29g Mudskipper Lagoon

[jck16]

Hi.
So long story short, I thought I got out of reefing for dart frog vivariums

However, I got a mudskipper about 2 years ago and setup a tank to let some water flow out gradually into a sump and then be pumped back into the tank every so often.
I neglected doing water changes and top offs and the brackish water became a saltwater tank. I tried adding a few corals as well to liven up the tank, broke down that tank because the mudskipper liked to stay in the water longer, and moved it into a longer nano tank, added more corals, and now...I'm back in the hobby with a lagoon mixed reef tank.

Mudskipper sitting in the overflow corner filled with live rock rubble.

Melanurus wrasse

Female of the blue striped pipefish pair I've had for 6 months

Top down view

 

[ourcoralreef]

Lol
Just when you thought you were out they pulled you back in

 

[jck16]

Pics should show up now.

 

[jck16]

Lol
Just when you thought you were out they pulled you back in

Seriously, it's an addiction. I'm even back to doing regular water changes...sigh.

 

[Paul B]

I absolutely love it. I have had such a tank for many years but not as nice as yours. I kept mostly fiddler crabs and a few local fish just for fun. But yours is really nice and interesting.

 

[jck16]

I absolutely love it. I have had such a tank for many years but not as nice as yours. I kept mostly fiddler crabs and a few local fish just for fun. But yours is really nice and interesting.

Wow thanks. That means a lot coming from someone with such a renowned setup.

I had a few fiddler crabs and minnows in my original setup which was designed more as a tidal tank, but the mudskipper ate the fiddlers and the minnows weren't happy at "low tide". There was also mud mixed into the sand from some shore plants too, but they eventually died.

When I moved the skipper to the more reef-oriented setup, I had to battle cyano and bryopsis that I think exploded from nutrients in the sand from the dirtier setup. They finally came under control with fluconazole, so now the tank is starting to look like a clean reef tank.

 

[Dre]

These setups are getting popular. Awesome job man

 

[Paul B]

Mine was half sand and half water. I made a cement barrier to keep the sand on one side and a small pump pumped water on the sand to keep it wet. Fiddlers loved it but it was way to small for skippers which I find facinating.
Good job

 

[jck16]

That's a pretty ingenious idea...If I upgrade the size of the tank I may incorporate that cement idea as I would still like to have a tidal setup.

 

[Paul B]

The cement which was about 4" high, had a drain at the bottom so the water filtered back into the lagoon and the sand acted as a filter so the water stayed clean. The crabs loved it.

 

[jck16]

Saw this blue fiddler crab at the Union Square Petco in their saltwater section being kept fully submerged, so I took a chance on it because it was only $6. So far I'm surprised it hasn't been eaten yet.