Garage Refugium update III - seagrass

[rayray]

1 year mark of my 90g attached refugium.

Seagrasses (turtle grass, shoal grass and manatee grass) and red mangroves growing well. Calcium reactor effluent (pH 6.4) bringing in CO2. But unlike a freshwater planted tank, this is feeds my SPS reef, so I cannot use much nitrogenous fertilizers. Nitrogen is added by super heavy feedings of my fish and coral. To Do: install tunze nanowavebox for that back & forth wavy motion...yeah!

14hour reverse daylight photoperiod under 8000k LEDs.

my algea cleaner (mandatory), also snail/crab CUC

pod taste tester, pair of ORA mandarins

mangroves 6 months ago, today reach up & out of the tank 30inches

6 months ago seagrass

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Why no chaeto? Or Caluerpa? (spelled wrong)


Sent from my iPhone

 

[rayray]

Why no chaeto? Or Caluerpa?

No fun. This is a true ecosystem.

 

[EyeReef]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing

 

[benjaminS]

Why turtle grass and Shoal grass? I have a similar refugium even though I just started. Can you explain to me the differences between the different grasses?

 

[rayray]

Why turtle grass and Shoal grass? I have a similar refugium even though I just started. Can you explain to me the differences between the different grasses?

For variety.

Shoal grass is the usual 1st colonizer with shallow roots. Manatee grass grows tall and has medium roots, I regularly mow them back down to 20inches, or they get into the powerheads and look like spaghetti. Turtle grass has nice wide blades, but very deep roots; actually too deep for this fuge but we'll see...

I want the mangroves for the root system and above the tank action.

read these
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/sl/index.php
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/seagrass.html

 

[rayray]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing

Very cool Ray! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you sirs!

 

[El Dude]

Very cool Ray! Thanks for sharing!

 

[rayray]

people have been asking me where to buy seagrass.

its seasonal, only available in the late spring to fall. most comes from florida and can only be collected with a permit.

turtle grass available from SCR sponsor Reefs2go.com
http://www.reefs2go.com/product/MAC-TURTLE-1/Live-Saltwater-Turtle-Grass-Shoot.html

other grasses available from Russ at Gulf Coast Ecosystems
http://live-plants.com/

 

[Assyrian fish guy]

great looking setup. i hope when i move into my new house i can have a legit system like yours

 

[Spinner]

That is really nice rayray, to me that is as beautiful as the DT to watch Brings me back to my refugium research day's.

Thanks for sharing and reminding those of us building and no water why were doing it

 

[rayray]

Thanks Anthony & Mace. Im having fun with this tank.

Numerous small blades of grass as breaking through the sand. They are all in competition with each other & the mangroves for nutrients so itll be interesting to see who wins.

BTW im looking to add 2-3 seahorse. The challenge is this fuge runs @80-82'f which is good for the grass, but seahorses like colder temp. Any recommendations for keepable warmer water seahorses?

 

[ieGlenn_2316]

i'm not sure about sea horses, but i would like to say your refugium is very nice and well done

 

[benjaminS]

nice! What type of mandarin is that? just a common one?

 

[rayray]

i'm not sure about sea horses, but i would like to say your refugium is very nice and well done

Thanks!

nice! What type of mandarin is that? just a common one?

I have an ORA spotted mandarin pair in there. I also added 2 more small wild female mandarins for a harem of 1 male and 3 females, but I havent seen the small females in a while. I assume they were jealously murdered by the largest female.

 

[bullitr]

Sir
I collected some macro algae while on vacation I will try some
California sea grass and ulva

Hopefully I can get it up and running tommorow

 

[wyrdREEF]

Nice! Thanks for sharing! I think many overlook biological filtration *two thumbs up*

 

[lowbudget]

Thanks ray ray

 

[rayray]

I collected some macro algae while on vacation I will try some
California sea grass and ulva. Hopefully I can get it up and running tommorow

I cant wait to see it.

I had to replant that turtle grass or it wouldve died. But it will recover soon.

 

[james-lee]

Very nice!