Caribbean Reef

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate the information everyone has been offering. Now that I’m starting over I have the luxury of planning everything from the ground up, not like the last tank that grew by whim and knowledge.

The new tank is going to be a Caribbean reef (I really like gorgonians). There are a couple of questions I have:

1)Using products like Reef Nutrition, what is the survival rate/health of the NON-photosynthetic gorgonians?
2)Looking to include anemones (Helianthus, Condi’s, Curley-Q, and Epicystis crucifer), but not sure which. Are there issues mixing any of these species? Are they all able to be housed with indigenous fish of the region without consuming them?
3)The Curley-Q has an Aiptaisa look to it. Does it become a pest?

-Gregory

 

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate the information everyone has been offering. Now that I’m starting over I have the luxury of planning everything from the ground up, not like the last tank that grew by whim and knowledge.

The new tank is going to be a Caribbean reef (I really like gorgonians). There are a couple of questions I have:

1)Using products like Reef Nutrition, what is the survival rate/health of the NON-photosynthetic gorgonians?
2)Looking to include anemones (Helianthus, Condi’s, Curley-Q, and Epicystis crucifer), but not sure which. Are there issues mixing any of these species? Are they all able to be housed with indigenous fish of the region without consuming them?
3)The Curley-Q has an Aiptaisa look to it. Does it become a pest?

-Gregory

1)Using products like Reef Nutrition, what is the survival rate/health of the NON-photosynthetic gorgonians?

Most likely you will get a very slow decline unless you feed very often - some of the non photosyntetic species can take a while to die but almost all will slowly decline. Also, you may see the polyps on one of these exhibit a contraction when they encounter food in the water, this does not mean the coral will necessarily be utilizing that prey item for growth and maintenance.

2)Looking to include anemones (Helianthus, Condi’s, Curley-Q, and Epicystis crucifer), but not sure which. Are there issues mixing any of these species? Are they all able to be housed with indigenous fish of the region without consuming them?

Of course you can attempt to mix anything but anemones engage in all kinds of overt and indirect competition with themselves and other cnidarians in the tank. If thy aren't stinging each other they may be shedding nematocysts into the water which will irritate other species or possibly organic compounds to irritate other anemones. I've kept Condys and Epicystis (assuming this is what they sell as 'flower anemones' still) and the condy's will sting fish pretty badly and possibly consume smaller ones. The flower anemones seem a bit more benign. Curlique are small if I remember right but could still be a threat to small fish and inverts. Helianthus are similar to pacific carpet anemones but do not get as large, I would assume the large amount of tentacles on its surface would cause problems should a fish blunder into them but I would defer to others who have had personal experience keeping them.

3) 3)The Curley-Q has an Aiptaisa look to it. Does it become a pest?
Have never seen them grow to plague proportions in captivity but then again I don't see them as often in hobbyist tanks.

GL with the project. Instead of lots of different large anemones maybe try some of the Carribean ricordeas and mushroom anemones to complement some of the larger ones. I kept a lovely orange flower anemones with ricordea and had good success. The orange varieties are a lot harder to come by ,at least from on-line retailers, as of late.

Regards

 

[Anonymous]

Condy's and E. crucifer are prodigious stingers. They will eat your prize fish. Also condy's are prone to moving around for no apparent reason. I had a curlycue and it never split or reproduced. It does have a very stong sting.

Non Photo Gorgonians have been kept, but will need high maintenence. Feeding phyto/cyclopese/plankton will be need to be fed throughout the day and/or night. Target feeding with a turkey baster will probably need to be done as well. How willing/able are you to feed like this? The photo gorgorians are just as nice IMO.

Good Luck

 

[Anonymous]

yeah I'd ditch the anemone idea all together. I'm not a big fan of them in tanks unless its a dedicated tank. However if you do go with anemones I'd put them in first, wait for them to do all their wandering and find "their spot" then add everything else. (Although that could cause them to wander again).

There are some photosynthetic gorgonians too that you can use as well and not really have to worry too much about feeding. Although I've seen non-photo tanks done very well, you just have to be really on top of keeping water clarity up due to all the feeding.

You'd be restricted to soft corals too, which could be fine if you want.

 

[Anonymous]

I’m glad I asked…..
So anemones right out. Non-photo gorgonians right out (love to try them, but there's no one to feed while traveling)…..However; it does leave some very interesting things that I think can be done well. Palys, ricordeas, softies, sponges,and photo-gorgonians will make a nice niche tank. I saw the one at the Steinheart a while ago which was the inspiration for this tank.

Thanks all

-Gregory

 

[jamesw]

Good luck w/ the project! A local reefer here in Houston (d2d-mini is his name on MARSH I think) just started a beautiful cube reef with all fresh TBS rock. It looks amazing! The variety of sponges you can get and their beauty is incredible.

To get an idea of what a caribbean reef looks like, check out some of my photos from St. Croix:

http://reefpix.smugmug.com/Portfolio/St ... Underwater

And here are some from Little Cayman:

http://www.reefpix.org/v/underwater/Lit ... Trip/james

Cheers
James

 

[Anonymous]

Heheh that big round Caribbean tank at the Steinhart got me thinking too... granted more of what could be done with a big cylindrical tank but hey who's being picky here .

Non-photosynthetic creatures can be kept with proper feeding, and if you go out rigging up an auto-feeder wouldn't be terribly difficult (I'd suggest peristaltic pumps). It wouldn't spot feed any of them, but it would feed the tank as a whole. Combine that with timers that turn off your protein skimmer while feeding and it could be nice... although turning on/off skimmers can have hazards in themselves.

 

[Anonymous]

Good luck w/ the project! A local reefer here in Houston (d2d-mini is his name on MARSH I think) just started a beautiful cube reef with all fresh TBS rock. It looks amazing! The variety of sponges you can get and their beauty is incredible.

To get an idea of what a caribbean reef looks like, check out some of my photos from St. Croix:


http://reefpix.smugmug.com/Portfolio/St ... Underwater

And here are some from Little Cayman:

http://www.reefpix.org/v/underwater/Lit ... Trip/james

Cheers
James

Beautiful! In the posted pic is that a type of Montipora or what?? And what is the "acropora" type coral in pic 67 of St Croix?

-Gregory

 

[Anonymous]

Non-photosynthetic creatures can be kept with proper feeding, and if you go out rigging up an auto-feeder wouldn't be terribly difficult (I'd suggest peristaltic pumps). It wouldn't spot feed any of them, but it would feed the tank as a whole. Combine that with timers that turn off your protein skimmer while feeding and it could be nice... although turning on/off skimmers can have hazards in themselves.

Perhaps down the road. After being out of pratice for several years I'd like to start slowly.

-Gregory

 

[jamesw]

Hello,

THanks!

Nope - there are no montipora in the Caribbean - but some similar corals. I think the big plating one is an agaricia but I'm not sure (Don't have my book handy). The staghorn is A. cervicornis

Cheers
James

 

[Anonymous]

Hello,

THanks!

Nope - there are no montipora in the Caribbean - but some similar corals. I think the big plating one is an agaricia but I'm not sure (Don't have my book handy). The staghorn is A. cervicornis

Cheers
James

James,

Did some quick google searches on both corals....nice pics came up but no retail sources. Do these come up for retail that you know? Otherwise, I just joined Bay Area Reefers. Maybe they have some members that are fragging these.

-Gregory

 

[jamesw]

Probably not - or you SHOULD not be able to find these for sale - as no taking is allowed under CITES

You might be able to get something interesting on the TBS rock from their Florida Keys lease - if they still harvest that stuff.

Cheers
James

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, don't plan on any stony corals for your tank that came from the Caribbean.

 

[Anonymous]

Probably not - or you SHOULD not be able to find these for sale - as no taking is allowed under CITES

You might be able to get something interesting on the TBS rock from their Florida Keys lease - if they still harvest that stuff.

Cheers
James

Yeah, don't plan on any stony corals for your tank that came from the Caribbean.

That’s inconvenient. Are there any regulations against fragging existing pieces in circulation, if they exist, not for profit?

I was looking at TBS as a rock source. The original rock for my tanks was wild gulf rock and came before regulations existed. The stuff was awesome! The only drawback with TBS is that it’s pre-cured. I’d rather get it uncured right out of the ocean.

-Gregory

 

[Anonymous]

Hello,

THanks!

Nope - there are no montipora in the Caribbean - but some similar corals. I think the big plating one is an agaricia but I'm not sure (Don't have my book handy). The staghorn is A. cervicornis

Cheers
James

James,

Did some quick google searches on both corals....nice pics came up but no retail sources. Do these come up for retail that you know? Otherwise, I just joined Bay Area Reefers. Maybe they have some members that are fragging these.

-Gregory

BAR has no Caribbean corals in circulation. I suggest getting the DECO rock from TBS.

 

[Anonymous]

I suggest getting the DECO rock from TBS.

DECO rock? It's not specified as an option on their price list. What's the difference?

-Gregory

 

[Anonymous]

I suggest getting the DECO rock from TBS.

DECO rock? It's not specified as an option on their price list. What's the difference?

-Gregory

google it, you will see DECO rock is what they call the coral encrusted rock.

see this link... http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/testim ... index.html

or http://www.google.com/search?q=tbs+rock ... =firefox-a

 

[jamesw]

TBS will also ship uncured rock right off their lease into the water filled containers for shipping. It hardly ever leaves the water on the way to your tank. I"m pretty interested in getting some.

If you can get rock from the Keys then you could probably get some neat corals.

Cheers
James

 

[Anonymous]

Very nice rock! I think we have a winner. Worth the extra shipping costs for the water.

-Gregory

 

[Anonymous]

Curlycue anemone rarely move. Feed once a week and they will not move. I kept mine under NO bulbs about 12 years ago.