Waiting on my $99 IPSF, Ministars and MacroAlgae plantings ?

[bobbie]

Too excited :lol: my 9 for $99 shipment from IndoPacific Sea Farms comes this Wed.! I got live sand activator, wondermud, 12 extra minihermits, and a nice selection of algaes- Tang heaven in red, gold, and green, long feather calerpa, an pod mat(ulva lettuce). I added an order of microstars (free shipping ) I have a few in my main tank, but want to multiply some in the refugium. Do the following eat ministars?- coral beauty, blenny(doubt it), damsels, clowns, pseudo, seahorse (don't worry she's in her own tank), hermits? I haven't caught any doing it, just wondered,espec. the beauty cause she's a "picker". Now my next question, I am thinking of attaching some of the algea to small pieces of base rock for weights by the means of rubberbands (what my local store does for feeding purposes) or fishline lashing. I want to be able to move growths around and into my other tanks (37 and 5 gal.) and back to the refugium for regrowth and a new supply of hitchhikers on a rotation, and I want the plants and refugium to look good, since both will be functional and decorative. The refugium is well cycled now, has a deep sand and crushed coral layered on pleneum bed, and live sand seeded, plenty of amphipods etc. and four dusters(the beauty wouldn't stop nibbling, so they live there for now, and are very happy) Any advice on attachment of the plants, etc? I know the feather sends runners out, but maybe I can attach a couple of small segments? Thanks! Bobbie

 

[ChrisRD]

I think you'll be OK with the ministars - I wouldn't expect any of those fish to bother them.

As for the macros, personally, I wouldn't put any in the main tank, especially Caulerpa sp.. They can be a real nuisance if they get established and attach themselves to the rockwork (which they tend to do quickly).

 

[Anonymous]

By pseudo, you mean a dottyback? They are pretty efficient rock hunters and I suspect they would prey on little brittle stars. The stars are good at staying hidden though...

 

[ChrisRD]

My Royal Gramma and Chaulk Basslet are both into eating anything that moves (including bristle worms!) but they don't seem to bother the ministars. I think because the stars move so slowly - maybe they don't realize they're edible.

In any case, as Dan said, a dottyback or something similar would be the one to watch out for if there was going to be a problem...

 

[bobbie]

Thanks for the advice. I had a strawberry pseudo. that we loved till she jumped out a 2"x2" hole in the hood one night so I was thinking of a similar fish, maybe the fushia and yellow bicolor type (are they called "flame"? they are very striking in color) but I saw a orchid color dottyback (or was it a basslet?) one time that was gorgeous, and I know that pseudos and dottybacks and grammas don't particularly do well mixed because they are territorial. Which would be the nicest (colorful, interesting, and not too shy) do you all think?

 

[Anonymous]

Some of the dottybacks are very rough with any other inhabitants. Orchid dottybacks are usually an exception; they fit in well with others and are super nice. Kind of similar colored and also well behaved it the blackcap basslet. I have had both in community tanks with good experiences.

Royal grammas are good too. One dottyback that I have heard is easygoing is the sunrise, no personal experience though.

The little magenta and bicolored dottybacks can be real problems...