Need ideas, Florida/Caribbean Reef Tank

[TangerineSpeedo]

So even knowing before I took my trip to Belize, I wanted to do a Caribbean inspired mixed reef tank. On my dives I took a bunch of footage of the reef. The tank I am going to use for this is a 30g long IM, so I can't throw any French angels in there. I would like to do some sps, but because the reef is in rough shape, those really are not available from there. Nor are Sea fans etc.
So I figure I have a couple choices
1. Find someone that has some old aquacultured coral from back in the day that is willing to frag some.
2. Find similar species or corals (porites, finger,) plus sea fans etc. I mean I will probably be the only one that would know if it came from Indo- over the Caribbean.
I know I can get Zoas, and gorgonians, even have some. But my true goal is what one would see on the reef. My range can be quite broad, from the Keys to Roatan, so that gives me some room. But remember I only have 30g to work with.
Suggestions with some pics or links will be appreciated.

 

[zheka757]

Florida recordia garden this was my garden rock, before i killed it by my mistake

 

[fish farmer]

One thing to think about with a shallow long tank is gorgs or tall sponges could be out of the water before you know it.

I've thought about getting good cultured keys rock and see what pops off of that. Get some similar looking maze brains.

 

[jabberwock]

Have you already bought the 30?

 

[bkwonnn]

Maybe throw in 50 lion fish to get the local vibe . Just kidding. Saw a documentary today about how much of a problem those guys are there lately.

 

[Snoopy 67]

September/ October issue of Coral Magazine is all about themed aquariums.
Pick up a copy.

 

[Fish Fan]

Subbed!

About 18 months ago I started a 10 gallon AIO for a Florida Mantis (N. Wennerae), I used maricultured rock and sand from the Gulf (TBS), and I too wanted to make this tank Caribbean/Gulf themed tank.

In my research, I had a hard time finding corals for this tank. Most of the native Florida stony corals I found are not in the hobby. I learned that there are paly’s and Zoa’s that are native to the area, but not the colorful ones that are popular in the hobby.

I too decided I would have to “cheat” a little. I stocked my tank with several varieties of Zoa’s and I figured only I would know or care if that particular Zoa came from another region. I also added some Ricordea florida shrooms, a gorgonian, and some Rock Flower Anemones.

I’d be interested to hear about anything else like any SPS in the hobby that are found around the Gulf or Caribbean waters.

Cool project; good luck!

 

[ieatbugman]

You should definitely do a royal gramma, i went snorkeling in saint thomas and saw a bunch. Also Addictive Reef Keeping has a bunch of Caribbean corals

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Have you already bought the 30?

Yes... This is what I will be working with... Kinda a Dump tank right now for stuff I don't know what to do with.
Already got the mangroves.... lol

 

[jabberwock]

Yes... This is what I will be working with... Kinda a Dump tank right now for stuff I don't know what to do with.
Already got the mangroves.... lol

Looks like you're done to me... Next project!

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Subbed!

About 18 months ago I started a 10 gallon AIO for a Florida Mantis (N. Wennerae), I used maricultured rock and sand from the Gulf (TBS), and I too wanted to make this tank Caribbean/Gulf themed tank.

In my research, I had a hard time finding corals for this tank. Most of the native Florida stony corals I found are not in the hobby. I learned that there are paly’s and Zoa’s that are native to the area, but not the colorful ones that are popular in the hobby.

I too decided I would have to “cheat” a little. I stocked my tank with several varieties of Zoa’s and I figured only I would know or care if that particular Zoa came from another region. I also added some Ricordea florida shrooms, a gorgonian, and some Rock Flower Anemones.

I’d be interested to hear about anything else like any SPS in the hobby that are found around the Gulf or Caribbean waters.

Cool project; good luck!

Sooo.... I went to one of my local LFS's and got a Sergeant Major and a supposed ORA yellow porites. But it was green and similar to the branching finger coral I saw diving... My other LFS has another Sergeant Major. I think I might go get that one also. I know that SM's can be a pain but they will have to work things out.
Sorry for the dirty glass. The Polyp's haven’t come out yet on the coral, looks bleached but it's not. I just put it in there.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Florida recordia garden this was my garden rock, before i killed it by my mistake

I already have a toxic green ricordia in there that is about 3 years old and has never had any babies...

 

[UMALUM]

I would reach out to reeftopia. Those dudes will pull whatever you want.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

So even knowing before I took my trip to Belize, I wanted to do a Caribbean inspired mixed reef tank. On my dives I took a bunch of footage of the reef. The tank I am going to use for this is a 30g long IM, so I can't throw any French angels in there. I would like to do some sps, but because the reef is in rough shape, those really are not available from there. Nor are Sea fans etc.
So I figure I have a couple choices
1. Find someone that has some old aquacultured coral from back in the day that is willing to frag some.
2. Find similar species or corals (porites, finger,) plus sea fans etc. I mean I will probably be the only one that would know if it came from Indo- over the Caribbean.
I know I can get Zoas, and gorgonians, even have some. But my true goal is what one would see on the reef. My range can be quite broad, from the Keys to Roatan, so that gives me some room. But remember I only have 30g to work with.
Suggestions with some pics or links will be appreciated.

You can get really nice Caribbean gorgs, sponges, and macro from live-plants.com (Gulf Coast Ecosystems).

Pygmy angel, a pair of neon gobies, and some other smaller reef fish, maybe a black cap basslet and a blenny of some type?

 

[Subsea]

Sooo.... I went to one of my local LFS's and got a Sergeant Major and a supposed ORA yellow porites. But it was green and similar to the branching finger coral I saw diving... My other LFS has another Sergeant Major. I think I might go get that one also. I know that SM's can be a pain but they will have to work things out.
Sorry for the dirty glass. The Polyp's haven’t come out yet on the coral, looks bleached but it's not. I just put it in there.

You need some red. Get some ornamental Red Macros in there like Gracilaria Hayi & Bortacladia.

 

[Fish Fan]

You need some red. Get some ornamental Red Macros in there like Gracilaria Hayi & Bortacladia.

I have a red grape Caulerpa (I presume a Bortacladia species) that came on my rock from TBS, and it's really nice stuff. A nice pop of red, grows well for me, but is easily pruned back.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

You know I want to throw a Spotfin Butterfly fish just to wreek havoc... LOL. I saw a baby when I was diving that was about 3/4 of an inch long... fell in love...

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I second ornamental sponges from GulfCoast EcoSystems and Gulf Liverock. Also consider cucumbers, flame scallops & feather dusters. While not Caribbean, I added a sea apple.

Check out hitchhiker list from Gulf Live Rock
https://gulfliverock.com/hitchhiker-id
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/90...349/premium-deco-rock-17.gif/:/rs=w:403,h:303

Wouldn't that be great if you got all the "hitchhikers"... I thought about them and also TBS but I would have to find a place or sell the rock that is in the tank now, which has a bunch of life on it now ( corals, shrooms, zoas etc.) :thinking-face:

 

[Fish Fan]

Wouldn't that be great if you got all the "hitchhikers"... I thought about them and also TBS but I would have to find a place or sell the rock that is in the tank now, which has a bunch of life on it now ( corals, shrooms, zoas etc.) :thinking-face:

I mean, I wouldn't give up your rock that has such life on it, but if you were inclined to get more rock, I would recommend the premium live rock from the good ladies at Tampa Bay Saltwater. They, and their product, have been very good to me. I purchased +/- 15 pounds of rock and sand about 18 months ago for two small project tanks. I just recently placed a Black Friday order for about 100 pounds of their rock and sand for my new 150. Awesome stuff, and awesome service!

I've for sure heard of Gulf Live Rocks, and I'd never disagree with @Subsea , but I've had such good luck with TBS and the staff there, I have to recommended them whenever I can :-)

 

[PharmrJohn]

Maybe throw in 50 lion fish to get the local vibe . Just kidding. Saw a documentary today about how much of a problem those guys are there lately.

LOL, my Daughter was just going off about this last week. She ain't a fan of ANY man-made issues such as this.