Innovative Marine 15: Project Caribbean

[CD_Scapes]

I can't wait for my 2nd half of the tbs package to ship..only 2 more weeks ! Yours has exploded w macros..very nice. I ran into some real mild gha, but cuc is handling it

I got a nice clump of GHA but I’m treating like the Pod Hotel, they love to hangout in it. Plus the Triplefin has learned this and sits waiting for some pods to collect before eating them. I also have bryopsis but it’s behaving so it can stay.

I did chat with @LiverockRocks and we’ve decided that a pico package would be the best for my goals and the tank. This way I can keep this tank running and how off the treasure chests they offer that arrive via UPS to my door! Plus less worry of things dying if I moved stuff over to the 8.3

Speaking of the 8.3 gallon….

It will be a coastal freshwater tank that will house Brachygobius doriae and I’m also getting my 3rd species of Brachygobius from WetSpot soon. Brachygobius cf. nunus! I currently have some Brachygobius Sp. ocelot. If you can’t tell I love my Brachygobius species! I hope to add a few red mangroves at some point as well.

 

[CD_Scapes]

Well uhhh….though about it more and was like “why the hell would I NOT get more rock and sand from @LiverockRocks!”

So the short stint of the possible Brachygobius doriae tank is dead and I will move all the stuff over to the new tank after I get all the proper gear! I have to get a 1/2” flare nozzle, Sicce micra plus pump, and a hygger mini wavemaker.

The plan for the 8.3 will be to utilize the aweosme treasure chest options that Tampa Bay Saltwater sells! UPS right to your door, no need to wait at the airport! I am hoping to get 2 packages. The 1st being the sand and some rubble to kick start the tank and then later I’ll get more premium macroalgae rock. I am also wanting to document moving one TBS tank to another which is another thing I haven’t seen too often here.

Sadly I have to say the 45 gallon is getting taken down. Nutrients never got under control and my roommate (it’s their tank) doesn’t have the time to constantly maintain the tank plus other life changes. So last night I removed the hidden cup corals and a cool macroalgae species. I also found one of the porcelain crabs as well. Still trying to find the other ones and setup a QT tank for the tiger gobies so I can keep that pair around when I get the 8.3 setup

 

[CD_Scapes]

Crazy how quick things change around here. Came home last night to water under the spec III but didn’t think much of it besides me spilling during a WC. Brought livestock from the 45 to an LFS and got $150 in store credit. Almost used it to get a gorgonian and some palys, but then k saw this christams tree rock and almost got that. Until I realized I had enough store credit to get an IM 15 with a lid. So I got that instead, turns out I needed it too!

Came home and there was more water under the Spec III, cleaned it up but 30 minutes later boom more water. Reality sunk in, it’s a very slow leak. Well good thing I got the IM 15 I guess. Went to walmart to get a power strip and away we go. There 15 gallons of new RODI water and some salt in there tonight. Will likely move over stuff tomorrow.

 

[JoJosReef]

I missed a lot of updates on this thread! Hope the transfer goes smoothly! That is an awesome blenny!!

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Throughout my childhood and young adult life the family would pack up and head to LL Sucker bay in the spring. We would always make a trip to the woolen mills to stock up on coats, hats and mittens... I miss that place...
I understand your excitement with TBS rock, A Pico/Nano is the only way to experience it. I had a couple Temperate Nanos that I loved seeing all the little critters. I combined them into a RS170 and while I have some cool bigger critters, the smaller ones just kind of get lost now.
I love your enthusiastic attitude with all your macro creatures in your thread.

 

[CD_Scapes]

Throughout my childhood and young adult life the family would pack up and head to LL Sucker bay in the spring. We would always make a trip to the woolen mills to stock up on coats, hats and mittens... I miss that place...
I understand your excitement with TBS rock, A Pico/Nano is the only way to experience it. I had a couple Temperate Nanos that I loved seeing all the little critters. I combined them into a RS170 and while I have some cool bigger critters, the smaller ones just kind of get lost now.
I love your enthusiastic attitude with all your macro creatures in your thread.

Thank you! As sad as it was to find the leak in the Spec III, I’m excited to see all the life that I can find in the 15 gallon. Plus I’ll feel a little better about having the blenny in a 15 over a 3 gallon. Should be more stable too down the road.

 

[CD_Scapes]

Well since the project is in full swing I figured I might as well fully commit to it. Got a couple orders out of the way to get the tank fully operational.

Premium Aquatics:
Finnex HMA-S 150watt heater

Amazon:
Chaetogro for the macros later on
Hygger mini gyre is a pump I’ve always wanted to try and now I finally have a tank big enough
Microbacter7 just to get the bioballs seeded and help with the transition

Couldn’t have done any of this without the lovely people at MN Aquatics which is my new go to local store. They have been open less than a year but they are killin it! They are also the ones that got me my little triple fin blenny. Maybe in the bigger tank I could add a couple more…