Deep water biotope list.. suggestions??? - Page 5

canadawest · #1 07-11-2002, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zulu_principle:
What kind of stuff would you do in a Pacific Northwest aquarium.

I think it would be fun and after the September I have a 1/5 horse chiller that always looks for work.....

Zulu

Take a visit to the Vancouver Public Aquarium sometime Zulu. They have an entire section devoted to Pacific Northwest waters. I haven't been for a couple years, but it was pretty interesting then and I suspect as good or better now.

When diving, I particularly enjoy the Moray Eels, large shrimp and crabs, plumous anemones and many different fish. I also like the seals, but I'm not sure how big of a tank I would need to keep a breeding pair? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

DJ88 · #2 07-10-2002, 05:16 PM

Quote:

You want to simulate a deep water environment in a 20g tank? You want to keep a species that typically lives in deeper water, hence has a physiology specifically adapted for deep water pressures, yet are content to keep this same species in 12" of water for the rest of it's life?

The species I am looking at keeping are ones found at depths of 1m to 100 m. I am NOT looking to keep species that are EXCLUSIVELY found in a deep water biotope. Just one that would be found on a reef wall, in caves or dimly lit areas.

As I remember it you have or had several deep water reef wall species in your tank.

Royal Gramma. 1-60m Often found in caves or under ledges

Falme Angel. 2 - 57 m. surge zone to a depth of 57 m . Secretive and stays near shelter

These are similar species as to what I am looking at keeping. I just want to see them in a more NATURAL setting. The two speieces that I jsut mentioned display different behaviors when put into a proper environment. My gramma becomes a completely different fish when the MH goes off. It is out hovering in front of its cave as it would in the wild. Not hiding from the light. Before you go and slam me for wanting to provide a natural setting for my fish shouldn't you look at your own tank before hand?

I am spending hours and hours researching each and every possibility for this system. Ensuring that what I get is naturally found in that area of a reef. And is a species that will exist in a tank of that size. Want me to get into fish in a tank? And what belongs where???

Quote:

For example, it would be cool to have a shark in my 100g tank, but it's certainly not something I would do.

You are comparing my wanting to provide a natural environment for a secretive often solitary peacful fish to a shark in a tank???? Give me a break...

When I say deep water I am talking 20-50m TOPS. The depths at which the lighting visible is blue. Not the brilliant white blinding you see at the reef crest. You dive you should know that you don't have to go far for it to get dark.. what are you thinking? that I want to keep fish that soely reside below 100m????? Read the links I posted. most of these fish are found THROUGHOUT the reef. ie. up near the surface. NOt exclusively at the bottom of the ocean.

Do you even understand the differences between the various zones of a reef??? Did you bother to look those things up before your offhanded quips???

pffft...

thanks for the addition of your valuable information.. :rolleyes: :mad:

[ 10 July 2002, 13:20: Message edited by: DJ88 ]

George · #3 07-10-2002, 05:39 PM

Chill Darren, I think Andrew raised a valid concern.

George

Troy F · #4 07-10-2002, 06:01 PM

I agree George let's relax, maybe the heat is getting to us. However, Andrew's concern, though well meaning is way off base. The vast majority of the fish we keep are found significantly deeper than any of our tanks allow. Would it be better if Darren said "dimly lit tank"? That may clarify things. Let's remember we're all friends here (I'm an exception, I'm a miserable pr--k in real life too).

naesco · #5 07-10-2002, 11:55 PM

yeah I assummed cooler water and a dimmly lit tank as opposed to what we all keep.
I hear that real deep critters are really expensive.

canadawest · #6 07-11-2002, 06:15 AM

Quote:

The species I am looking at keeping are ones found at depths of 1m to 100 m. I am NOT looking to keep species that are EXCLUSIVELY found in a deep water biotope. Just one that would be found on a reef wall, in caves or dimly lit areas.

I stand clarified in that your species selection is not "exclusive" to deeper depths, but rather species that live in a varied depth.

But with that said, most species of underwater animal have the ability to dive and live at much deeper depths than they are typically found, it's just they don't. For example Tangs are found at depths up to 50 meters, but can dive deeper if necessary.

Quote:

As I remember it you have or had several deep water reef wall species in your tank.

Royal Gramma. 1-60m Often found in caves or under ledges

Falme Angel. 2 - 57 m. surge zone to a depth of 57 m . Secretive and stays near shelter

These are similar species as to what I am looking at keeping. I just want to see them in a more NATURAL setting. The two speieces that I jsut mentioned display different behaviors when put into a proper environment. My gramma becomes a completely different fish when the MH goes off. It is out hovering in front of its cave as it would in the wild. Not hiding from the light. Before you go and slam me for wanting to provide a natural setting for my fish shouldn't you look at your own tank before hand?

Yes, while I do have a Royal Gramma in my tank, I would consider neither of the above mentioned species "deep water" species, as "deep water species" typically refers to species found at a depth of 300m or greater.

I interpreted your desire of a "deep water species" tank to mean that you were interested in recreating an environment for species that would be typically found ONLY in deep water, an environment which obviously would be impossible to recreate for us hobbiests. Again, I stand corrected in interpreting your intention.

So perhaps it should be said you desire to create an environment that "looks" like deep water, as opposed to a "deep water species tank". I am not silly enough to have thought you would keep a species that is exclusively found in deeper waters in a home aquarium, but I still think the description of the project should not include "deep water species" but rather deep water appearance. Perhaps it is all just symantecs, but "deep water" has no place for discussion in our home aquaria. :rolleyes:

Quote:

When I say deep water I am talking 20-50m TOPS. The depths at which the lighting visible is blue. Not the brilliant white blinding you see at the reef crest. You dive you should know that you don't have to go far for it to get dark.. what are you thinking? that I want to keep fish that soely reside below 100m????? Read the links I posted. most of these fish are found THROUGHOUT the reef. ie. up near the surface. NOt exclusively at the bottom of the ocean.

Again, 20-50m would still be considered shallow water, and a region where I would hazzard a guess that 90% of the fish available in the hobby could be found residing.

Quote:

Do you even understand the differences between the various zones of a reef??? Did you bother to look those things up before your offhanded quips???

pffft...

thanks for the addition of your valuable information.. :rolleyes: :mad:

No comment necessary on these points, as I'm sure you were frustrated when writing it. ;)

Diomedes · #7 07-12-2002, 04:59 AM

Hey Darren, why are you even responding to this stuff? A "deep water" fish that is properly decompressed upon capture?! (ask Richard Pyle if this is even necessary) is not negatively impacted by the fact that our tanks are much shallower than the ocean. Hmmmm think about it, there is no fish that can be pidgeonholed into a certain depth range EXCLUSIVELY. Fish travel freely up and down in the water column effortlessly. The pressure is not a huge factor. Pressure is a huge factor when humans venture under water, because of our sinuses, lungs, and ear cavities. So obviously humans think that fish also suffer underwater in different pressure strata. They don't. The factors that dictate where a fish is found in the water column are Food, Competition, Predation etc. Not Pressure. If anyone needs verification on that they can start emailing other marine biologists and ask them how much pressure determines a fishes location on a reef. The fish you are describing don't have lungs etc., so blue light, proper rock and temperatures etc. are an excellent simulation of their natural environment. They don't notice the pressure change any more than I do when I drive up to SFU. They acclimate to it instantly and naturally.
Your tank sounds like a lot of fun....I bought a Serranocirrhitis latus from JL's and it is my second favourite fish in my reef...it is a masterpiece!! He is a little addicted to brine shrimp right now, so I am using up a lot of Selc. but I will continue to try more and more foods until I find somthing else he likes.
I was thinking, why don't you make a 'neptheid tank instead of the mushrooms? Get a range of ahermatypic Dendro and Scleroneptheid frags. This would be truly magnificent.

Stephen

PS- Pineapple fish are cold water (CHILLER$$$) species, no?