Inclinations of a no-filter media system.

[charlesr1958]

I've taken sand samples home and when put under the scope, am always amazed at the unseen life that can be found, such life, is of course, what makes a deep sand bed functional and worth having.
Let me know what you find, I always get a kick out of discovering new (to me) critters. Corals are cool and all, but I get the most enjoyment out of all the "little peaple" that make a reef, a reef. My dive buddies would always get mad at me when they would have to come back looking for me, only to find me with my face pressed into the reef watching all the little critters go about their business...lol Even now, I spend time each night using a flashlight to attract plankton so I can catch a few and put them under the scope, which is where I got all the photos from for my zooplankton page.

Chuck

[EagleEyes]

Thanks to your page i now know that i have Munid Isopods!!! I have a 50X handheld microscope that i press against the glass and i see tons of things (when i dont clean the glass for a couple of days.. lol) They lay their eggs that hatch and they disappear until they have to lay eggs again. I think that the starfish scared them away or somethin. So i will let you know, and if the card fits the camera there, i might have photos!!

[flricordia]

I've had a 20gl going since Aug06 that is primarily a 'natural system'. It is run with a DSB that is maintained by a Tiger pistol shrimp and 2 yellow watchman gobies, 35# LR and a chaeto fuge (24/7 light cycle-mainly for ph control). Corals consist of approx. 50 ricordia, dozen mushrooms, a few zoanthids and 1 6-lined wrasse. Fish are fed every 2 days and corals are fed every week.
There is no protein skimmer, UV, add-on denitrator. One power head to return water from fuge and one for in tank water movement. 20% water changes every 2 weeks and addition of iodide, moly/strnt, liquid calcium, kalk in RO/DI auto top-off.
Rarely clean glass of diatom and no undesirable algae grows in system. I have only been able to keep 1 astrea snail as anymore will starve.

[charlesr1958]

Bravo! Isn't it great when a tank is pretty much on auto pilot? With a little thought and livestock planning, its amazing how well things will do if given the chance and the time to strike its balance. Beautifull system you have there.

Chuck

[EagleEyes]

Way to lead the way flricordia! Your whole tank thanks you. Karma to you

[Craig Manoukian]

Those soft corals look fabulous flricordia!

[EagleEyes]

So there is good news and bad news with my tank. One of the snails i added nassarius snails has died. Good news is however, there was not a huge spike in ammonia simply because the snail was devoured over the course of a couple of days by the sandbed organisms (mostly worms i am sure) and water movement. Every other snail is still going strong and i think a water change this weekend is in order. I was not happy that the snail died, but it was extremely happy to see that i have a well rounded aquarium that can support minor casualties such as those from stress in small organisms.

[Craig Manoukian]

Woohoo!

[EagleEyes]

Thanks!! It worked out, and the tank looks great. I ordered a calcium test kit and a supplement to help 'em out. Not to mention i might be able to get some dang coraline growth.. lol Thanks again

[EagleEyes]

Chaeto.. got some of that lovely chaeto. Also, i comically added a Maxijet 1200 to my ten gallon today, was having some problems with cyano. I am going to upgrade, but i am moving painfuly slow for some reason, i am getting to the bottom of it though. Pics Soon!