Nocturnal reef

KafudaFish · 05/18/2006, 10:21 AM

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this but.....

Has anyone ever kept a "nocturnal reef"? I thought of this because I have always been interested in nocturnal behavior and I am suffering from insomnia right row so many thoughts pass through my head. Also because moon lights are so popular it would be a simple thing to do.
If I attempted this design what species of fish and inverts are more nocturnal? I know squirrelfish are but any others? This would be in a 50 gal tank btw.
Any suggestions would be great.

Sk8r · 05/18/2006, 10:27 AM

Lps stonies are the corals for you: many change shape at night and send out sweeper tentacles (bubble, galaxia), open into anemones (candy cane) and generally feed at night, excepting the euphyllia, which close up. Snails are active at night and trochus put out additional feelers. A ghost eel is a night hunter (but fragile, and eats other fish).

KafudaFish · 05/18/2006, 10:32 AM

That does sound interesting. I probably do not have the proper lighting on my 50 (pc) but I could do it on my 95 with T5's. Any fish suggestions?

Travis L. Stevens · 05/18/2006, 10:34 AM

This would be very hard to do. Almost everything in the ocean that is active at night are predators. They hunt the peaceful fish while they sleep. And most othese guys get BIG. Requim Sharks for example are active at night. But also grow far too large for your average aquarium.

In short, is it possible to do it? Yes. Would it be ideal or look the way you wanted? Probably not. Would it be worth while? No, not really.

KafudaFish · 05/18/2006, 11:34 AM

There would have to be different species of fish, corals and other inverts that are active during the night. If you look at any night pictures on reefs there is activity. If I did a FOWLR then I would do predators.
I do not know what it would look like so I do not have a standard to compare it to therefore I probably would not be disappointed. This would be as much an experiment as anything else.
Why would it not be worth while? People keep all types of reef life that are extremely cryptic and inactive. I think seahorses are interesting due to their breeding behavior but really am not interested in keeping them.
So if it was worth while, what suggestions please?

Travis L. Stevens · 05/18/2006, 11:43 AM

Not worth it because you will go through a lot of stress of researching and attempting to find animals in the aquarium trade that are nocturnal. Then, you have to stay up late enough to see it all

I guess I should rephrase it as moderately worth it.

KafudaFish · 05/18/2006, 12:08 PM

No problem and did not take it in any negative way. This "idea" started because I am going through a round of insomnia and thought it might be relaxing to watch a reef at night rather than TV or looking here on RC until 6 am.
Travis are you the guy who made DIY rock with cement and rock salt?

Travis L. Stevens · 05/18/2006, 12:14 PM

Yes sir!

*stands tall and proud*

Just curious, but where did you hear about it? Find the thread yourself or refered to it?

KafudaFish · 05/18/2006, 01:03 PM

I read the thread myself a couple of weeks ago. I am interested in doing it on my 50 and my pico tank that I will set up. This way I can control the shapes rather than relying on the LFS.
It was 4 parts RS and 1 part cement right? Have you tried 3:1 for more strength. I would like to do a rock wall using this technique rather than piecing together a bunch of LR frags or buying cermic reef walls for $100+.
How much water, 1 part? Did you add the salt after you mixed the cement and water or all together at once.
Funny how you get off track on your own thread.

Travis L. Stevens · 05/18/2006, 01:53 PM

It's really eyeballed, I'll be honest. It's between 3:1 and 4:1. The RS and Cement are put in together, crudely mixed up, then water is added. I just add a little water. If it's too watery, I add cement. If it's too dry, I add water.

reefnewbie54321 · 05/18/2006, 01:58 PM

Tube anemones would be awesome! They light up the tank at night

KafudaFish · 05/18/2006, 04:20 PM

So they are bioluminescent? What requirements?

Paul B · 05/18/2006, 04:26 PM

As for your question, pinecone fish from Japan are really nice and noctural also flashlight fish, I never saw those for sale but I have seen pinecones. They may have to be ordered.
Paul

KafudaFish · 05/18/2006, 04:55 PM

I have seen pinecone fish at the Tennessee Aquarium and remember seeing a picture of them about 20 years ago. I have always thought they were interesting and I watched the pair for about 20 minutes. They are extremely passive and barely move. I doubt too many places would have flashflight fish available either. I can't see them as a high demand item.
Paul I have always enjoyed reading your posts and am glad to see you take the low tech. approach to the hobby such as your reverse UGF. I plan on doing that on my 50 when it is empty. I also like how you make PVC rocks.

Paul B · 05/18/2006, 05:01 PM

Quote:

I plan on doing that on my 50 when it is empty. I also like how you make PVC rocks.

Mike, it works better if you put water in the tank

Paul

Travis L. Stevens · 05/19/2006, 07:08 AM

If you really like the flashlight fish, www.liveaquaria.com used to sell them a few months ago. For all I know, they are still available

KafudaFish · 05/19/2006, 09:13 AM

Paul, true but if I was the first to invent a waterless reef aquarium and then market it I would make millions.
I could charge 10x the price of a water filled one.
Travis, yeah those would be cool to own. The price tag is scary though. They do list a few other species along with the flashlights so I will do some more research about them. Perhaps if I do this, I will post a thread and others will think it is pretty cool too.

daytonians · 05/22/2006, 04:20 PM

Just run a red light. Most sea creatures can't see it and act like they are in total darkness. It's really cool the stuff you will see: worms sending out feelers, sweeper tenticles, swimming pods and worms. It's really cool!!!!!!!

miracles38 · 05/23/2006, 05:01 PM

Bangaii cardinalfish are active at night.

geekreef_05 · 05/26/2006, 09:08 AM

There are plenty of inverts I only see around my tank at night. Both my Linkia and serpant sea star are only active at night. Same goes for my tiger tail cucumber. These are slow moving creatures, so they're not so entertaining.

My suggestion would be to simply change the light cycle of your reef. Turn the lights off during the day, and run then at night. If you home and cant sleep, that might help.

G/L to you. I know insomnia can be hard to deal with.

Dani Arnanz · 05/27/2006, 03:29 PM

IÃ‚Â´ve had a "Dark Reef", only with non-photosynthetic corals, and its really gorgeus, furthermore, in US its easier, here is imposible to get a dendrophyllia, and near to impossible to get a tubastrea diapahana or micrantha...

But I'm not suer if that is what you're looking for...

Dani

nathan_unsane · 05/30/2006, 10:28 AM

here is a list of nocternal fish:

Cardinalfish
Big Eyes
Soldierfish
Squirrelfish
Pinecone fish
Scorpionfish
Snappers
Eels
Sea bass and groupers
Flashlight fish
Many invertebrates including lobsters, shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans, mollusks, polychaete worms, and starfish
Polyps of many corals, such as Gorgonian, Torch coral, and Tubastrea

KafudaFish · 06/01/2006, 06:47 PM

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I was on vacation since the 24 and was suprised that the thread was still going. I still have ideas in my head and will continue working on it. Please keep the ideas coming folks.

jiggy · 06/01/2006, 10:10 PM

u could put a bunch of shrimp in there too.. they r active at night

05/18/2006, 10:21 AM	#1
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	Nocturnal reef I am not sure if this is the right place to post this but..... Has anyone ever kept a "nocturnal reef"? I thought of this because I have always been interested in nocturnal behavior and I am suffering from insomnia right row so many thoughts pass through my head. Also because moon lights are so popular it would be a simple thing to do. If I attempted this design what species of fish and inverts are more nocturnal? I know squirrelfish are but any others? This would be in a 50 gal tank btw. Any suggestions would be great.

05/18/2006, 10:27 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Lps stonies are the corals for you: many change shape at night and send out sweeper tentacles (bubble, galaxia), open into anemones (candy cane) and generally feed at night, excepting the euphyllia, which close up. Snails are active at night and trochus put out additional feelers. A ghost eel is a night hunter (but fragile, and eats other fish). __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/18/2006, 10:34 AM	#4
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	This would be very hard to do. Almost everything in the ocean that is active at night are predators. They hunt the peaceful fish while they sleep. And most othese guys get BIG. Requim Sharks for example are active at night. But also grow far too large for your average aquarium. In short, is it possible to do it? Yes. Would it be ideal or look the way you wanted? Probably not. Would it be worth while? No, not really. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

05/18/2006, 11:43 AM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Not worth it because you will go through a lot of stress of researching and attempting to find animals in the aquarium trade that are nocturnal. Then, you have to stay up late enough to see it all I guess I should rephrase it as moderately worth it. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

05/18/2006, 12:14 PM	#8
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Yes sir! stands tall and proud Just curious, but where did you hear about it? Find the thread yourself or refered to it? __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

05/18/2006, 10:32 AM	#3
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	That does sound interesting. I probably do not have the proper lighting on my 50 (pc) but I could do it on my 95 with T5's. Any fish suggestions?

05/18/2006, 11:34 AM	#5
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	There would have to be different species of fish, corals and other inverts that are active during the night. If you look at any night pictures on reefs there is activity. If I did a FOWLR then I would do predators. I do not know what it would look like so I do not have a standard to compare it to therefore I probably would not be disappointed. This would be as much an experiment as anything else. Why would it not be worth while? People keep all types of reef life that are extremely cryptic and inactive. I think seahorses are interesting due to their breeding behavior but really am not interested in keeping them. So if it was worth while, what suggestions please?

05/18/2006, 12:08 PM	#7
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	No problem and did not take it in any negative way. This "idea" started because I am going through a round of insomnia and thought it might be relaxing to watch a reef at night rather than TV or looking here on RC until 6 am. Travis are you the guy who made DIY rock with cement and rock salt?

05/18/2006, 01:03 PM	#9
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	I read the thread myself a couple of weeks ago. I am interested in doing it on my 50 and my pico tank that I will set up. This way I can control the shapes rather than relying on the LFS. It was 4 parts RS and 1 part cement right? Have you tried 3:1 for more strength. I would like to do a rock wall using this technique rather than piecing together a bunch of LR frags or buying cermic reef walls for $100+. How much water, 1 part? Did you add the salt after you mixed the cement and water or all together at once. Funny how you get off track on your own thread.

05/18/2006, 01:53 PM	#10
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It's really eyeballed, I'll be honest. It's between 3:1 and 4:1. The RS and Cement are put in together, crudely mixed up, then water is added. I just add a little water. If it's too watery, I add cement. If it's too dry, I add water. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

05/18/2006, 01:58 PM	#11
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	Tube anemones would be awesome! They light up the tank at night

05/18/2006, 04:20 PM	#12
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	So they are bioluminescent? What requirements?

05/18/2006, 04:26 PM	#13
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	As for your question, pinecone fish from Japan are really nice and noctural also flashlight fish, I never saw those for sale but I have seen pinecones. They may have to be ordered. Paul __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

05/18/2006, 04:55 PM	#14
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	I have seen pinecone fish at the Tennessee Aquarium and remember seeing a picture of them about 20 years ago. I have always thought they were interesting and I watched the pair for about 20 minutes. They are extremely passive and barely move. I doubt too many places would have flashflight fish available either. I can't see them as a high demand item. Paul I have always enjoyed reading your posts and am glad to see you take the low tech. approach to the hobby such as your reverse UGF. I plan on doing that on my 50 when it is empty. I also like how you make PVC rocks.

05/19/2006, 07:08 AM	#16
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	If you really like the flashlight fish, www.liveaquaria.com used to sell them a few months ago. For all I know, they are still available __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

05/19/2006, 09:13 AM	#17
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	Paul, true but if I was the first to invent a waterless reef aquarium and then market it I would make millions. I could charge 10x the price of a water filled one. Travis, yeah those would be cool to own. The price tag is scary though. They do list a few other species along with the flashlights so I will do some more research about them. Perhaps if I do this, I will post a thread and others will think it is pretty cool too.

05/22/2006, 04:20 PM	#18
daytonians Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 394	Just run a red light. Most sea creatures can't see it and act like they are in total darkness. It's really cool the stuff you will see: worms sending out feelers, sweeper tenticles, swimming pods and worms. It's really cool!!!!!!! __________________ Thanks, Matt I'ld rather be in Daytona! Avatar: Photo taken with model Asia Williams posing on my car. Current Tank Info: 45 Gallon, LR, power head, custom hood with 140 watts PC light & 175 MH, basement has 29 g. fuge with 6" sand & caluerpa, 20 g. cryptic fuge with 4 inch sand bed & LR, carbon & Phos remover, 55 gallon sump.

05/23/2006, 05:01 PM	#19
miracles38 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,008	Bangaii cardinalfish are active at night. __________________ Kim Current Tank Info: 180 reef

05/26/2006, 09:08 AM	#20
geekreef_05 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 626	There are plenty of inverts I only see around my tank at night. Both my Linkia and serpant sea star are only active at night. Same goes for my tiger tail cucumber. These are slow moving creatures, so they're not so entertaining. My suggestion would be to simply change the light cycle of your reef. Turn the lights off during the day, and run then at night. If you home and cant sleep, that might help. G/L to you. I know insomnia can be hard to deal with. __________________ A good aquarium is like a beautiful woman. Shes nice to look at but requires daily attention and constantly leaves you broke. Current Tank Info: 15H Mixed Reef, 150 HQI, 25lbs Vanuatu, SSB; 60 gal FOWLR 'Tap Water' Show Tank; 33L Skimmerless Softie Reef w/ BTA, 50/50 PC's, 70lbs Indo

05/27/2006, 03:29 PM	#21
Dani Arnanz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Spain Posts: 165	IÃ‚Â´ve had a "Dark Reef", only with non-photosynthetic corals, and its really gorgeus, furthermore, in US its easier, here is imposible to get a dendrophyllia, and near to impossible to get a tubastrea diapahana or micrantha... But I'm not suer if that is what you're looking for... Dani __________________ Corals don´t die, our ignorancy kill them Current Tank Info: 20 gal Nano-reef

05/30/2006, 10:28 AM	#22
nathan_unsane Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: central florida Posts: 461	here is a list of nocternal fish: Cardinalfish Big Eyes Soldierfish Squirrelfish Pinecone fish Scorpionfish Snappers Eels Sea bass and groupers Flashlight fish Many invertebrates including lobsters, shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans, mollusks, polychaete worms, and starfish Polyps of many corals, such as Gorgonian, Torch coral, and Tubastrea

06/01/2006, 06:47 PM	#23
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I was on vacation since the 24 and was suprised that the thread was still going. I still have ideas in my head and will continue working on it. Please keep the ideas coming folks.

06/01/2006, 10:10 PM	#24
jiggy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ZOO JERSEY Posts: 774	u could put a bunch of shrimp in there too.. they r active at night