Sargassam raft biotope

[Bluetangclan]

I have been interested in this type of tank since I read about them in Reef Fishes. Has anyone ever tried one or know anyone who has? Does anyone know where I could get hold of sargassam grass itself? Thanks

 

[Len]

I'd be interested in anyone who's tried this too. I don't know anyone selling the species of Saragussum suitable for this type of setup. A lot of saragussum is inadvertedly imported on live rock, but it's not the right species. If you find out anything, i'd be interested in what you hear.

 

[liquid]

Same here. It definitely sounds like an interesting project and I'm gonna tag along to see what others have to say.

Shane

 

[Bluetangclan]

I got a response on a different board from a guy in Ft Lauderdale who says it washes up all the time on the beach there so it cant be that hard to get hold of. Do I hear the words "Road Trip"?

 

[Anonymous]

Sargasso is a very common macro to grow out of live rock. I have it in my tank. Pretty sure it's the same thing....

 

[teevee]

http://www.nrm.se/kbo/saml/phaeolista5.html.en lists 131 species of Sargassum. I do know there are certain types that float and certain types that grow onto rocks.

 

[Len]

The floating species don't form holdfasts, but I don't know how to prevent them from getting all bunched up in a corner of the tank. And an overflow sounds like a really bad idea

 

[Algae Blenny]

I've seen a 20L Sargassum with a Sargassum frogfish. Sorry I can't remember where I saw it.

 

[teevee]

Do closed loops that have their intakes and outflows near the bottom of the tank. Make the tank extremely deep and do a section in a back corner in charcoal glass where you can put your skimmer, heaters, etc. Have the water level above this partition and powerheads halfway down, pushing water back into the main section of the tank through holes. Basically all to reduce flow near the surface.

 

[Anonymous]

Reducing flow near the surface means reducing gas exchange.

 

[jamesw]

You can collect sargassum and the associated species all along the Gulf in the late summer. I have seen shrimp, crabs, and also the sargassum anglers.

The only problem is that the floating sargussum is not easy to keep alive. I think it's because it is adapted to the BRIGHT sunlight it gets at the surface in the baking hot summer of the Gulf.

Cheers
James