Taming Caulerpa Prolifera in a Caribbean Mixed Garden Lagoon (1 Viewer)

Subsea · Mar 20, 2023

Dual 55G tanks were set up two years ago to process 200 lbs of live rock and 50 lbs of live sand that was diver collected in 30’ of water 30 miles west of Tampa Bay. After curating the rock, selected rocks went into two established display tanks: 75G set up for 25 years and 120G set up for 5 years.

Bottom 55G was brought back into operation 3 months ago. It is being operated as a medium light mixed garden lagoon to process curated live rock to sell thru LFS.

On this Easter, TOP 55G display has been maintained for 2 years. Reverse flow into plenum up thru 2” of aroggonite substrate is the heart of biochemistry in this system. I consider plenum void as a cryptic zone and with substrate seeded with 50 lbs of diver collected live sand full of micro fauna & fana that process organic (detritus) & inorganic (N & P) nutrients to feed hungry mouths live food via the microbial loop. A cannister filter is being used as a high flow cryptic refugium and has not been opened in 2 years. Two AquaClear HOB filters are being used as algae/pods zooplankton refugiums.

Low light is how I control fast growing Caulerpa Prolifera, from going sexual. I also dose 10ml of ammonia twice a day when photosynthesis is highest, My focus on this Caribbean lagoon is to grow abundant Bortacladia which is collected by divers in 30’-130’.

decimal · Mar 20, 2023

Why Bortacladia? What’s your plan.

Subsea · Mar 21, 2023

I will use Red Grapes to add color and low cost diversity to live rock for those that wish to operate a low cost, less technology, bullet proof reef lagoon by integrating ornamental seaweed with a mixed garden of filter feeders and easy to take care of corals. Bortacladia is a deep water macro that flourishes with low light with low start up cost and easy to maintain parameters.

Using John Tullock’s book, “Natural Reef Aquarium”, he emphasizes less technology/more biology.

“With Tullocks suggestions, the reefkeeper can now mimic natural habitats such as a Florida Keys Lagoon, a Caribbean Turtle Grass Flat, an Indo-Pacific Deep Cave, or a Red Sea Patch Reef. With more than 200 color photographs and illustrations, Natural Reef Aquariums provides inspiration for both beginning and expert marine reef hobbyists.”

Subsea · Mar 21, 2023

Subsea said:
I will use Red Grapes to add color and low cost diversity to live rock for those that wish to operate a low cost, less technology, bullet proof reef lagoon by integrating ornamental seaweed with a mixed garden of filter feeders and easy to take care of corals. Bortacladia is a deep water macro that flourishes with low light with low start up cost and easy to maintain parameters.

Using John Tullock’s book, “Natural Reef Aquarium”, he emphasizes less technology/more biology.

“With Tullocks suggestions, the reefkeeper can now mimic natural habitats such as a Florida Keys Lagoon, a Caribbean Turtle Grass Flat, an Indo-Pacific Deep Cave, or a Red Sea Patch Reef. With more than 200 color photographs and illustrations, Natural Reef Aquariums provides inspiration for both beginning and expert marine reef hobbyists.”

The last picture is same display with low intensity 10K color spectrum.

Subsea · Mar 21, 2023

second_decimal said:
Why Bortacladia? What’s your plan.

My first marine aquarium in 1971 was a Galveston Bay biotheme. The joy of going out and collecting in salt water marshes & estuaries and maintaining your interpretation of that ecosystem in a glass cube has never waived. I have always maintained that enthusiasm for Jacques Cousteau’s Undersea Adventure. At that time, I was 24 years old, recently discharged from four years in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic with a young wife and a 3 month infant. With Cheryl working as secretary at UTMB in Galveston and me going to the Texas Maritime Academy on Pelican Island, with $175 a month GI bill and a secretaries salary, we lived on a tight budget. Instead of a Red Sea Patch Reef I went with mixed garden lagoon. That was 52 years ago and not much has changed with me, but the hobby got expensive, complex and intimidating. This week I bought a blue clam the size of my thumbnail for $ 75, that amount is double the cost of my first marine aquarium system of 55G.

So, to answer your question, I seek to demonstrate an easily maintained, low budget reef that more could enjoy without, high startup and complicated operation.

Also, I should add, I am not against water changes. I do minimum water change to maintain rising salinity until sandbed maintenance with gravel vac is required. In the 30G mixed garden, I have acclimated mollies to be that gravel vac

Third picture is duel 55G tanks. Top tank set up for two years and bottom tank set up for 3 months as medium light display. Bottom tank at medium light will grow differrent ornamental macros like Halymenia (Dragongs Breath) and my favorite, Gracilaria Hayi, because of hardiness and adaptability to low & intense lighting with shades of red ranging from burgundy to fire engine red to yellow/orange under intense light. I really like the Silver Sailfin Mollie that is in this tank. I am on lookout for select female fresh water mollies to adjust to full strength salt at 1.026 specific gravity which is what the Gulf of Mexico is.

Erin · Mar 21, 2023

Your systems are so interesting! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us

decimal · Mar 21, 2023

Indeed. Low cost easy systems are the absolute opposite of what todays reefing is all about. I have heard of macro tanks crashing pretty hard and overloading the system with nutrients but guess all tanks can do that.

Honestly, I must admit I am just as enthused about gear as I am about the reefs. I love to see it all come together and do its thing. That said, I have looked into some algaes that would be palatable to the tangs so I can keep some in a fuge and move it to the DT every once in a while for a tang treat.

I guess a lot of people are chasing SPS and that requires a little more finesse and gear

Subsea · Mar 21, 2023

Erin said:
Your systems are so interesting! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us

Thank you for your kind words. As a teenager in Southwest Louisiana, my father would take the neighborhood kids offshore fishing 150 miles due south of Layayette into the deep blue. Because I easily got seasick, I would often transfer to unmanned production platform. During those days, I would peer down into the blue water and imagine the world below. Fast forward 20 years and I am Senior Subsea Engineer on The Discovery 7 Seas. I worked on & in the deep blue for 15 years with a career that spanned more than 30 years. I retired 12 years ago when I moved to Austin.

My Reefing addiction followed me into retirement and I now have toooo many tanks.

Subsea · Mar 21, 2023

second_decimal said:
Indeed. Low cost easy systems are the absolute opposite of what todays reefing is all about. I have heard of macro tanks crashing pretty hard and overloading the system with nutrients but guess all tanks can do that.

Honestly, I must admit I am just as enthused about gear as I am about the reefs. I love to see it all come together and do its thing. That said, I have looked into some algaes that would be palatable to the tangs so so doingI can keep some in a fuge and move it to the DT every once in a while for a tang treat.

I guess a lot of people are chasing SPS and that requires a little more finesse and gear

I purposely choose easy to maintain corals and systems as I wanted to relax & enjoy without demading time & money for equipment and technology.

In my experiences with seaweed going sexual, I have not had it crash any tanks. The worst case scenario was 150G tank with 1000W MH at 6500 Kelvin color redition. When I went to bed, water clarity in 30” deep tank was stellar with fronds of Caulerpa Prolifera & Parvispora undulating in the currents. Next morning, I could not see back glass with fish struggling for oxygen in a white cloudy fog. I added a small air pump and a HOB Aquaclear 110 with extra activated carbon to handle algae DOC.

Both fast growing Caulerpa colonies 100% disintegrated and water cleared up by mid afternoon..

Subsea · Mar 21, 2023

Subsea said:
Thank you for your kind words. As a teenager in Southwest Louisiana, my father would take the neighborhood kids offshore fishing 150 miles due south of Layayette into the deep blue. Because I easily got seasick, I would often transfer to unmanned production platform. During those days, I would peer down into the blue water and imagine the world below. Fast forward 20 years and I am Senior Subsea Engineer on The Discovery 7 Seas. I worked on & in the deep blue for 15 years with a career that spanned more than 30 years. I retired 12 years ago when I moved to Austin.

My Reefing addiction followed me into retirement and I now have toooo many tanks.

To many tanks:

Erin · Mar 21, 2023

Subsea said:
To many tanks:

No such thing!

Subsea · Mar 21, 2023

Erin said:
No such thing!

If you saw my cable management, you would think, “why so many wires” and the answer is too many tanks And I am happy to “tinker about”:

verb:
attempt to repair or improve something in a casual way, often to no useful effect.

Subsea · Mar 23, 2023

This Caulerpa Paspoidies is not tamed and, in fact, is in the process of going sexual. I think I reversed the process in time. Five hours earlier, the translucent tips of Paspoidies fronds begin to disintegrate. I deduced this to be nitrogen limitation and added 20 ml of ammonia

Coincidently, today I received a shipment of ornamental seaweed and some janitors as members of the CUC that went into this tank.

@second_decimal
In the last picture is a diy light at $4 par 38 bulb with 13W at 6000 Kelvin color rendition with $5 damp proof pigtail times eight bulbs. Combned with the diy are two 4’ light bars with 3W actinic LEDS each times 36.

Stickboy97 · Mar 23, 2023

Very nice, I enjoy some good macro. I need to get something red to add to mine, red grac just seems to grow so slowly for me.

BigRick · Mar 23, 2023

Stickboy97 said:
Very nice, I enjoy some good macro. I need to get something red to add to mine, red grac just seems to grow so slowly for me.

Red / yellow gorgonians work too.

Subsea · Mar 23, 2023

Stickboy97 said:
Very nice, I enjoy some good macro. I need to get something red to add to mine, red grac just seems to grow so slowly for me.

Gracilaria Hayi is lightly calcified and grows quickly.

RED MACROALGAE (RHODOPHYTA)

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Stickboy97 said:
Very nice, I enjoy some good macro. I need to get something red to add to mine, red grac just seems to grow so slowly for me.

This is the only macro that hippo tang allows in tank.

Marine Plants in the Aquarium

macroalgae, marine plants, caulerpa, refugium substrate, marine macroalgae for sale

www.marineplantbook.com

GRACILARIA HAYI

A beautiful species of Gracilaria featuring rigid, flame shaped branches that form a tight symmetrical bush. It is lightly calcified so the addition of calcium is recommended. In shallow water it is often found in very large clumps covered in colonial tunicates or encrusted with epiphytic bryozoans. The coloration varies between deep crimson red to bright orange depending on the amount of light provided. It features a small holdfast that can be attached to rocks or left as a free floating specimen if desired. Overall it is undemanding and will grow well under a variety of conditions even in low flow environments. Due to its lightly calcified branches it is not known to be very palatable to fish or invertebrates.

Subsea · Mar 24, 2023

Stickboy97 said:
Very nice, I enjoy some good macro. I need to get something red to add to mine, red grac just seems to grow so slowly for me.

<head> <title>Macroalgae For Marine Reef Aquariums: Coralline Algae Cluster

Coralline algae can be placed in the aquarium to help seed the marine planted aquarium or reef tank with beautiful coralline algae.

www.live-plants.com

First time to try this. I received it yesterday. It displays very nicely under white light.

BigRick · Mar 25, 2023

Ship me some red grape and dragon tongue please

... ill go collect you some fresh sargassum lol.. be cool when it arrives. All the little seahorses and dwarf stuff is so neat.

Subsea · Mar 26, 2023

BigRick said:
Ship me some red grape and dragon tongue please ... ill go collect you some fresh sargassum lol.. be cool when it arrives. All the little seahorses and dwarf stuff is so neat.

Whenever Marsh has a frag swap, I‘ll will come to Houston with a 5G bucket of seaweed.. For hitchhikers, the Sargassum seaweed mats in the surf or ideal, but the wrong cultivar for intank growth.

<head> <title>Macroalgae For Marine Reef Aquariums: Sargassum

decimal · Mar 26, 2023

Lol I will let you know when I head up to austin again. Maybe we can meet up. Seems i am going back and fourth quite a bit.

Edit:I wonder what the tangs will let survive haha

Hook’em Horns !!

Taming Caulerpa Prolifera in a Caribbean Mixed Garden Lagoon (1 Viewer)

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