Planktonic Creatures in Your Tank

[dhoch]

So last night I was watching Discovery HD and there was a VERY COOL show on about predators on the reef (Great Barrier Reef in their example). While there was some stuff they said about corals that wasn't correct (like using pulsing xenia as an example of a feeding coral) overall it was very good and there were some great and very detailed shots.

 

One thing I noticed on their night shots was how much plantonic life was in the water... I mean if we saw our reef tanks looking like that we would freek out... Most of the plaktonic life was baby inverts and/or fish they were then feeding fish, inverts and corals...

 

I find my tank extremely healthy and do no additives, BUT I have 3 cleaners that breed and release young regularly and my two clowns are also breeding and releasing young regularly. I think that this is definitly helping the health of my tank...

 

Was wondering if others have the same or do addtives or what?

 

Dave

[Caribbean Jake]

my tank is full of microscopic stuff, plankton, bugs, pods, etc. it is easy to see by the human eye when the MH lights are off..(after 9PM every day). otherwise the water seems clear to a naked eye.

[BeltwayBandit]

Darn polls don't let you make two choices. I have breeding fish (clarkii) and inverts.

[dhoch]

Yeah I realized that... Wish I could have done differently... I have breeding clowns (osciis) and shrimp....

 

Dave

[Ne0eN]

Breeding inverts (cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp) and breeding fish (tomato clowns) in the 260 gal reef.

 

-- Rob

[HowardofNOVA]

Any of you "Breeders" have any of these shrimp bit enough to sell?

I'll be looking for 2 each of Fire/Cleaner shrimp soon.

[dhoch]

Howard,

 

you can't raise these guys (fish or shrimp) without very specialized conditions. The planktonic life can not survive without special feeding conditions, etc.

 

I looked into breeding the cleaners which has yet to be achieved in captivity I belive (other than peps, and even that was a huge undertaking).

 

I've had a # of people through the years tell me they could do it, but when push came to shove they couldn't

 

Dave

[Caribbean Jake]

yeap, that has been my experience, so every time the cleaner shrimps spown, I feel lucky I don't have to feed the fish for a day or two.... they are eating, they are fat, they are happy... let nature take its course

[Guest Larry-T]

Howard,

 

you can't raise these guys (fish or shrimp) without very specialized conditions. The planktonic life can not survive without special feeding conditions, etc.

 

I looked into breeding the cleaners which has yet to be achieved in captivity I belive (other than peps, and even that was a huge undertaking).

 

I've had a # of people through the years tell me they could do it, but when push came to shove they couldn't

 

Dave

 

Actually, there are a number of people breeding a variety of Lysmata shrimp quite successfully. I have seen an extensive article... I think it was in "Aquaculture" magazine, but I have also seen reports online. If you do a google search on +breeding +lysmata you will find quite a bit of information. Outlets like Aquatic Ecosystems also sell a number of products designed to feed shimp larvae at various stages of development.

[dhoch]

But not skunk cleaners...

 

Everything I've read (other than some old references in the breeders registry) people have been able to keep larva alive from 70-100 days but not to full muturity...

 

Dave

[Caribbean Jake]

mine always release those green eggs into the water column at night, and every fish and invert in the tank comes out to feast... so I seldomly see shrimp fries around the sump pump and then they are gone.