. I'm around more, but way less motivated. Let's call it more hands-off. I'm just sort of steering the tank in a general direction, rather than trying to control it. I think the general direction is good, if a bit sloppy!

I'd love to have more help with algae, but I don't dare spend money on a Herald's Angelfish right now. I do have two mollies that are eating algae, but they are not quite enough. I guess on the plus side, one has turned into a male, so babies should be on the way at some point. A good brood of babies might make a dent in it - little eating machines!

Chasmodes · 07/14/2020, 06:14 PM

I hear ya... My wife was furloughed, so I know what it's like to pinch pennies. That has been a huge part of this covid funk. Kewl that one of your mollies changed sides

Michael Hoaster · 07/14/2020, 10:23 PM

Yeah, we get paid quarterly, and it's based on what we did a year ago. So we'll have to wait a year to see how bad it gets for us. I'm crossing my fingers and saving cash where I can. Sorry to hear your wife has been furloughed. Hopefully they'll bring her back soon.

This brings up the question of how to go forward with an aquarium in a pandemic/recession. I think I'll just work with what I've got and see how it goes. It'll be less about buying new stuff. With the mollies I at least have the chance to have more algae-eating fish, when they make babies. I love the way baby mollies look in the tank. It's interesting to watch how they get by, at the bottom of the fish totem pole. Try not to get eaten, swim, eat and grow.

Over the weekend I did another water change and algae export. I've gotten more calcium deposits on the grasses! And I had pruned them all down to green, so its all new deposits. I've even gotten some Halimeda plants popping up from the live rock. It's calcium soup! I've still got some ugly algae too. I keep pruning it back, and gradually the Caulerpa overgrows it.

I've heard some encouraging news from the online seller that sent me the wrong plant. He says he's got some of the plant I ordered now. So maybe I'll have it some time in the future. Woo!

Michael Hoaster · 07/23/2020, 09:56 AM

Well, my month and half long experience with a new online plant vender has ended. After another two weeks of no progress, I emailed them last night and asked them to send me the plant or a refund. I have been refunded, which is the bright spot of an otherwise awful experience.

Probably the most frustrating thing is that the whole debacle could have been avoided if they simply posted on their site that the plant was sold out. Instead, they attempted to deceive me and send another plant, and then delay, while they attempted to grow what I ordered, without success.

Now I'll just put this behind me and look to the future. There are other, great venders out there, that I will continue to work with. Onward!

Michael Hoaster · 07/25/2020, 10:59 AM

I'm kind of on cruise control lately, with the Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon. I guess a lot of people are, this time of year.

Every few weeks I export yucky algae, and the good algae gradually takes its place. I've halted dosing to get nutrient levels down as well. So no CO2 and no ammonia is being added. These brought explosive growth, but now I have pretty good plant coverage, so now I'm trying to slow things down a bit. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I expect I'll have some caulerpa melt-downs, which are no big deal in this kind of tank. Ideally, lowered nutrients will lead to more rapid decline of the unwanted algae.

The mollies seem to be in the midst of romance. Not sure if she's prego. She's not showing the obvious signs yet. It's just a matter to time. I'm really looking forward to having a new brood of babies. Also I'm curious what colors they will be. She's a solid white Silver, he's a mostly black Dalmation. I've yet to play the breeding fish genetics game, so this should be interesting. Mostly I just want more hungry algae eaters in the tank. Baby mollies eat constantly.

I'm still getting calcium deposits on the grasses. It's not as bad as before though. With my paying less attention to the tank lately, I hardly noticed that the grasses are doing really well! In fact the whole tank looks good. It's a bit shaggy in places but overall I'm happy!

What's next? Probably more cruise control. We're into prime mountain biking season, and I'm finally getting enough fitness to keep up with my buddies. Camping is less appealing lately, with most Americans staying in country these days, so it's been crowded. Once school starts it should get better.

If I can make time to clean the glass, I'll try to get some pics…

ThePurple12 · 07/25/2020, 01:04 PM

Nice to hear things are going well. Ever consider adding a carpet anemone or pocillopora colony right in the middle of the grass? I've seen things like that snorkeling in Guam.

Michael Hoaster · 07/25/2020, 01:23 PM

Thanks ThePurple12! I had a nice purple Condylactis Gigantea anemone in v1. No interest in corals for this tank, though I'd like to do a bommie of Stylophora one day. For this tank I wanted to have a more singular focus - on plants. This way there is less compromise and I can give the plants whatever they want. What you are doing with plants and corals in the same tank is more challenging, and I'm not confident I'm up to that yet. Someday!

Lately, I have been interested in exactly what you described - a coral colony in the middle of a seagrass meadow. Maybe that will be v3!

vlangel · 07/26/2020, 05:39 PM

Wow, thinking of v3? Your mind must never stop.

ThePurple12 · 07/26/2020, 05:55 PM

I look forward to seeing it!

06/14/2020, 07:31 PM	#1426
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Today I did another water change, to hopefully get calcium levels down to the point that it won't precipitate on the grasses. I also pinched off all blades that were coated, so we're back to just green. It's thinned out but looks okay. I got a few pics. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

06/16/2020, 04:51 PM	#1427
vlangel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,409	Loving these pics Michael! Thanks for sharing. __________________ Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump.

06/16/2020, 05:50 PM	#1428
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks Dawn! It's good to have something decent to show. I haven't forgotten about getting you the shoal grass. Sorry it's taking so long. With all the work just to get to this point has been a huge effort. Hang in there! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

06/26/2020, 11:57 AM	#1430
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	So I have seaweed on the way today, I think. It's taken a looong time. I ordered on June 6th. It's a new vendor for me, and like most online sites, they said orders will take longer, with the pandemic. But Jeez! My biggest concern is how long have my weeds been sealed up in a box? I'm half expecting a bunch of green goo. We shall see! I'll report back… __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

06/26/2020, 01:32 PM	#1432
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	I waited 20 days and received the wrong seaweed. This is just unacceptable. No glowing review for this lame-@ss vender! I won't even mention their name. Did they think I wouldn't notice? Utterly disgusted… __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

06/26/2020, 05:15 PM	#1433
ThePurple12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia Posts: 506	Wow, that's disappointing. What did you order?

06/26/2020, 07:01 PM	#1434
vlangel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,409	Ahh, I am sorry Michael, that stinks! __________________ Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump.

06/30/2020, 07:16 AM	#1435
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	I ordered Ulva Intestinalis, they sent Ulva Lactuca. I informed them of the mistake, they say they will correct it. So now I guess I just wait. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/12/2020, 08:36 PM	#1436
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Dusk Lighting __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/13/2020, 05:48 PM	#1438
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks Dawn! I actually meant to get shots before the lights went out. But I was too late, so I took one with just the blue light still on. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/13/2020, 08:05 PM	#1439
ThePurple12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia Posts: 506	Nice! Are those mangroves still growing? They might need some air eventually.

07/13/2020, 09:24 PM	#1440
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks ThePurple12! Yes, the mangroves are still growing. It is my hope they will eventually reach the surface and get some air. For now, they are soaking up nutrients from my yard dirt substrate. I was not willing to float them with styrofoam blocks or some other hideous temporary setup, in my display. So, they make it this way, or they don't. They seem to be doing pretty well, and growing slowly. I think I've had them for about a year now. I still don't know if they'll make it, but I've enjoyed having them. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/14/2020, 07:41 AM	#1441
Chasmodes Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,322	The tank looks fantastic. Thanks for the pics, love 'em. It's funny, you see the work that you need to do for and end goal, and we see a terrific tank as is . I love the dusk pic too! Sorry for being away for a while. I've been in that same COVID funk for a while now. It's weird that I'm home more, but less motivated than before, and that's not good. I said something to my daughter, and now she's helping me by nagging me to do the things that I want to do that I've procrastinated on. LOL. It's a good thing, she's trying to help me. __________________ Blennies Rock! --Kevin Wilson Current Tank Info: 101g 3'X3'X18" Cubish Oyster Reef Blenny tank, 36"X17"X18" sump

07/14/2020, 08:43 AM	#1442
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks Kevin! So true about the covid funk. I'm around more, but way less motivated. Let's call it more hands-off. I'm just sort of steering the tank in a general direction, rather than trying to control it. I think the general direction is good, if a bit sloppy! I'd love to have more help with algae, but I don't dare spend money on a Herald's Angelfish right now. I do have two mollies that are eating algae, but they are not quite enough. I guess on the plus side, one has turned into a male, so babies should be on the way at some point. A good brood of babies might make a dent in it - little eating machines! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/14/2020, 06:14 PM	#1443
Chasmodes Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,322	I hear ya... My wife was furloughed, so I know what it's like to pinch pennies. That has been a huge part of this covid funk. Kewl that one of your mollies changed sides __________________ Blennies Rock! --Kevin Wilson Current Tank Info: 101g 3'X3'X18" Cubish Oyster Reef Blenny tank, 36"X17"X18" sump

07/14/2020, 10:23 PM	#1444
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Yeah, we get paid quarterly, and it's based on what we did a year ago. So we'll have to wait a year to see how bad it gets for us. I'm crossing my fingers and saving cash where I can. Sorry to hear your wife has been furloughed. Hopefully they'll bring her back soon. This brings up the question of how to go forward with an aquarium in a pandemic/recession. I think I'll just work with what I've got and see how it goes. It'll be less about buying new stuff. With the mollies I at least have the chance to have more algae-eating fish, when they make babies. I love the way baby mollies look in the tank. It's interesting to watch how they get by, at the bottom of the fish totem pole. Try not to get eaten, swim, eat and grow. Over the weekend I did another water change and algae export. I've gotten more calcium deposits on the grasses! And I had pruned them all down to green, so its all new deposits. I've even gotten some Halimeda plants popping up from the live rock. It's calcium soup! I've still got some ugly algae too. I keep pruning it back, and gradually the Caulerpa overgrows it. I've heard some encouraging news from the online seller that sent me the wrong plant. He says he's got some of the plant I ordered now. So maybe I'll have it some time in the future. Woo! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/23/2020, 09:56 AM	#1445
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Well, my month and half long experience with a new online plant vender has ended. After another two weeks of no progress, I emailed them last night and asked them to send me the plant or a refund. I have been refunded, which is the bright spot of an otherwise awful experience. Probably the most frustrating thing is that the whole debacle could have been avoided if they simply posted on their site that the plant was sold out. Instead, they attempted to deceive me and send another plant, and then delay, while they attempted to grow what I ordered, without success. Now I'll just put this behind me and look to the future. There are other, great venders out there, that I will continue to work with. Onward! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/25/2020, 10:59 AM	#1446
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	I'm kind of on cruise control lately, with the Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon. I guess a lot of people are, this time of year. Every few weeks I export yucky algae, and the good algae gradually takes its place. I've halted dosing to get nutrient levels down as well. So no CO2 and no ammonia is being added. These brought explosive growth, but now I have pretty good plant coverage, so now I'm trying to slow things down a bit. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I expect I'll have some caulerpa melt-downs, which are no big deal in this kind of tank. Ideally, lowered nutrients will lead to more rapid decline of the unwanted algae. The mollies seem to be in the midst of romance. Not sure if she's prego. She's not showing the obvious signs yet. It's just a matter to time. I'm really looking forward to having a new brood of babies. Also I'm curious what colors they will be. She's a solid white Silver, he's a mostly black Dalmation. I've yet to play the breeding fish genetics game, so this should be interesting. Mostly I just want more hungry algae eaters in the tank. Baby mollies eat constantly. I'm still getting calcium deposits on the grasses. It's not as bad as before though. With my paying less attention to the tank lately, I hardly noticed that the grasses are doing really well! In fact the whole tank looks good. It's a bit shaggy in places but overall I'm happy! What's next? Probably more cruise control. We're into prime mountain biking season, and I'm finally getting enough fitness to keep up with my buddies. Camping is less appealing lately, with most Americans staying in country these days, so it's been crowded. Once school starts it should get better. If I can make time to clean the glass, I'll try to get some pics… __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/25/2020, 01:04 PM	#1447
ThePurple12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia Posts: 506	Nice to hear things are going well. Ever consider adding a carpet anemone or pocillopora colony right in the middle of the grass? I've seen things like that snorkeling in Guam.

07/25/2020, 01:23 PM	#1448
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks ThePurple12! I had a nice purple Condylactis Gigantea anemone in v1. No interest in corals for this tank, though I'd like to do a bommie of Stylophora one day. For this tank I wanted to have a more singular focus - on plants. This way there is less compromise and I can give the plants whatever they want. What you are doing with plants and corals in the same tank is more challenging, and I'm not confident I'm up to that yet. Someday! Lately, I have been interested in exactly what you described - a coral colony in the middle of a seagrass meadow. Maybe that will be v3! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/26/2020, 05:39 PM	#1449
vlangel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,409	Wow, thinking of v3? Your mind must never stop. __________________ Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump.

07/26/2020, 05:55 PM	#1450
ThePurple12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia Posts: 506	I look forward to seeing it!