Musings from the couch.

[Subsea]

Musings from the Couch:

as the light comes on in their world with a surge of intensity, I witness the transition from slumber to hustle and bustle in "fish land". The transition from total darkness to reef tank lighting intensity of 350 PAR ( Photosynthic Active Radiation ) is brought about by four T5 tubs that generate 20K lux of lighting intensity. In that instant, total darkness is replaced by reef flat lightning intensity at high noon. I wonder what the fish think about this explosion of light as I slowly wake up sipping my morning brew flavored with almond vanilla milk. As the fish slowly come out of their night dwelling hiding places, what was only two or three slowly increase in numbers to twenty or thirty. Each in their own little world. Some forging for food, nibbling on tasty macro and detritus on substrate surface. As I focus in and go from the macro to the micro, I notice tiny white specks that are moving about to & fro. As I limit outside distraction and zoom in on this microcosm, I realize that there is another level to fish world. The "little people" are the micro inverts that establish a complex food web in which nutrients are processed and recycled back into the tank as food for fish and larger inverts.

As I marvel at the harmony of all these inhabitants in peaceful coexistence, I ponder on why can't mankind learn to get along, just as these fish living in harmony in the confined space of my aquarium. Just at that moment, I notice a Creamcycle Mollie chasing a black speck in the water. So much for peaceful coexistence. An adult mollie of one species was eating babies of another species.

Nothing like complex food webs and nutrient recycling to start the day. Time for me to eat my breakfast of rolled Oates and raisins.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B1CL3zCyY/

 

[edsbeaker]

Musings from the Couch:

as the light comes on in their world with a surge of intensity, I witness the transition from slumber to hustle and bustle in "fish land". The transition from total darkness to reef tank lighting intensity of 350 PAR ( Photosynthic Active Radiation ) is brought about by four T5 tubs that generate 20K lux of lighting intensity. In that instant, total darkness is replaced by reef flat lightning intensity at high noon. I wonder what the fish think about this explosion of light as I slowly wake up sipping my morning brew flavored with almond vanilla milk. As the fish slowly come out of their night dwelling hiding places, what was only two or three slowly increase in numbers to twenty or thirty. Each in their own little world. Some forging for food, nibbling on tasty macro and detritus on substrate surface. As I focus in and go from the macro to the micro, I notice tiny white specks that are moving about to & fro. As I limit outside distraction and zoom in on this microcosm, I realize that there is another level to fish world. The "little people" are the micro inverts that establish a complex food web in which nutrients are processed and recycled back into the tank as food for fish and larger inverts.

As I marvel at the harmony of all these inhabitants in peaceful coexistence, I ponder on why can't mankind learn to get along, just as these fish living in harmony in the confined space of my aquarium. Just at that moment, I notice a Creamcycle Mollie chasing a black speck in the water. So much for peaceful coexistence. An adult mollie of one species was eating babies of another species.

Nothing like complex food webs and nutrient recycling to start the day. Time for me to eat my breakfast of rolled Oates and raisins.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B1CL3zCyY/

I sensed that this was going to end in murder.

 

[vlangel]

I sensed that this was going to end in murder.

Cannibalism, which is not just every day murder, LOL.

 

[edsbeaker]

Cannibalism, which is not just every day murder, LOL.

It’s a family friendly forum, so I was just trying to protect the young ones tender feelings.

 

[vlangel]

Musings from the Couch:

as the light comes on in their world with a surge of intensity, I witness the transition from slumber to hustle and bustle in "fish land". The transition from total darkness to reef tank lighting intensity of 350 PAR ( Photosynthic Active Radiation ) is brought about by four T5 tubs that generate 20K lux of lighting intensity. In that instant, total darkness is replaced by reef flat lightning intensity at high noon. I wonder what the fish think about this explosion of light as I slowly wake up sipping my morning brew flavored with almond vanilla milk. As the fish slowly come out of their night dwelling hiding places, what was only two or three slowly increase in numbers to twenty or thirty. Each in their own little world. Some forging for food, nibbling on tasty macro and detritus on substrate surface. As I focus in and go from the macro to the micro, I notice tiny white specks that are moving about to & fro. As I limit outside distraction and zoom in on this microcosm, I realize that there is another level to fish world. The "little people" are the micro inverts that establish a complex food web in which nutrients are processed and recycled back into the tank as food for fish and larger inverts.

As I marvel at the harmony of all these inhabitants in peaceful coexistence, I ponder on why can't mankind learn to get along, just as these fish living in harmony in the confined space of my aquarium. Just at that moment, I notice a Creamcycle Mollie chasing a black speck in the water. So much for peaceful coexistence. An adult mollie of one species was eating babies of another species.

Nothing like complex food webs and nutrient recycling to start the day. Time for me to eat my breakfast of rolled Oates and raisins.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B1CL3zCyY/

I love sitting in my chair in front of the tank at 6 am when the blue lights come on with my cup of hazelnut coffee. I enjoy the bioluminescence of the coral and watching the fish wake up 1 by 1, except the cardinalfish who are just getting ready to go to bed. Fortunately in my tank there is no one eating someone else's babies, LOL!

 

[vlangel]

It’s a family friendly forum, so I was just trying to protect the young ones tender feelings.

Oh dear, now I have just destroyed so many innocent souls with my rash outbursts! Let's hope their immature attention spans didn't make it the whole way through Patrick's musings and thus were spared my graphic clarification!

 

[Subsea]

The live bearer mollies species were purchased separately and adjusted to full strength in separate 10G tanks over a 4 week period, after which, a 55G display was set up with uncured Gulf Live Rock.
The live bearer mollies assist with nutrient recycling by grazing down film algae and providing urea fertilizer for higher level ornamental seaweed & corals.

 

[Subsea]

Oh dear, now I have just destroyed so many innocent souls with my rash outbursts! Let's hope their immature attention spans didn't make it the whole way through Patrick's musings and thus were spared my graphic clarification!

Nature is harsh at times. Consider the male betta that builds bubble nest, protects eggs & newborn and then begins to eat them, providing impetus to leave the NEST.

 

[vlangel]

Nature is harsh at times. Consider the male betta that builds bubble nest, protects eggs & newborn and then begins to eat them, providing impetus to leave the NEST.

Nature is harsh. I often think about what it must have been like for in the garden of Eden. Male bettas nurtured their babies until adulthood in the garden, I am sure. Just picture how gentle wildlife was. It must have been amazing.

 

[Subsea]

Nature is harsh. I often think about what it must have been like for in the garden of Eden. Male bettas nurtured their babies until adulthood in the garden, I am sure. Just picture how gentle wildlife was. It must have been amazing.

And the “Lion will lay down with the Lamb” during the “millennial reign”

Isaiah 11:6-9​

 

[vlangel]

And the “Lion will lay down with the Lamb” during the “millennial reign”

Isaiah 11:6-9​

Amen Patrick, that is a day to look forward to!

 

[Subsea]

I love sitting in my chair in front of the tank at 6 am when the blue lights come on with my cup of hazelnut coffee. I enjoy the bioluminescence of the coral and watching the fish wake up 1 by 1, except the cardinalfish who are just getting ready to go to bed. Fortunately in my tank there is no one eating someone else's babies, LOL!

I really enjoy watching the interplay of fish. In my oldest tank, a large green polyp leather coral is hosted by clowns. When Hippo looms near all three clowns make a shield to keep him off. No one gets hurt. It’s bluster.

 

[vlangel]

I really enjoy watchin g the interplay of fish. In my oldest tank, a large green polyp leather coral is hosted by clowns. When Hippo looms near all three clowns make a shield to keep him off. No one gets hurt. It’s bluster.

Ha ha, it seems the clowns are definitely staking out the leather as their territory!

I also enjoy fish interaction with one another. My tank now has 15 fish since I just bought 4 yesterday, a solorensis fairy wrasse, a longnose hawk and 2 more pajama cardinalfish. Its active but peaceful. So far so good. It will be fun to watch how the dynamics shift.

 

[Subsea]

The relationship between Hippo & Sailfin clowns in this tank is special. Initially, a mature Hippo was becoming a bully and I removed him to LFS. Knowing in advance that I was going to remove a large Hippo, I purchased a tiny hippo and grew him for 3 months before adding to mature reef tank. Now Hippo is as big as Sailfin and they get along just fine.