tidalsculpin Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 Well, I finally did it. Mudskippers are on their way. The students have been planning the change for 3 weeks. Thursday we did major renovation of the rbta tank to convert. Step one. Consolidate live rock and rbtas from the 40 to the 80 reef. Step two. Start a 10 gallon temp tank for the remaining rock and algae for live feeds. Change out hardware (slower return) and drain and cap the closed loop. Drill the plex overflow at 7 inches! Rainguard the holes and gaps. Step three: Mudscape! Lots of old sand, and a lot of grey tidal seachem sand I had from the coldwater build. Step four: Decide what live rock would make good perches. Rockscpe. Step five: Cycle the tank. Step six: Order mangroves and plant. Step seven: Order the skips from Frank's Aquarium in NYC. Step 8: Acclimate the buggers. IE Drop on the sand island. The purpose of this tank is to diversify the environments kids get exposed to. Mangrove forests and their creatures are vital to reef health in many parts of the world. This shows a piece of habitat that is absolutely as fascinating as an sps forereef. Check it out the class build. Skips come Tuesday I think. Their were shipping issues last week so I was hesitant to post yet. But here we go ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 Very nice project Joel.(rock2) I can tell you have done some research. Keep us updated! How many mudskippers did you order? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 3, 2009 Author Share Posted May 3, 2009 Their are 6 on the way. Periopthalmus novemradiatus An Indian/ Malaysian Skipper. They get to be 2.5 inches. They are territorial but will not kill or maim like the African species. Very nice behaviors to watch. These fish can in live in full marine salinity. Currently The tank is a 1.15. That is their aquacultured parameter. I will slowly raise salinity with the kids as an experiment. The idea is to recycle the reef/ coldwater in this tank. Any tips on mangrove survival? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 From my experience with Red Mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), they do best in full light, but leaves can dry under heat of MH lamps. Be sure to rinse salt from leaves. A spray bottle of RO water works well for this. Mangroves pull nutrients from the water. Be sure to add magnesium as needed. MANGROVES IN REEF AQUARIA by DANIEL KNOP http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/feature.htm Magnificent Mangroves b Julian Sprung http://www.twolittlefishies.com/images/mangrove_manual.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 3, 2009 Author Share Posted May 3, 2009 Yes, I currently still have a single 250 light above the tank. I think a switch to 24" t5s is imminent. In the meantime, I have the light off. I will start a cheesy 10 gallon makeshift hood setup on Monday for the mangroves. They are currently immersed in the water in the display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 4, 2009 Author Share Posted May 4, 2009 Here are sme new pics for a Sunday afternoon. I went to "work." Got a new light. It is a coralife 30 inch strip with two no t5s. Colormax and 10,000K. Makes me feel like I am in freshwater again. I think it looks awesome. Settled in the mangroves too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr S Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 Gee if I kept track of my Sunday work days. Cool looking set up Joel. What are your summer plans for the tanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 The fish came! I'll post pics tomorrow.All six fish were floating on little pieces of styro in 20 mls of water. It was really cute. Mangroves are going dormant a bit. Keeping watch. These fish are unbelievably cool. And, I have a bit of aiptasia surviving in the tank to boot. As far as summer is concerned, I have a job in the building for the month of July. I would love some Eugene volunteers to help me out one day a week so I don't have to go in every day in August. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 cool, cant wait to see pics of the fish. i was also thinking it would look cool if you had some of the mangroves in front of the rock. that way the fish can swim and hide around their stocks, and you can see the fish. otherwise you may get them all hiding in the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr S Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Joel I would drive down and help you but I am filling my pockets with plastic bags!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Hey Joel... how are those mudskippers doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 16, 2009 Author Share Posted May 16, 2009 Hey, Sorry it has been a while. Busy week. The tank is settling in nicely. I have had some of the mangroves go dormant and lose their eaves. Others are taking to the environment nicely. The hood is super tight and this makes the glass lok like a rainforest in there. I think this is good for the mangrove. The condensation cleans the leaves. My refugium is bursting at the seams. Great growth. I started a reverse light cycle two weeks ago. This has been good for the caluerpa and chaeto below. Amphipods have been spottted burrowing in the sand. The skippers have started to burrow near the "shore." There are no visible holes but they pop out from the surface as if bbbing up and down. All six are still alive. Two have escaped through my overflow. The skippers are pretty small. They look like immature watchman gobies/young lawnmower blennies on land. Cute guys. Basking on the beach. http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l37/tidalsculpin/?action=view¤t=05082009045.flv Hunting reef snails! http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l37/tidalsculpin/?action=view¤t=05082009044.flv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Is the overflow a bulkhead fitting? If it is, it's easy enough to get a screen for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 16, 2009 Author Share Posted May 16, 2009 Actually, I fixed it today. I drilled to fit with a bulkhead fitting, but added a finer screen like rain guard. Originally, I used rain guard, but two buggers escaped into the overflow. They were very easy to get back. I put them back and glued on a finer rainguard type mesh I was given by Eric Hanneman at Liquid Sunshine. I superglued it in place and put a poly filter behind it. 180 Bob helped me. He also delivered 4 tanks to us today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Actually' date=' I fixed it today. I drilled to fit with a bulkhead fitting, but added a finer screen like rain guard. Originally, I used rain guard, but two buggers escaped into the overflow. They were very easy to get back. I put them back and glued on a finer rainguard type mesh I was given by Eric Hanneman at Liquid Sunshine. I superglued it in place and put a poly filter behind it. 180 Bob helped me. He also delivered 4 tanks to us today.[/quote'] Glad it all worked out! I meant to ask you awhile ago about your overflows, and how they were screened. I have been shipped mudskippers that were less than 1" in length! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Thats so cool Joel. When can i come down and check em out??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 That's a great set-up! Would love to come by to see them in person some time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Brandy Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Joel's mudskipper tank is super awesome!!!! I think every school in America should have a mudskipper tank in their classroom. What a fantastic way to teach the youth!!!! Or anyone for that matter!!!! Field Trip to Joel's Classroom (rock2) Will post some pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Bob Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Mudskipper Pictures Joel: Thanks for having us down Friday afternoon. It was great fun to see your coldwater tank again and especially the mudskipper tank. The world could use many more teachers with your dedication and enthusiasm. Here are some pictures of Joel's Skippers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 17, 2009 Author Share Posted May 17, 2009 Nice shots. Thanks Bob for posting. As you can see. Full tummies make happy skippers. Prime reef is their current diet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 nice looking tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 those are awesome!!! so are these fish or amphibeans? and off topic, what are you eating and washing down with mt dew at the assembly? is that a gold fish? i think that would be against PNWMAS policy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 No, I ate six worms. Annelids only! The mudskipper is a member of the goby famly. They are not amphibians! They are true fish with an impressive evolutionary adaptation. They don't have lungs. They have gills that are adapted to exchange oxygen through their gills by trapping water in them. So their gills act as water bags carrying their oxygen supply with them. They also exchange oxygen through their skin. They do not have feet. They have fins adapted for "skipping". This is the most extensive website I have found on these fish. If you like reading aboutevolution it is right up your alley. These fish are an incredible teaching tool for biology. http://www.themudskipper.org/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 Ok, I gotta know, is this set-up still going? This is just too friggin cool LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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