[Puget Sound Biotope]

A new unintentional resident found while having a talk with the clam!

Leaving it be for now. I think it is an Abarenicola pacifica.

[Puget Sound Biotope]

Tank overhaul day. A lot of the amphipods were relocated as they were just taking over and annoying all the other inhabitants.  The clam seems much happier!

 

[What's your dream aquarium product that doesn’t exist?]

A tank with charging walls where all peripherals charge by contact, therefore eliminating the need for electric cords in everything used in the aquarium. Yup, I am just dreaming!

[Puget Sound Biotope]

Just now, Patrick_G said:

Having lived on Puget Sound and it’s waterways for 25 years I love this tank! Do you have any fish in there? Some of the sculpins must be small enough. 

That is the dream fish and why I am in the process of learning as much as I can before I can bring one home. A Grunt sculpin and a  Pacific spiny lumpsucker. I will be making my own tank and am still trying to figure out all the other components, and having a great time throughout the whole process! 🙂

I am glad you like it! Thank you! 🙂

[Puget Sound Biotope]

Today's update, new critters in the tank.

Three Coonstripe shrimp (Pandalus hypsinotus) have joined the gang. They are almost as goofy as the Amano shrimp. The one in the video was surfing the filter current for quite a while, took a break, and went back for another good ride. I named that one Antifaz because it reminds me of a mask.

 

 

The other new guest is a Grainyhand hermit crab (Pagurus granosimanus) but I am not sure if the shell is from a whelk, Nucella ostrina. Hopefully someone with knowledge of gastropods can confirm. His name is Archimedes.

It was a perfect day out there and the water was really warm.

[Puget Sound Biotope]

5 hours ago, ererer said:

If you're into octopuses, you should check out Richard Ross:

 

Yes, thank you. I am familiar with him. I want my house to look like that!

[Puget Sound Biotope]

44 minutes ago, Demobanana said:

Cool! The only thing I know about Puget Sound is Jeremy Wade went there once t look at some octopus, the water looks so murky and dark. But I think native tanks (and not just in your country) are a really cool addition to a home.

I would love to have an octopus, but they get huge and are the ultimate escape artists! Beautiful creatures! The water can be murky, but visibility can be great as well. You just have to like to dive in cold water 🙂 I love that I can have a little window into the world outside and under.

[Puget Sound Biotope]

59 minutes ago, Colu said:

Very interesting project

Thanks! I am having a fun time with it 🙂

[Puget Sound Biotope]

1 hour ago, Emika_B said:

Wow, that’s cool!  Those gammaru are huge - or is it a perspective thing?  Either way, very neat and thanks for sharing 🙂

They are about four times larger than when I first got them. Must be the food I give them, and yes, they are scarily huge! And you are welcome 🙂

[Air pumps that work both on AC AND battery?]

There are some neat ones that connect via USB and can be used with a battery pack. I know @Cory carries them.

[Puget Sound Biotope]

This is my first attempt at a SW tank. I am adding all sorts of life forms from Puget Sound, Washington State.

The humble beginnings:

 

Currently aiming for a stable 55F environment and waiting for the dust to settle.

Had a molting from one of the amphipods.

Well, I thought mystery snails were the only ones with more of a penchant for relocation, until I just saw the clam decided to try a new spot in the tank (and out of view, of course). I know he is there because I can see him from the top, but the little stinker has made it impossible for me to get a side view. I guess they all want to redecorate at some point. The snails and amphipods have pretty much decimated the green tuft seaweed.

Littorina scutulata and several amphipods and copepods.

Algae:
Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii, Cladophora columbiana, Prionitis lanceolata, Fucus gardneri, Alaria marginata.

 

The tank today:

 

I am also documenting this in YT so I can remember what things looked like once a transition has taken place. Please bear in mind that I do have a goofy sense of humour, so some of the videos are kind of wacky.

 

[What did you get done today?]

Replaced my first ever tank which sprang a leak in one of the silicone seals after a little over a year. Went from a 5.5 gallon to a 9 gallon. Plants will have to settle a bit before I do the final scaping and the critters adjust, but overall quite happy with it.

Originally a planted tank, then shrimp and Mystery snails, then the Kuhli loaches moved in. Now it is just the second generation of Neocaridina daviidi, and Pangio semicincta, as well as several bladder and  ramshorn snails that I feed to the pea puffers. Will look into adding a few more loaches, perhaps Pangio cuneovirgata.

Old tank:

New tank:

[Tank Leak Anxiety]

I just finished moving all the inhabitants from my 5.5 gallon tank that sprung a leak. The silicone failed, and in two places! Luckily, tank was small enough that I was able to mop the water, but not before it ruined the cabinet it was on. Oh, well.

I replaced it with a larger tank, better made, with clear silicone and great craftmanship. Will this leak? Who knows. Things happen and you can't make yourself crazy with the whatifs. Save your energy and enjoy the worlds you have created. Deal with a leak if you get one, since doing it prematurely is not got going to make your world any drier.

Tanks can fail, but as most people have said, they are not common occurrences. I happened to be a lucky one! 😉

[Hello from PNW]

30 minutes ago, OnlyGenusCaps said:

Hello @eatyourpeas.  Great to see you over here!  You have some of the coolest projects in the works that I know of.  I'm looking forward to all of your updates here!  It'll be wonderful to add your creative and adventurous tanks keeping to this fantastic community! 

Thank you! I am looking forward to it!

[Hello from PNW]

Love your signature @xXInkedPhoenixX, I live by that motto!

[Some pea puffer questions]

Indeed true, however if you are space constrained like I am, a single puffer can work in a small tank. Mine is in a six gallon and lives with her cleanup crew consisting of one Amano, two Neocaridina and a Nerite snail. The other snails are snack. They are quite social and love to interact. Heavily planted tanks are a must IMHO. Also, she won't eat anything that is dead.

 

 

[Hello from PNW]

Greetings from Puget Sound! Currently maintaining fresh water planted aquariums and making a (slow) transition to saltwater. Looking forward to learning a lot!

Cheers!