Seahorse & Pipefish Haven Part II

[Domboski]

Only one of my northern pipefish is eating frozen mysis.

See video here:



Here is the other Northern Pipefish

 

[Domboski]

Here is a few pictures of my collecting spots:

Shinnecock Inlet:

 

[Domboski]

My partner in crime. As you can see, he also likes to go collecting.

Here is a couple of pictures of his girlfriend (sorry Kathy, he has moved on LOL):

 

[Domboski]

 

[Domboski]

New Additions to the Haven

Cool Water Codium (70 degrees is probably too high for this to survive):

Northern Sea Star (Asterias forbesii):

Long-Clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus longicarpus) Lissa found this guy:

Grubby Sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius):

Unidentified Algae:

 

[Domboski]

Cunner Wrasse (Tautogolabrus adspersus) Lissa took better pics:

 

[crox99]

It's coming along nicely.

 

[Domboski]

I removed a lot of Macro algae from the tank so the water is a little cloudy. I need to add rock and a lot of live sand (probably 100lbs or so to make the sandbed 8" deep). Most of the macros are showing new growth. I need to be patient though for grow out. If anyone has live sand let me know please.

The Red Gracilaria (Gracilaria tikvahiae):

 

[crox99]

Did you collect the Red Gracilaria locally?

 

[Domboski]

It's coming along nicely.

Thanks. It still needs a lot of work though. I need to get some rock in there soon or the ground cover macros are going to take over some of the tree macros. I need to keep them seperated. Once I have good growth and plenty of macro algae, I'm going to add a couple of local periwinkles to help keep growth in check.

 

[Domboski]

Did you collect the Red Gracilaria locally?

Yes.

 

[ellebelle]

Thanks for the props.

 

[cb747]

Looks awesome! Keep up the good work!

 

[eric]

What temp do you keep your tank at? Do you use a chiller?

 

[jhale]

Dom, keeps his tank at 70 degree's. Read his threads, he gives very detailed information on what he does to keep the local species he collects alive and happy.

 

[ellebelle]

Here are some of the things we didn't actually collect:

Weird eggy things

Larger Wrasse

Here is a pic of the wrasse that Dom caught:

\

 

[DontXtripNfall]

cool pics! congrats on ur 1,700th post lissa..

 

[Domboski]

What temp do you keep your tank at? Do you use a chiller?

Hi Eric,

As Jonathan mentioned, I keep my tank at a max 70 degrees. It fluctuates between 68-70 degrees. I do have a chiller. Most locally caught species can not handle temps over 70 degrees for long periods of time. In fact, most can not handle temps over 65 for long periods of time.

IME, the few species locally that can take higher temperatures for the long haul are the Naked Goby (Gobiosoma bosc), Grass Shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio), Mud Snails (Ilyanassa obsoleta) and the Northern Puffer (Sphoeroides maculatus). Northern Puffers are pretty aggressive and can get quite big. There are baitfish Minnows and crabs that can take the higher temps too. Most other species need the temperature to be below 70 degrees to live their full lifespan.

 

[Domboski]

Nice pictures Lissa especially considering the harsh conditions (standing on a pile of shells, freezing water waves hitting you and leaning over the wood dock). LOL Your a trooper!

Everything is doing well from our trip yesterday.

 

[Quang]

this local tank is really cool, dom. i wished i lived closer to the water...