My Atlantic Biotope 500 Gallon Acrylic

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mer knight79

Guest
Finally got my Atlantic Biotope up and running the way I want it. Love these fish. So much personality. Hope you enjoy my guys :)
Graysby Grouper

Lane Snapper Grey Angel

Atl Blue Tang and Redlip Blenny 2 X 4 Eye Butterflyfish

Spanish Hogfish My Atlantic Tank
Not shown are my 2 mated Pairs of Neon Gobies (doing an AWESOME job as cleaners along with the Hogfish), an Atlantic Jewel Damsel, a Carribbean Beau Gregory Damsel, and Doctor Tang (All in Quarantine).
Fighting with a little hair algae right now. New RO/DI system and anti-phosphate filters are working well along side my clean up crews. Honestly though, it doesn't bother me that I have a bit. Doesn't look bad.
New Midnight Blue Acrylic Paint Background will be added here soon as well.
Comments and Thoughts Welcome :)
 
M

mer knight79

Guest

Here is the tank just after it was all set up and rockwork was done. :)
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Dang... That this is a monster. Nice looking tank.
I love the Atlantic Biotope look. What temp do you keep it at? Any unusual equipment that you have to run??
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
That is ONE big tank! I love it! I really like that you've done a specific biotope; so many of us (I include myself) tend to mix and match for visual appeal more than climate authenticity. Do you have many caribbean gorgonians in here?
 
M

mer knight79

Guest
Thank you :)
I have a few Gorgonians in there to help keep the butterflys fed. Got a yellow sea whip, a white/grey Gorg (fragged into multiple plugs and growing steadily) and a Corky finger...All of which are storm recoveries from the beach that wash up all the time.
Plan on getting several Encrusting Gorgs to spread around once I get the hair algae beat back a little more. My Red Legs, Blue Legs, 5 Various Sea Urchins, Carribbean Sea Hare and OMG! How Many Snails are working their little butts off. Also got 3 LARGE Emerald Crabs that seem to be able to stay away from the Graysby well enough to keep kicking.
As far as the whole set up...Its a Trickle Filter W/ an Algae Mat Pre-Filter and Protein Skimmer work up... Rated for 1000 gallons. I also have a 55 gallon quarantine tank that all the fish spend 2 weeks in before they are introduced. I am currently on another trip to Afghanistan so, the progress is halted for a month or so, but when I get back, gonna establish a Mangrove Refugium with an extra 125 long I have sitting around.
You would be amazed at the difficulty I had getting the "Correct" fish in. Went through 3 groupers (a Honey Comb and 2 Miniatas) all of which were "Supposed" to be Coneys. Finally got sent a Graysby that was also supposed to be a Coney as well, but since they are about the same size and its an Atlantic Grouper, it works so I stuck with it. 2 Other Grey Angels that were supposed to be Frenchs before I finally said to heck with it...I guess I am meant to have a Grey *shrugs*, so I stuck with this one. Got sent 4 High Hat Drum...and in turn sent them back....that were supposed to be Spotted Drum *Sigh* finally gave up on it till I get back from Overseas and with the current projected Bio-load, I may just stick with what I have. I do want a Sargassum Trigger, but will have to see how things go.
Thanks again for the comments. Any suggestions on speeding up the Hair Algae removal? Things you love to see in Atlantic/Carribbean Seas?
 
M

mer knight79

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweatervest13 http:///t/392887/my-atlantic-biotope-500-gallon-acrylic#post_3491676
Dang... That this is a monster. Nice looking tank.
I love the Atlantic Biotope look. What temp do you keep it at? Any unusual equipment that you have to run??
My steady Temp is 76 Degrees. I also keep my Salinity slightly higher (about 2 pts) than is Nominal for Pacific Biotopes.
 
M

mer knight79

Guest
I have thought about the Sargassum File...We catch them all the time when netting Sargassum Weed for small Jacks and Chubs for Dolphin bait. Would just have to find one that the grouper and snapper wouldn't eat ;) Thought about a Scrawled File. We catch those all the time on our trips down to Ft Lauderdale under the piers and pilings. On a similar not, have thought about the 3 main Atlantic Triggers...Queen, Grey and Redtail...Looking at my fish though, I am scared of the Queen and Grey. They are definately Fishocidal :( The Redtail/Sargassum Trigger would be nice. Problem is, I either catch the occasional one thats over 7" or when shops are selling them, they are about the same size. I know they are supposed to be a safer Trigger, but they are still a Trigger. I usually buy fish on chance/luck encounters so, will keep my eye out for one in the size I need at the LFS/Online/when I am out on the water.
Funny you should mention Pipefish. My family and were out fishing one day and this little piece of grass came "swimming" by the boat. My wife grabbed a bait net and scooped it up....I looked and said "Oh Cool, Pipefish". She beamed at the thing and said she wanted one in a tank. So, I am now setting up a nano cube for seahorse/pipefish. We'll see how that goes :)
Thanks again guys
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
DO yourself a favor and don't do horses and pipes together...believe it or not they do not do well. They swap pathogens and usually wind up killing each other with incompatible diseases. Captive bred horses don't do well with pipes at all unfortunately.
 
M

mer knight79

Guest
Wow, thanks for the advice. Didn't know that. Is there anyway to counter it so you can, or is it pretty much a no-go?
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mer Knight79 http:///t/392887/my-atlantic-biotope-500-gallon-acrylic#post_3491838
Wow, thanks for the advice. Didn't know that. Is there anyway to counter it so you can, or is it pretty much a no-go?
These days there ARE a few reputable breeders where you can get captive bred blue-stripe pipes that will go fine with captive horses. Problem is, they're SO small....ask Flower; she has some with her H. kuda seahorses IIRC. There are also apparently some breeders who have successfully raised yellow banded pipefish, but since I have little interest in those fish, I haven't done much research on them. My personal favorite pipefish is the messmate, or dragonface pipe. It's a very interesting lower substrate dwelling pipefish, feeding off of the live rock for small crustaceans....but it's a pacific species, so not part of your biotope there. ;-)
More suggestions: How about a butter hamlet (I'm not sure what other hamlets are Atlantic species but I know the Butter is)
...or Blue reef chromis.....
...or Chalk basslet. I know these are little buggers, but hey, it's all Part Of The Reef, ya know....
 
M

mer knight79

Guest
Well, the Pipes and Seahorse idea doesn't have to be Biotope specific. Would be another tank as I fear that if the grouper doesn't eat them, the angel will pick them to death. I will look into some of the ones you suggested. THANKS!
I Have considered Hamlets. Several of them are VERY breautiful, especially the Indigo and Shy. Pretty sure all Hamlets are Atlantic/Carribbean.
Also considered Blue Reef Chromis and Yellow Edge Chromis if I can get them large enough. Anything too small and the Grouper is sure to make short work of them. They are pretty much Forage Fish on the reef and while the yellow edge is relatively inexpensive...the Blue Reef is up there for a Damsel.
And pretty much staying away from the smaller basses...I fear that they would be nothing but live food for the grouper. Wish the Royal Gramma and a couple others were venomous or something to keep the predators away.
I am thinking of the Atlantic Sharpnose Puffer. Again if I can get one large enough as not to become grouper food...which seems to be my overwhelming concern with everything that I am adding :) But since the Grouper and Snapper are pretty Important to me *shrugs* i'll have to deal.
Almost wish I would have braved having two Atlantic Angels in the tank/bought them at the same time. But alas, the Grey has become master of the reef lol
Thanks again folks :) Will drop pics of the new additions when they come out of quarantine
 
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