Opae Ula Volcano Bowl

[Crab Man]

Hi everyone,

I recently made a desktop Opae Ula setup because I don't yet have the time or money to establish a full reef. The little guys keep me entertained though. I used a cheap glass bowl from Michael's and a volcanic rock I carved with chisel and hammer. I'm currently trying to find some kind of macro algae that can survive the brackish conditions. I've heard of people using Chaeto with their Opae Ula, but I've been unsuccessful so far. Is there a certain strain that can grow in brackish water?

Also, does anyone have tips on breeding the Opae Ula? I've been feeding them spirulina powder and a shrimp pellet every once in a while. Any tips you guys have would be greatly appreciated. I'll get me a reef tank someday.

Here's my Opae Ula Volcano Bowl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSxh5TmD2mM

Thanks!

 

[Crab Man]

[video=youtube;xSxh5TmD2mM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSxh5TmD2mM[/video]

Sorry, the video link didn't work the first time.

 

[StevenBell]

Nice little ecosystem you have there!!!!Iv been considering something like this myself!

 

[buddythelion]

Very cool set up! What's the salinity like in a brackish set up? Did you just use aquarium salt water? That nerite looks like the regular zebra nerites people keep in freshwater tanks. Is it the same?

Sorry, the 100 questions. This set up is great and the video quality makes it all the better!

 

[Crab Man]

Thanks! I just used equal parts saltwater and freshwater, so it is exactly halfway between fresh and salt. Good eye on the Nerite snails, they were fresh water and I acclimated them to brackish. Apparently they need brackish water to breed properly, so i guess it's a good environment for them. I had to do the opposite for the Mangrove. I acclimated it down from full saltwater. The lfs basically has nothing for brackish systems, so you have to acclimate everything.