- Joined
- May 31, 2019
- Messages
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- Location
- Calgary & Kingston
Has your clownfish refused every anemone or are you simply tired of removing those cute bubble tips that have a mind of their own? Naturalistic micro habitats for saltwater reef tanks, provide marine aquarists with creative fish safe options, which for example, can eliminate the challenge of adding splitting bubble tip anemones for clownfish as demonstrated in the following video.
It’s 2016 and my mentor gave me everything to build the family’s first saltwater aquarium which my kids were excited to stock. A T5 light on a wall timer with dual canister filters made the decorative seascape seem alive, much to the children’s delight even way before we added fish.
Fast forward to 2020 where I’m once again redesigning a kid approved seascape called Blue Lagoon, when to my amazement and for the first time ever in 4 years have we seen our clownfish showing such love for what is now it's new special place:
So where did the idea come from to add Aquatop's silicone tip anemone? Apart from me being stuck on designing aquariums for the kids as well as feeling a sense of calm from just watching the realistic movements of the seascape in the under current, I became curious one night after observing said clownfish hanging out “hostingly” close to this synthetic seagrass
A few weeks later, the synthetic plants were showing some deterioration in the new high flow from the WAV pump, so it was time to look for something more suitable to the changes that were being made.
This plastic type is far less superior to the silicone variety:
The silicone tip anemone was added May 14, 2020 while the lights were still being adjusted which caused an algae film to entirely cover the extended tentacles. However, just as it started to change colour, a number of Asterina (starfish) appeared and dined on it, keeping it clean for several months on end, negating the need to remove it for cleaning.
Before lights:
During light testing:
After Asterina cleanup crew:
I hope to encourage the manufacture and use of realistic reef safe micro habitats, as I’ve undoubtedly seen new and interesting behaviour from all livestock in tanks with and without them right across the city. When kids participate from the beginning, they remain interested longer and are more likely to get involved.
Kids doing water tests:
Follow the tank Build journey here:
www.reef2reef.com
It’s 2016 and my mentor gave me everything to build the family’s first saltwater aquarium which my kids were excited to stock. A T5 light on a wall timer with dual canister filters made the decorative seascape seem alive, much to the children’s delight even way before we added fish.
Fast forward to 2020 where I’m once again redesigning a kid approved seascape called Blue Lagoon, when to my amazement and for the first time ever in 4 years have we seen our clownfish showing such love for what is now it's new special place:
So where did the idea come from to add Aquatop's silicone tip anemone? Apart from me being stuck on designing aquariums for the kids as well as feeling a sense of calm from just watching the realistic movements of the seascape in the under current, I became curious one night after observing said clownfish hanging out “hostingly” close to this synthetic seagrass
A few weeks later, the synthetic plants were showing some deterioration in the new high flow from the WAV pump, so it was time to look for something more suitable to the changes that were being made.
This plastic type is far less superior to the silicone variety:
The silicone tip anemone was added May 14, 2020 while the lights were still being adjusted which caused an algae film to entirely cover the extended tentacles. However, just as it started to change colour, a number of Asterina (starfish) appeared and dined on it, keeping it clean for several months on end, negating the need to remove it for cleaning.
Before lights:
During light testing:
After Asterina cleanup crew:
I hope to encourage the manufacture and use of realistic reef safe micro habitats, as I’ve undoubtedly seen new and interesting behaviour from all livestock in tanks with and without them right across the city. When kids participate from the beginning, they remain interested longer and are more likely to get involved.
Kids doing water tests:
Follow the tank Build journey here:
Build Thread - Defensive Reefing - Piloting a 50 gallon tank with no plumbing, sump, filter or return pump
It's the world's 1st lockdown and the second week of running our 50g marine tank without any filtration. This is what Blue Lagoon looked like, sitting at the centre of my winter condo in Calgary on April 19, 2020. and here is the day's API chemistry: All reefers will confront the fear of...
www.reef2reef.com
as for how it looks 6 months later, well the last picture posted does it justice as the snails, crabs, starfish, urchin and fish like the Sailfin Mollies and even the Starry Blenny all seem to take turns keeping these silicone micro habitats clean. I haven't had to remove them for cleaning since the tank matured and nature took its course.
