Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank - Page 8

Michael Hoaster · 09/23/2014, 07:20 AM

Thanks, Karim and JLynn. Oh well. It was an interesting thought. My main aim was to get an 'easy' carbon source for the grasses, which I don't think I'd get with this idea…

It's been 3 days since I started filling the tank, and it's only one third filled! It's looking like it's going to take 10 days, which would be fine, except I've got seagrasses, macros and pods on the way! They'll be here tomorrow, so I'm adding salt to the water I've got in there. Not an ideal situation, but if I keep my head on straight, I think it'll be okay.

saltwater sam · 09/23/2014, 08:09 AM

If you really needed to, you could pick up a few jugs of RO water from a grocery store. That would speed your filling if you run out of time!

Michael Hoaster · 09/23/2014, 09:05 AM

Saltwater Sam, that occurred to me as well. It's a 240 gallon tank, so I'd need a lot! Maybe I'll wait until it's close to filling, then I could top it off with store-bought water.

saltwater sam · 09/23/2014, 09:38 AM

240 gal sw planted tank, that's just fantastic man. I can't wait until you got her up and running.

Michael Hoaster · 09/23/2014, 10:40 AM

Thanks, Sam. I ran to the store and picked up five 2.5 gal jugs of distilled water, and added it to my tank. Checked salinity and added more salt.

And then the UPS man arrived! He brought the six turtle grass shoots/propagules. So right now I'm floating the bag to equalize temps. I think rather than plant them right away, I'll just let them out of the bag and into the water for a day or so. At least until the water clears up, so I can see what I'm doing.

JLynn · 09/23/2014, 12:31 PM

Yay! This so exciting! I can't wait to see everything planted. Pics or it didn't happen.

Michael Hoaster · 09/23/2014, 12:41 PM

I'm excited too! The Turtle Grass is in, but not planted. They're just sitting on the sand. Oh, there will be pics! Probably tomorrow when I get the other grasses and macros. Not much to show right now, but about a foot of cloudy water.

It's funny how everything went so slowly for so long. Now everything's moving quickly! Except for the ro/di…

karimwassef · 09/23/2014, 04:47 PM

Call a water company. They can deliver RO water in 5 gallon jugs. Believe me, you won't be the first aquarium 'nut job' to call them with a 200gallon request. It will likely cost you $100 though.

Michael Hoaster · 09/23/2014, 05:23 PM

Not a bad idea, but I'm trying to keep costs down. Delivery costs up here in the foothills above Boulder are insane.

I think this will work, letting my ro/di do its thing. Might even be easier to plant with the lower water level. I should be fine…

MorganAtlanta · 09/23/2014, 06:32 PM

Do you have a URL for Florida Pets? Google isn't turning up anything for me.

Michael Hoaster · 09/23/2014, 06:48 PM

Sure:

http://floridapets.tripod.com/index.htm#.VCIUXxwfqHd

That's weird though, huh?

Michael Hoaster · 09/24/2014, 01:19 PM

Yet another lousy pic! Hopefully, you can see the turtle grass propagules. The other grasses, macros and pods came today. I'm floating them now.

It occurres to me that maybe I ought to get the lighting in place!

JLynn · 09/24/2014, 03:15 PM

Yep, I can see them. They look comically tiny compared to the space allotted to them! And, yeah, you should definitely rig up the lighting, and give that grass some food. It will definitely need it to grow enough to fill up all that space!

Michael Hoaster · 09/24/2014, 05:45 PM

Here come the plants! Lights are on the way.

Michael Hoaster · 09/24/2014, 05:48 PM

Loving the red macros!

JLynn · 09/24/2014, 06:38 PM

Indeed. Red macros are probably my favorite, next to blue macros.

Michael Hoaster · 09/24/2014, 11:40 PM

I got the grasses planted and my metal halide online, ready to light the tank in the am! Now I better get some sleep…

karimwassef · 09/25/2014, 06:11 AM

Root looks awesome, by the way.

Michael Hoaster · 09/25/2014, 06:59 AM

Thanks, Karim. I look forward to getting them colonized with all kinds of stuff. Also, can't wait to see how the powerhead hidden within it works, once the tank is filled! Right now I've got two bubblers going, for water movement.

karimwassef · 09/25/2014, 10:13 AM

Are you seeding with pods?

Michael Hoaster · 09/25/2014, 10:50 AM

Yep. Got 2 bags in there. If the water clears up enough, I'll try to get a decent pic today.

Michael Hoaster · 09/25/2014, 04:38 PM

More pics!

Michael Hoaster · 09/25/2014, 07:04 PM

And more pics!

Michael Hoaster · 09/25/2014, 07:14 PM

So, I went ahead and 'planted' the red macro algae. It's amazingly beautiful!

I still can't get very good shots, with the cloudiness, but it's good to record the early history of the tank.

I must say, I was very impressed with the plants from Gulf Coast Ecosystems, Florida Pets and Live Aquaria. It's just amazing the quality of SW plants available to anyone right now.

JLynn · 09/25/2014, 07:36 PM

It is amazing. I would love to see a larger variety of macro algae become available to us, but what we can get, we can get very high quality specimens of.

What is the clumpy green species of algae you currently have in the seagrass section? It looks almost like really tightly bunched chaeto.

09/23/2014, 07:20 AM	#176
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks, Karim and JLynn. Oh well. It was an interesting thought. My main aim was to get an 'easy' carbon source for the grasses, which I don't think I'd get with this idea… It's been 3 days since I started filling the tank, and it's only one third filled! It's looking like it's going to take 10 days, which would be fine, except I've got seagrasses, macros and pods on the way! They'll be here tomorrow, so I'm adding salt to the water I've got in there. Not an ideal situation, but if I keep my head on straight, I think it'll be okay. __________________ 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

09/23/2014, 08:09 AM	#177
saltwater sam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota Posts: 553	If you really needed to, you could pick up a few jugs of RO water from a grocery store. That would speed your filling if you run out of time! __________________ It's not too much to brag about if your fish can eat someone else's fish, but if your fish can eat somebody's dog, now thats an accomplishment! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon SW mangrove/macro planted tank

09/23/2014, 09:05 AM	#178
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Saltwater Sam, that occurred to me as well. It's a 240 gallon tank, so I'd need a lot! Maybe I'll wait until it's close to filling, then I could top it off with store-bought water. __________________ 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

09/23/2014, 09:38 AM	#179
saltwater sam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota Posts: 553	240 gal sw planted tank, that's just fantastic man. I can't wait until you got her up and running. __________________ It's not too much to brag about if your fish can eat someone else's fish, but if your fish can eat somebody's dog, now thats an accomplishment! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon SW mangrove/macro planted tank

09/23/2014, 10:40 AM	#180
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks, Sam. I ran to the store and picked up five 2.5 gal jugs of distilled water, and added it to my tank. Checked salinity and added more salt. And then the UPS man arrived! He brought the six turtle grass shoots/propagules. So right now I'm floating the bag to equalize temps. I think rather than plant them right away, I'll just let them out of the bag and into the water for a day or so. At least until the water clears up, so I can see what I'm doing. __________________ 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

09/23/2014, 12:31 PM	#181
JLynn Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 291	Yay! This so exciting! I can't wait to see everything planted. Pics or it didn't happen.

09/23/2014, 12:41 PM	#182
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	I'm excited too! The Turtle Grass is in, but not planted. They're just sitting on the sand. Oh, there will be pics! Probably tomorrow when I get the other grasses and macros. Not much to show right now, but about a foot of cloudy water. It's funny how everything went so slowly for so long. Now everything's moving quickly! Except for the ro/di… __________________ 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

09/23/2014, 04:47 PM	#183
karimwassef Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 11,033	Call a water company. They can deliver RO water in 5 gallon jugs. Believe me, you won't be the first aquarium 'nut job' to call them with a 200gallon request. It will likely cost you $100 though.

09/23/2014, 05:23 PM	#184
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Not a bad idea, but I'm trying to keep costs down. Delivery costs up here in the foothills above Boulder are insane. I think this will work, letting my ro/di do its thing. Might even be easier to plant with the lower water level. I should be fine… __________________ 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

09/23/2014, 06:32 PM	#185
MorganAtlanta Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 146	Do you have a URL for Florida Pets? Google isn't turning up anything for me.

09/23/2014, 06:48 PM	#186
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Sure: http://floridapets.tripod.com/index.htm#.VCIUXxwfqHd That's weird though, huh? __________________ 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

09/24/2014, 01:19 PM	#187
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Yet another lousy pic! Hopefully, you can see the turtle grass propagules. The other grasses, macros and pods came today. I'm floating them now. It occurres to me that maybe I ought to get the lighting in place! __________________ 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

09/24/2014, 03:15 PM	#188
JLynn Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 291	Yep, I can see them. They look comically tiny compared to the space allotted to them! And, yeah, you should definitely rig up the lighting, and give that grass some food. It will definitely need it to grow enough to fill up all that space!

09/24/2014, 05:45 PM	#189
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Here come the plants! Lights are on the way. __________________ 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

09/24/2014, 05:48 PM	#190
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Loving the red macros! __________________ 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

09/24/2014, 06:38 PM	#191
JLynn Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 291	Indeed. Red macros are probably my favorite, next to blue macros.

09/24/2014, 11:40 PM	#192
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	I got the grasses planted and my metal halide online, ready to light the tank in the am! Now I better get some sleep… __________________ 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

09/25/2014, 06:11 AM	#193
karimwassef Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 11,033	Root looks awesome, by the way.

09/25/2014, 06:59 AM	#194
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Thanks, Karim. I look forward to getting them colonized with all kinds of stuff. Also, can't wait to see how the powerhead hidden within it works, once the tank is filled! Right now I've got two bubblers going, for water movement. __________________ 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

09/25/2014, 10:13 AM	#195
karimwassef Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 11,033	Are you seeding with pods?

09/25/2014, 10:50 AM	#196
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Yep. Got 2 bags in there. If the water clears up enough, I'll try to get a decent pic today. __________________ 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

09/25/2014, 04:38 PM	#197
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	More 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

09/25/2014, 07:04 PM	#198
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	And more 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

09/25/2014, 07:14 PM	#199
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	So, I went ahead and 'planted' the red macro algae. It's amazingly beautiful! I still can't get very good shots, with the cloudiness, but it's good to record the early history of the tank. I must say, I was very impressed with the plants from Gulf Coast Ecosystems, Florida Pets and Live Aquaria. It's just amazing the quality of SW plants available to anyone right now. __________________ 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

09/25/2014, 07:36 PM	#200
JLynn Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 291	It is amazing. I would love to see a larger variety of macro algae become available to us, but what we can get, we can get very high quality specimens of. What is the clumpy green species of algae you currently have in the seagrass section? It looks almost like really tightly bunched chaeto.