Live Mud and Seagrass

[Clownfish518]

Hey John,

I am am planning out my next tank, and I am going with a planted reef aquarium with seagrass. I know I will be best off using all live mud, but I think that will be quite costly and may break the budget. I am thinking of mixing it with CaribSea Ocean Direct Original sand. Is this a reasonable plan, and what proportions should I use. Or do you have a better suggestion?

I am thinking of doing a 6" bed. That seems to accommodate a lot of grasses, as well as burrowers. For the grasses, do you ever get in any Thalassia testudinum? I am thinking of using it with some manatee grass in the back with some oar and star grass in the front.

Like I said, I am in the planning stage, so any suggestions are welcome

Thanks

[SeahorseBT]

I have no idea on the seagrass but I'm curious, are you going to keep seahorses?

[johnmaloney]

No, sorry the seagrass we carry are the only species we find viable in drift. Other species go into drift, but only the blades. Collecting planted seagrass is illegal so no go there unless we get lucky.

Mix is best, all mud would be ugly, and too thick. With that thickness, anoxic problems might come up. I will revisit the issue again in the morning, sunburnt to a crisp right now from the Keys and a bit dizzy. Tons of new macro though..neomeris mermaids wine glass etc... (The last part was mopre towards SeahorseBT)

[SeahorseBT]

New macros? I am headed your way...

[SeahorseBT]

Is the spring /summer shipping ($7.50)available yet?

[Clownfish518]

If 4" or 5" works, I can do that too. All the literature points to 6. I don't have practical knowledge with seagrass yet.

Be interested in seeing your new macros too. I have many in my tanks from you

[johnmaloney]

neomeris, sea fern are new, (sea fern not on site yet though, I forgot the scientific names, barbauta or something. Probably way off...sunburn killing me! Pinecones, brushes, caps, fans, are all on the list of recommendations. Nicest I have ever had. Sorry if anyone bought them last week, I had no idea.

Seahorse - I got a trade worth of the nemastoma for you now.

[johnmaloney]

for the deeper turtle grass that sounds about right. If you are going that deep though you need a coarse sand bottom (some finer sand will sift down for sure, but a good start) to get some water transfer. I think it will also promote root growth. On my last trip I checked out some seagrass beds and you they had better root development than the beds I have seen. In my area, thick mud runs pretty deep and while the soil provides for good coverage, after about 3 inches it becomes too dense for root penetration. Some of the seagrass banks I saw that were next to carved channels had amazing root growth. Wish I took a picture. Not much into cameras, but the seagrass beds are so healthy in some of these spots I wish I was for a minute.

[SeahorseBT]

YGPM John

[johnmaloney]

you got a reply. i think, maybe there is another pm.