Black Sea Aquarium

Adam

Good day, esteemed lovers of marine aquaristics! If anyone keeps an aquarium with Black Sea animals, please respond. My aquarium: 162x53x60, acrylic. Equipment: homemade wet-dry filter with a volume of about 5 liters, placed on the aquarium, filler - crushed coral, water supply - Atman 2000 through a foam sponge, homemade internal protein skimmer with two wooden diffusers, two mixing pumps Atman 1100. Lighting: TLD95036w, LD40 (2 pcs). Parameters: salinity 28 parts per thousand, homemade salt, additive Marinvit Plus, I do not test the water. Rocks: Black Sea limestone, some stones were brought by order in a barrel of water. Animals: dog-sphinx - about 30 pcs., shrimp - about 30 pcs., hermit crabs - about 15 pcs., anemones - about 10 pcs., mussels, snails, red calcareous algae. The aquarium was launched in July 2004 and populated at the end of September. I caught the animals myself in the village of Rybachye. There were: a very beautiful small fish (presumably a juvenile of a light-colored scad) - it began to grow rapidly and eat the other inhabitants, juvenile greenlings - the same problem, a needlefish - died of exhaustion after 4 months, mussels are gradually dying for the same reason, but some specimens are still alive. Best regards.

David4968

You would build an Artemia reactor, and there would be fewer problems; the needlefish and mussels would be fed.

Stuart

So what is the problem, actually?

Breanna9982

The Artemiev reactor is available. The needle did not take it. There is no problem. I described my aquarium as one of the options for the sea. I aim to create something like a Black Sea reef with live rocks, live sand, invertebrates, etc. Naturally, I am interested if anyone else is engaged in this. Best regards.

Ashley5975

Dear [Name]. Could you please provide more details about homemade salt? What components do you use, etc.? I am very interested in this question, especially how much cheaper it is compared to store-bought salt. Thank you in advance.

Joyce

I have had a long-standing desire to create something like this, but so far this desire does not align with my capabilities. I hope that someday it will align.

Jeffrey2277

Dear, Could you please provide more details about your equipment: "homemade wet-dry filter" "homemade internal foam separator" Also, how did the residents of your aquarium cope with the transportation from Crimea, and how did you carry out this transportation? Thank you in advance.

Tammy2040

Regarding trace elements, Bereza drops work well, especially when diluted 1 to 5. The calculation is 1 teaspoon per 100 liters of water.

Tammy2040

Dear! Will you post the photos? I would be interested to see them.

Richard

Message for . Journal "Aquaculture", 1986, No. 5. Article "Artificial Seawater". Author D. Astakhov. I apologize. For Jurassik. Can you provide more details about the drops or is it a joke? For . I will try to take a digital camera and post the photo by Monday. Best regards. .

Holly

The drops are no joke - the other day I looked up their chemical composition - regarding dilution - my friends and I figured out the dilution (both they and I, although I haven't been doing this for a long time and they still are) initially it was made to boost the immunity of cancer patients - but on fish and invertebrates - if you remove some components, it still works, and for freshwater fish too. Roughly speaking, Berezha drops are a set of microelements - very large and necessary.

Laura3615

My sea started with the Black Sea. And then it grew. My pioneers actually lived in the Black Sea water; later, I increased the density for more expensive fish. Our local hermits still live and feel quite well. This summer, I want to catch a spiny dogfish; I don't know if it will work out, but trying is not a sin. Everything from the Black Sea lived quite well, and after I switched to tropical waters, everything happily returned home. If anyone is interested in the Black Sea, feel free to reach out. Only in summer, though, as it's hard to get into the cold water. By the way, we have some interesting fish.

Nicholas2252

Thank you. I will definitely reach out. I really want to hear about interesting fish. I was planning to focus on the main animals like sea swallows and red three-spined sticklebacks, but I couldn't catch them. My friends visited the marine aquarium in Alushta. An employee told them that all fish (dogfish, rays, scad, etc.) caught at depth do not live longer than a month. Perhaps it's just that they don't survive there. Best regards.

Brent5588

Regarding catfish, they require very specific conditions for their maintenance - as far as I know, they have only been successfully kept in a Georgian aquarium, and even then, it didn't work out right away. However, trying is not a waste - who knows - the fish is very impressive. As for Alushta, very few things can survive in those aquariums - I was personally shocked!!!! By the way, in Alushta, in the Pioneer Palace, a Sea Rooster lives magnificently - the fish is just superb!!!

Kathryn514

I posted a photo of the overall view in the marine aquariums section, if you can call it a photo. I couldn't get the right digital camera. As for Alushta, that's about what I suspected. What kind of aquarium is in the Pioneer Palace? Best regards.

Jenny

a pit dug in the floor - I understand it's a floor aquarium + a bunch of small jars.

Zoe7451

I understand that there is no equipment in the aquarium. I have never seen a rooster in the sea, but judging by the photos on your website, the fish is really amazing. Especially the top view. Best regards.

Phillip9722

I have a question for Rey and everyone reading this topic. Water with oceanic salinity should be much more stable in terms of buffering properties and the amount of trace elements than that of the Black Sea. What would be better for the animals - their native density or a more stable habitat? Moreover, all inhabitants of the Black Sea have Mediterranean origins. I can't seem to make a final decision on this issue. Possible advantages of salinity of 18-20 ppt: it may be possible to acclimatize algae; saving salt and the ability to make large water changes. Thank you in advance for any responses.

Jeffrey2277

Regarding Black Sea animals, there is good information on the internet, but you need to click through the pages manually - /book1/1/, the second /book1/2/, the third /book1/3/, and so on.

Kathy

I wish you good luck and success in creating the Black Sea aquarium.

Amanda

No one evaporates iodine from salt; iodine in salts is in the form of potassium iodide. Naturally, all trace elements (or rather their salts), especially metals, are chelated to prevent them from reacting with each other. The cost of salt is not that high, about 50 USD for 20 kg, which, when calculated based on the cost of components, is not much more expensive. Moreover, for a Black Sea aquarium, you need half as much. Good luck.

Chelsea

I agree about the salt. Sometimes it's harmful to listen to sellers. I will use branded salt, and I might ask for help with the purchase. Right now, the selection of salts in stores is limited, and a year ago there was only Serra for 80 currency units for 20 kg. Best regards.

Travis572

Try to bring some live sand from the sea and add it to the substrate in the aquarium; the life at the bottom will become richer, and the appearance of the bottom with sand will be more interesting. In the Black Sea, there is also a very good algae – Zostera, which resembles freshwater Vallisneria and can grow even in high salinity, but it is extremely rare.

Melinda2740

Hello, Rey! I promise not to ask you to dig into your memory anymore, but a very important question has come up. How was the problem of cooling the aquarium with Black Sea animals solved, and most importantly, what temperature do you think is critical for them when the heat starts? And of course, I would really like to know more about your experience with Zostera. I haven't seen it in the sea, but storm-torn bushes are often found near the shore. Best regards.

Melissa2062

Hello, I apologize for intruding on your thread with my question, but I am also planning to go to the sea in August and would like to bring someone from the clean-up crew. I have a small aquarium (50 liters) and can't keep herbivorous fish in it. As far as I understand, the hermit crabs (Diogenes) can tolerate ocean salinity, but who else could I take? Maybe some snails (like Nerite, for example) or some herbivorous species? Or any shrimp?

Joseph9203

Hello! In addition to the hermit crabs of the genus Diogenes, you can also bring the beautiful red Clibanarius hermit crab, which lives in rocky substrates, unlike Diogenes. They can coexist with snails and shrimp. All of them can tolerate ocean salinity, but the acclimatization process should be slow, as these animals, unlike fish, are more sensitive to sudden changes in salinity. It's better not to take crabs; in any case, they always tried to escape from the water, and moreover, they can attack lobsters and shrimp.

Gabrielle5053

I forgot to mention that I also have about 10-15 hermit crabs of the Clibanarius species. They arrived in the shells of the Gibbula snails, and then I added larger shells for them a few more times; they moved into those and grew, although not all of them, as a few still live in small shells. The creature is simply unique, very brightly colored, but they lead a reclusive lifestyle and usually appear in the evening and at night. Unfortunately, I currently do not have the technical means to take my own photographs, but there are wonderful photos of all the discussed animals on the website I mentioned above. Best regards.

Erica752

Thank you for the quick response. I understand everything, I won't take it. But regarding the clibanarii, where can I find them? To be honest, I've never seen such a thing, only Diogenes.

Leah

I completely forgot to mention the most important thing. The time of day is very important in catching animals. Crayfish in an aquarium mostly lead a nocturnal lifestyle and rarely appear during the day, but around eight in the evening, they start to come to the forefront, although they can sometimes be seen crawling around during the day. Therefore, in the sea, it is better to look for them either very early in the morning or in the evening, almost at dusk. Good luck.

Katie3017

I suggest to the moderator and/or administrator that the material deserves to be included in the FAQ.

Rick

I brought hermit crabs from Dzhanhot, which is near Gelendzhik, collecting them among the stones in shallow water, at a depth of no more than half a meter, though that was a long time ago. There is no special recipe; I just gathered snails from the stones, and regularly found crabs in their shells. I think they are found everywhere with rocky soil, and not just pebbles; these crabs do not live on stones in the sand.

Karen81

Hello! We are waiting for the photos. What cameras did you use and in what modes did you take the pictures? And maybe it's time to switch to "you" in our communication?

Kathryn514

Since the blurry pictures mean you're not focusing while taking photos, yes, it would be very interesting to see the pictures.

Joyce

Hello everyone! Rei, let's switch to informal. I can't specify the exact camera models right now; they are Olympuses with a two in the name, and the equipment is clearly not professional. When photographing with a flash, the image is sharp but dark; without the flash, the colors and depth are normal, but all moving objects are blurred. Best regards.

Heather

Hello everyone! In our photo gallery, there are five photographs: Black Sea, Black Sea1-4. They were taken with a PRETEC 2.1 camera, the overall quality is very poor, and the macro shots are acceptable. The photographs have not been edited in any way. Best regards.

Phyllis

What did you do with the actinias? Why are they exposed to the light? I haven't seen them since last year. I only remember them when I'm moving the stones. It's actually cool, almost like in the sea. Mollynésia seems out of place. Change it.

Thomas1044

That's really great, congratulations! I really like the aquarium right now; it truly resembles a Black Sea landscape. I want to say again, well done, you have created a very interesting aquarium. I wish you further success. Regarding the photos themselves, the overall view doesn't work because the light from the lamps hits the lens and overexposes the shot. Try covering the lamps during the shoot, and it will be significantly better. The other photos are quite decent, except for the one with the algae and the three-spot gourami, but I adjusted the exposure a bit without changing the colors, and it turned out well.

Michelle9986

By the way, regarding fish. Many, if not all, pomacenters maintain Black Sea salinity and feel quite well. This has been tested from personal experience. Atherina and sprat are absolutely not transportable. If you still want to try, look for them under the bells of large jellyfish. They hide in them in whole schools while they are small.

John3165

Please take a look when you dive, to see if there are any jellyfish and swallow fry hiding in the domes. Best regards.

Jerry

No, swallows don't hide from jellyfish; I've only seen them a couple of times, and that was in clear water. By the way, what captivated you about them so much?... Although it's all a matter of taste, but still?

Catherine6534

Hello! Here is some interesting information about Black Sea inhabitants; take a look, there is a very funny dog there.

James4757

There is another thought regarding this quote: For some reason, algae are struggling (the current is shaking them, reacting to changes in water parameters...), while for cyanobacteria this is less critical, and in fact, the current is beneficial for their growth. Since algae absorb "all" the muck from the water, for them it serves as an additional nutrient and support.

Ashley5975

Yes, indeed, cyanobacteria appeared specifically in areas with strong unidirectional currents, as there are no controllers. They emerged when the Atman2000 was added to the circulation, which previously serviced the biofilter. My observations at sea have long led me to believe that circulation using pumps is very far from natural. The movement of the entire mass of water in one direction, and then a couple of seconds later in the opposite direction, can only create some kind of proper wave; moreover, this cyclicality often changes throughout the day from complete calm to storm. In general, there is much to think about and ways to develop. Sincerely.

Mary

Good day everyone! "Wave" is not mandatory. If you use several pumps, it's better to choose not very powerful ones (500-600 l/h) and connect them through timers, each one, to achieve good results. Consider that if the Tunze controller breaks, you will lose money and the system will completely lose flow. If a timer or a pump breaks, the other three, for example, will still work. We have Chinese timers that cost up to 200 rubles. The mechanical ones have a time interval of 15 minutes. When one is turned on, the direction of the flow changes; when another is turned on, the flow changes again. Best regards, Volodya.

Curtis9143

Volodya, hello! I’m glad you participated in our topic. Most likely, I will focus on pumps with mechanical timers, as this is indeed the most reliable and budget-friendly way to create currents. I have never seen the branded Wave in action, but I would like something like this: if you place your hand on the water in the corner of the aquarium and move it up and down, it creates a movement of the entire mass of water that is quite similar to natural currents. Best regards.

Anthony

Hello! This topic was discussed somewhere on the forum. Here is the list of topics: Take a look, you might not want to. It might cause seasickness. I have a video somewhere on my computer. I'm not really...

Pamela

Hi! Regarding the timer. Don't get a mechanical one - they get misaligned very easily - buy an electronic one - the price difference is not significant, and they work much more reliably.

David4968

I watched the video of the Ealex aquarium... It looks very beautiful, I liked the circulation, but it might cause motion sickness. I will think about it, maybe I can create something budget-friendly. Best regards.

Amber6362

In this case, the drift - the lag will only add extra chaos. And a failure - a couple of minutes a day - is insignificant. The electronic "Eheim," and I have gone through several of them, eventually refuse to work with batteries, and then not at all. And even if they work without batteries, when the power goes out, they have to be reprogrammed. Considering that the sockets are hidden and located in a hard-to-see place, as well as the small LCD (live stones) screen without backlighting, these timers are quite tedious.

Charles4157

Volodya, in the first photos of your aquarium, there were Black Sea algae (codium and phyllophora), I'm very curious about their fate? Best regards.

Curtis

I may not understand what it's about, but I don't think I've ever had that seaweed.

Stephanie3084

Volodya, I thought that the first photo on the Aqualogo forum shows a codium, and the fifth one shows a phyllophora. Best regards.

Wendy8540

On the first page, if this is the page in question: a photo of the clavularia (coral), and on the fifth, I don't remember which algae it was. If anyone could remind me, I would be very grateful. I recall the invoices, it seemed like there was "codium on the stone." But to be honest, I'm a bit stuck. It's a pity that you can't attach photos on this forum. Hence the question to the admin, but please don't take it as criticism (I don't like to criticize): is it possible to change the forum engine to a more user-friendly one? For example, like on "" and most other forums.

Stephen

Aquarium Systems has a wave maker that costs about 80 Euros; you can buy it instead of fiddling with timers.

Christopher1252

Here is a link to another device, "Sea Swirl." And also here: And for the discussion of this device: Here is a little drawing:

Brian6895

You can contact Alex directly through the forum "". I don't think he will refuse. By the way, his aquarium has become Augustus's aquarium on "Reef Keeping". That's cool. Here, a person is planning to set up a wave maker. In this same topic, there are three very interesting links from Alex. Be sure to check them out. I'll tell you about my algae later.

Todd8452

The aquarium needs to be equipped with a RCD (residual current device), and ideally, it should also be grounded.

Stephen

Don't worry, shrimp are completely harmless and very amusing creatures that cannot harm hermit crabs at all.

Michelle104

Ray, you calmed me down a bit, but left me puzzled. Today I found two hermit crabs torn in half. A similar situation is with my acquaintance, to whom I also brought shrimp and hermit crabs. My first suspicion fell on the shrimp, but if not them, then who? I have a small aquarium, not much life in it. Could I have different shrimp? Mine are transparent, resembling zebras with yellow and blue stripes on their legs. Other suspects are the hermit crabs themselves. Could they be fighting over something (like a shell, for example) and injuring each other, and if so, what should I do with them? Maybe I should throw in some empty shells for them?

Melanie

Perhaps the crayfish have simply molted. These shrimp are completely harmless. It is unlikely that crayfish will fight after experiencing stress (catching and transportation), but when they enter water with a higher salt content, they usually molt.

John5528

I agree with Imir, it's likely that the crayfish have molted, but fights between them are quite real and more often it's an attempt to take over a shell, so if you have empty shells of the right size, you should definitely throw them into the aquarium. For example, I have tropical pargus crayfish that are very beautiful with blue claws, and they fought over a shell, resulting in one killing the other and crawling into its shell. Shrimp definitely could not kill a crayfish.

James8887

Yes, Ray, of course, the fights are real. But at this stage, I think it's unlikely. Although 200 liters isn't that much, especially if thrown in a pile... From my observations, it seems that Black Sea crabs start to molt when they reach about 35 parts per thousand, or something like that, regardless of the presence of shells. But they definitely need to have shells. Once, a clever one from an ampullaria put one on. It was easy for him to carry it. But then, apparently, he decided it was too light (not sturdy) and took the old one back. I think it was a tropical crab.

Jacqueline5976

Some of the crayfish have molted, but someone killed a few. Most likely, it was them. Yesterday, I threw them empty shells, and several immediately moved into the new home. So the reason is probably that. P.S. I only have 50 liters; I haven't grown to a larger size yet.

Amy1672

Hello everyone! I have a Black Sea aquarium that has been running since around 1995. It all started with a regular acrylic aquarium and a small supply of natural Black Sea water for water changes. At first, there were only a few sea anemones. The current aquarium is 100 liters. Over time, various animals have come and gone, but now only the anemones and a marble fish remain. The little dogs gradually died out. As Platax wrote, probably due to thyroid problems. The symptoms were very telling – it was like a tumor in the throat. Unfortunately, I only learned about the cause here on this forum.

Curtis

Sand hermits lived long - at least a year. I settled them in a tank with Black Sea fine gray sand taken from depth. The hermits amusingly burrowed into it and felt quite comfortable. But over time, they died out. Some couldn't molt properly and got stuck in their old "shells," and that's when their "friends" caught up with them. I would like to know how to achieve the necessary iodine concentration for the little ones. Is it enough to just regularly add some supplements? The experience with Black Sea algae is sad - in the end, they all perish.

Holly

Hello! To maintain the concentration of iodine in the water and prevent inflammation of the thyroid in the dogs, I found that adding 1 drop of pharmacy alcohol iodine solution per week was sufficient. However, I didn't add it directly to the water; instead, I first took half a teaspoon of regular table salt, added a drop of iodine to it, and then poured it all into the aquarium.

Michelle104

An interesting way, it's very good that people here share real experiences of catching, transporting, and keeping Black Sea fish and animals. The more such messages there are, the more enthusiasts will be able to keep marine fish and animals, observing the underwater world in their homes. The only request to everyone who writes on the forum is to sign with their names, as it feels a bit awkward to address someone by their forum username.

Janet5447

Until recently, I was using iodinol instead of iodine. Until they started making it with polyvinyl alcohol. There was a lot of foam during the last pouring. Now I also use iodine. I used it for Tanganyika as well. They have the same thyroid problems.

Gabrielle5053

Ray, iodine on salt—to evaporate the alcohol? Or for other reasons? It seems that alcohol is not dangerous in the aquarium...

Sara4035

Iodine is added to salt for better absorption. It is believed that if iodine is simply poured into water, a large part of it will be eliminated by forming complex hydro-complexes, and it is also more easily removed by flotators. When in contact with salt, sodium iodide is immediately formed, which is well soluble and easily absorbed by living organisms. I haven't delved deeply into the theory of this process, but it has been practically verified that the result is better with salt.

Darlene4238

Interesting question, Nikolai! I have never tried to keep aiptasia at low salinity, so I don't know, but I think it would die. If it's not possible to bring in Black Sea animals, you can gradually raise the salinity to 1.020 and confidently acquire tropical creatures; anemones will live quite comfortably at that salinity. Temperature is also not an issue; I have never specifically heated a tropical aquarium, and a drop in temperature even to 20°C has not caused any problems.

Reginald5073

Live for a century - learn for a century. Thank you.

Kevin

Hello! Congratulations on the long-awaited catch of the swallows. Install one lamp with the actinic color OSRAM 67, which is usually sold by all dealers of this brand and is a very good lamp. The swallows will immediately acquire a blue tint and the stripes around their eyes will glow.

Ryan1989

Hello, Ray! I am very glad to meet you, if I may say so. I will definitely take your advice. I also have a question about iodine: what volume does a drop correspond to and how often should it be used? Best regards.

Eric8832

Send the photos!!!

Jacqueline5976

I am sincerely glad that you succeeded!

Wendy

Hello everyone! Thank you very much for the kind words and moral support. The photos will definitely be available in a couple of days. Yesterday I bought OSRAM67 and the swallows immediately turned blue. In general, I had long refrained from getting actinic light, considering it purely a decorative lamp and therefore useless for plants, but now I see that without them, the effect of the sea cannot be created. Best regards.

Brooke

Hello everyone! Yesterday I met with Sergey, and the result of the meeting was a small selection of photos: I want to add that the aquarium is just amazing, and the posted photos do not convey everything that was seen. And also, the swallows are NOT WORSE THAN MANY TROPICAL SPECIES!!! However, I still couldn't get them in focus... P.S. Thank you for the liveliness!!! The krill have adapted perfectly to the ocean salinity - we are looking forward to your visit!!!

Bridget

Bravo!!! The aquarium looks amazing, you have managed to create a wonderful Black Sea aquarium. Congratulations, and I sincerely wish your creation continued prosperity. P.S. I send congratulations from my wife; she is also thrilled with your aquarium.

Debra6575

Hello everyone! Ray, thank you very much. I have dreamed of the sea since the time your articles were published, and I still don't know why I didn't get started earlier. Now the main thing is to maintain the system, which has received a heavy load. Best regards.

Adam4310

Message for Nikolai Gurbo. Nikolai, it's a bit sad that you are moving on to the "adult" sea, although it's probably inevitable and right. I have a request: please write about the technical setup of your aquarium, the fish that lived there, the salt, the problems, etc. There is very little information about keeping Black Sea species, and any bit of it will be useful. Best regards.

Robert5335

I looked at the photo - what can I say, well done!!! A good job!!!

Melissa2062

Hello! I noticed your appearance on the forum; you seem to have completely disappeared. How is your sea doing?

Brian

Hello everyone! For two evenings, I shuffled the pumps but didn't invent a bicycle. The best option turned out to be the classic one with the pumps located on the side walls and blowing towards each other. Rey, I have a request to share your thoughts on feeding animals. You feed once a week; there must be some theory about how feeding was done in the past? Thank you in advance. Best regards.

Larry

Ray, thank you very much for such a detailed response. Best regards.

Mary

I used hw professional salt. It dissolved without residue. Now it's finished, and I had to buy Red Sea. We'll see how it works. I noticed a sharp decrease in the amount of growth after I found a source of distilled water and started making seawater with it. Before, I had to use tap water and various bottled waters - I didn't notice any difference between tap water and bottled water; the same cyanobacteria appeared.

Denise

Hello Nikolai! You are not the first to discover that this thread is still active. It's great that you decided to share your experience; I believe that the more people talk about their experiences, the more information will be available to sea enthusiasts. I think together we will keep this thread alive for a long time. I am very close to the topic of the Black Sea, and the principles of maintaining a coral aquarium are not seriously different.

Amber1273

In the article "From Sea to Aquarium," there is a mention of an algae filter. If you remember, please tell me about it. Best regards.

Kenneth7331

It was one of the first aquariums, and it had this very filter left over from the Malawians, but it was quite a nuisance for me, and I didn't have any problems with filamentous algae at that time, so this filter was removed from the system. I also remembered that it was placed very close to the lamps, and the airlift created splashes, which resulted in salt deposits on the lamps and the stand. Seawater is very aggressive, and corrosion appeared on the stand, which is another reason why the algae filter was removed. Additionally, there was a lot of caulerpa in the aquarium, and such a filter didn't make much sense.

Russell8484

Ray, thank you, now I understand everything. For many years, I was curious about the question: "What is that algal filter?" Unfortunately, I can't plant Caulerpa in the Black Sea salinity, and I don't have my own fast-growing algae, so I hope the filter will be useful. I will definitely write about the results over time. Best regards.

Joseph

Hello! I congratulate you and all sea lovers on the New Year! I wish you happiness, health, good luck, success, and so on. May your aquarium thrive and continue to bring you joy.

Michelle13

Hello! I have no doubt that this was a difficult decision for you, but I think you made the right choice. It is indeed challenging to grow Black Sea algae in an aquarium, and for a complete cycle of organic matter removal and its decomposition products, fast-growing algae are highly desirable, especially since most inhabitants of the Black Sea are from the Mediterranean, where the salinity is 36 0/00. Caulerpa should already be growing well at a salinity of 1020. I wish you good luck!!!

Joseph9057

Ray, hello! Thank you very much for your support. I would be very happy if you could share your experience with keeping caulerpa. As far as I understand, the issue is not simple: some are in a panic about it, others cannot grow it, and some throw it out by the bucketful, etc. Best regards.

Eric

Hello, Ray! Thank you very much for your response. I will also try to create an aquarium with a lot of macroalgae; I think it will be close to a Black Sea or Mediterranean biotope. Ray, one more question: what was the lighting like in that old aquarium? Best regards.

Jessica5348

The resource of the author of the book "Life of the Black Sea" by Vershinina. I recommend everyone to visit, there is a lot of interesting and useful information!!! There is a section on macroalgae of the Black Sea - they look quite decent!!!

Andrew7823

Thank you! This is a very good and, importantly, an original resource from a person who has been studying the Black Sea for many years.

Kristen1161

Hello again! I am very glad that your aquarium is doing well even under such a heavy load. You just need to place more caulerpa in the aquarium, and then it will grow so quickly that it won't be afraid when someone bites it. I wish you continued success and prosperity for your aquarium.

Karen81

With so many dogs, the caulerpa has literally no chance. As for the three-spot gourami, you're not the first. For some reason, they don't want to live in an aquarium. Yours lasted a long time, usually they die much earlier. Moreover, without any visible reasons.

Mitchell3177

Hello! It's been a while since I last heard from you. Caulerpa is indeed struggling with both the dogfish and the hermits, but it is gradually spreading. I have to feed it heavily; maybe that helps. The most interesting thing is that with its appearance (about three hundred grams, no more), the cyanobacteria have completely disappeared. I would write about my aquarium; it's a very interesting experience keeping tropical animals in Black Sea water. Specifically, I am very interested in whether live rocks from the sea were used, if any domestic vegetation survives, and of course, any information about Black Sea fish. Thank you in advance. Best regards.

Nicholas

Greetings everyone! Caulerpa should manage to withstand being eaten by dogs. I have had dogs for many years, and Caulerpa has always thrived. The main thing is for it to reach a critical mass after which the dogs simply won't be able to eat the young shoots quickly enough. The presence of fast-growing macroalgae, as you may have already noticed, improves water quality. In my aquarium right now, thank God, there is also good growth of macroalgae, and this greatly helps maintain high water quality.

Derek7322

Hello everyone! This is the eagle that has grown out of nothing in six months because I didn't specifically catch it. It has taken to stealing from the anemone that has crawled off to the side during feeding. I want to ask if the growth of caulerpa depends on the temperature in the aquarium? Right now, my temperature is around 20 degrees, but during severe frosts, it drops even lower. Caulerpa is growing, but the old leaves quickly become transparent and disappear. Best regards.

Tracy

It depends - she does not tolerate sharp fluctuations and low temperatures well.

Tami

I agree with Yuri, Caulerpa does not like cold water; the most resistant to temperature drop is Caulerpa prolifera, which grows better at temperatures of 20°C-25°C. At higher temperatures, this species slowed down its growth, while the fir (Caulerpa sertularioides) prefers warmer water, and the berry (Caulerpa racemosa) is also heat-loving.

Jennifer5371

What is this place called?

Tasha

To be honest, I don't know. By appearance, it closely resembles a stone a, but it's just too red. If it continues to grow, it will definitely be a stone, and then we'll have to seriously think about its future. Best regards.

Daniel132

Hello! It's nice to hear that you succeeded with the caulerpa, which is important for the normal and, most importantly, long-term functioning of the aquarium. We're looking forward to the photos...

Stephen

Hello everyone! I'm posting a photo of the current state of the aquarium. The quality is very poor, but without it, I can't ask my question: is this a lot of caulerpa or not yet? And also: how should I properly weed it, should I completely remove separate areas, or try to pull out the old shoots? Some old leaves are developing light bumps on thin stems, which is probably the sexual reproduction that I'm a bit afraid of. Best regards.

Patricia1746

BEAUTIFUL!

Ryan1989

Hello!!! Peacock dogs do not eat algae, here I have posted detailed information about this wonderful fish.

Allison

Hello, Rey! I received answers to all my questions. I will definitely get peacocks if I manage to get to the sea and catch them. Best regards.

Jason9385

Our regiment has been reinforced... I also became a sailor A slow, hidden psychosis during my stay at the Black Sea turned into an open form, resulting in some creatures being caught and almost successfully brought home. Details here

Martha

Ray, thank you. I will be more careful. I also noticed that the caulerpa disappears in areas where the vegetation is thick and the current is weak. A very large bush that was well aerated by the baits and swayed back and forth was completely unharmed. Additionally, a nearby bush of phyllophora, which was almost dead and clogged with mud, suddenly turned red and started to grow. So I wonder: is this where the dog with the Black Sea algae is buried? Best regards.

Sarah

I thought about it too, that's why I'm trying to create a storm in 25 liters.

Rick

Absolutely correct observation, algae really love chaotic, wave-like currents. It's very good that the phyllophora has come back to life, try to grow it.

Eric

Not entirely accurate is the thought that in stormy conditions, no one can survive for long; there must be a wave, meaning a smooth movement of water in one direction, then in the opposite direction with a period of about 10 seconds or even more. You were recently at the sea, and you surely noticed how the water moves in the coastal zone; this is what we should strive for.

Elijah7048

Indeed, you can't do without a controller or a special device here. Nafal will buy an attachment, and it will work perfectly in his setup, while it seems I will have to save money. I didn't like how the wavebox worked in the video; the movement was too frequent. Probably the best wave is created by a device where a plate like a piston moves up and down, but I've never seen one in person. At one point, I even thought about making a similar device myself, but the idea hasn't matured yet. Adjustable pumps controlled by a controller probably work well too. Best regards.

Rita

Hello! I also really don't like how the wave box works; the corals and algae swing like a pendulum, it's just awful, especially for such crazy money. A piston-type plate works much more interestingly; I've seen a video about it, but the installation is quite large... It needs to be installed at the start to allow for its decoration, in any case, it will take up a lot of space. I think controlled pumps are better in terms of compactness and the possibility of decoration; I really dislike when various technical devices are visible in the aquarium... they greatly diminish the perception of the aquarium as a piece of the sea...

Zoe7451

I'm trying. The storm is conditional, it's just that one of the pumps periodically sucks in bubbles from the diffuser, and then a wave of bubbles flies across the aquarium, so it seems like there's a storm. Otherwise, a "calm" is planned for the night.

Sarah7284

Hello! Congratulations on the new addition, well done!!! The red mullet is a good fish and lives well in an aquarium; I don't remember how long they lived with me, but they lived without any problems, picking up everything edible from the bottom. I hope yours will live long and happily.

Ross

Hello! This is very bad, the anemones will starve, at first they will open less frequently, then they will start to shrink, we need to figure out how to feed them. You understand this yourself, maybe give some of the swallows to someone.

Wendy8540

You can feed an anemone using a thin glass tube; I do this sometimes. I put the crushed food in one end, then cover the other end with my finger, lower the tube into the aquarium, and remove my finger. The tube fills with water and sucks in the food. I bring the end of the tube right to the anemone and wait for the food to drop down the tube and fall directly into the tentacles. After that, it's very difficult to take it back.

Richard2180

Using a tube is still better than using tweezers - the smell spreads more slowly throughout the aquarium, and accordingly, the reaction of the inhabitants is weaker. It would probably be better for you to use a plastic tube with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm (which is always available in Canis) and drop the food directly into it from above, after lowering the bottom part directly into the anemone. P.S. I feed the anemones frozen shrimp - they eat it eagerly. They even nibbled on some Tropical catfish pellets once.

Sandra7004

Hello everyone! I'm replying here to avoid cluttering the new topic. The width of the shell is about two centimeters; for a hairy crab, this is the maximum size. It has very beautiful red claws, and there is a photo of it earlier in the thread. I apologize for my inability to copy links. The little dog brought by Yura looks very much like an ordinary dog, but it eats meat food like crazy and is growing rapidly. Recently, in between feedings, it has been seen with a belly as full as a drum, and sometimes it has made aggressive lunges towards swallows and shrimp. Best regards.

Monica

Thank you for the response. The question was like this (I pinned it there): My fish molted unsuccessfully and died. It was an interesting creature... I can take yours if no one agrees by Monday. Because I'm leaving until Monday. If anyone else wants it - please. Especially since I have Black Sea salinity and it will have to be acclimated. I don't know how they react to decreased salinity (it seems they molt when salinity increases).

Lindsey3628

There will be no need to translate. At the end of August, the aquarium was returned to the Black Sea mode, from which I decided not to emerge anymore. I gave away most of the caulerpa, removed the rest, lowered the salinity to 22 parts per thousand, completely removed the substrate, and rearranged the rocks. As soon as I manage to take photos, I will definitely post a report on the current state. The crab will live until Monday. Best regards.

Susan1358

Okay. Then we'll chat on Monday. P.S.: My relative density is 1.012 according to the Chinese hygrometer. This seems to correspond to about 17 per mille. But it's okay, the difference isn't significant. P.P.S.: Has there been any experiment on the survival of caulerpa in reduced salinity?

Eric

I left a little bit of caulerpa for the experiment; it sat for a long time but eventually disappeared. I just didn't have time to lower the salinity, as I was about to leave. Last year, when I reduced the salinity to 17-18 parts per thousand, regular black beard algae started to grow. There is none of that now, and I might just leave it as it is. Best regards.

Darrell5975

Hi! How is the mullet doing?

Stephen5857

Yesterday I was at Sergei's. I picked it up, thank you! I took some photos of the aquarium, and as promised, I'm posting them...

Anthony

Yes, I promised to test the water. Well, as you wish - you asked for it yourself... pH - 7.8 KH - 14 NH4 - 1 mg/L NH3 - 0.03 mg/L NO2 - 1 mg/L NO3 - 80 mg/L PO4 - 2 mg/L

Jeremy

Hello! It's been a while since the information about your aquarium was updated. How is it doing now?

Yvette209

Your plans are definitely welcome... it's high time to bring sand from the sea, even in parts... as much as you can... I really like your thoughts... I haven't encountered fan worms and sponges either... they are probably quite deep... Your aquarium is quite unique... I always follow this topic with interest... even if I don't write, I still don't miss a single post.

Mitchell3177

How is your aquarium doing? Do you need any help?

Rodney

Hello! And yet the first point can be immediately dismissed; the ratio of major salts in all seas is the same, only the trace element composition may differ. I am more inclined to believe that the main problem is indeed the temperature regime; unfortunately, this issue is VERY difficult to solve in a home aquarium.

Jason5071

The fact is that hydrochemistry varies in different areas of the Black Sea. There is a distinction between the northwestern region, where salinity reaches 18 parts per thousand and has its own chemistry, the central part, and the area near the Bosporus with higher salinity than the average for the sea (upper and lower Bosporus currents). I can only gather data on the composition of the northwest from home, but for the composition of, say, the Rybachy area, one needs to refer to the oceanographic atlas of the Black Sea. It can be found in any decent scientific library. They have started selling salt from Lake Saki - about 2.5 per kg, but it needs to be sought in grocery stores.

Joyce

Oh, I didn't think to leave a five-liter bottle of water and a mussel with a seaweed, in a month everything would be clear. Best regards.

Chad231

Hello! Another reason for poor algae growth may be a high fish load and, as a result, insufficient water quality; many algae are more sensitive to water quality than fish, crayfish, or shrimp. Olga has already mentioned this, albeit in slightly different words: You can try adding vitamins and trace elements.

Tonya

Hello! I decided to join after all. I agree with the opinion that the decisive factor in keeping algae is water quality (not so much the salt composition as the organic matter). The presence of higher algae is a serious issue (similar to the question of keeping corals). I would also note that lighting plays a role: more is not always better.

Melinda2740

some information about the morphofunctional parameters of aquatic flora At the end of the article, there is a table with the specific surface area parameters of representatives from various divisions of algae and flowering plants. I will also look for the dependence of S\W on the trophic status and saprobity of the waters.

Andrew419

search for the articles listed on the page linked.

Jennifer

Hi, Rey! The swallows are alive, although I no longer count more than twenty, probably due to jumping out. With the appearance of sand, it might be time for them to regularly spawn by digging holes in the sand. I feed them mussels, artemia, and squid separately every other day. There are no tests, but subjectively, the water quality has greatly improved with the sand: clarity, pleasant smell, absence of growths on the walls, and almost complete disappearance of cyanobacteria. There are visible burrows in the sand, although they are few. Earlier, the foam collector cup would fill up every three days, but now I’ve almost forgotten about it. Maybe there really is nothing to foam? Best regards.

Ashley5975

Hi! I'm happy to be on a first-name basis. Regarding the flora, there hasn't been stable long-term growth, but there have been "periods of enlightenment," which led me to think about improving the quality of the content. If you want, we can move the further discussion to your new topic (although these two topics are so closely related that it will be very difficult to separate them). In general, I'll be back from fishing in 10 days, and we can try to delve deeper into the issues of the Black Sea flora (and what else does it need?!).

Charles5941

At what size can peacock cichlids be dangerous for shrimp and hermit crabs, especially for the latter? I doubt that such a small fish could overcome creatures with hard shells, except perhaps during molting.

Angela7060

Even small Peacocks are dangerous for any arthropods; crabs and shrimp are just a snack for them, but they won't last long in the aquarium with them alive. Peacocks are very skilled at dismembering them; I have personally observed this process more than once.

Lisa

In principle, I don't keep crabs; they escape from the aquarium. But in the sea, I saw crabs that were, to be honest, not small, with one claw larger than an adult peacock. Maybe if young peacocks are trained to eat aquarium food, they will abandon their predatory tendencies.

Christopher1252

Naturally, a stone of that size will enjoy breakfasting on the peacock itself if given the chance. As for getting used to it... No matter how much you feed a wolf... even the full ones will nibble at the shrimp's whiskers purely out of sporting interest.

Heather

Good afternoon! I apologize for interrupting the discussion. Could you please advise me? My sister brought some plant from the Black Sea and 0.5 liters of water. Is there anything I can do to preserve it? After reading about the topic, I got the idea to create my own sea. I am planning a trip to the sea in September, and accordingly, I might bring back water and living creatures.

Vanessa

I'm not a sailor, but nothing will come out of 0.5 water.

Christopher7213

I'm not a sailor either, but maybe sailors can suggest something. Perhaps we can add some distillate and just reduce the saltiness a bit?

Chad9037

What can the sea enthusiasts say, 0.5 liters of water is too little... it can't be desalinated, but even if you buy salt and make more water, it won't change anything. Before bringing live creatures from the sea, you need to prepare. First, set up the aquarium with saltwater and everything necessary, and then bring in the live creatures.

Amy

It was not livestock that was brought, but a plant (no one asked my sister about this). So should I just flush it down the toilet and not worry about it?

Michelle1662

That's how it turns out ;(

Tiffany5069

Hi! I'm back, shall we chat about algae? .

Danny

Yura, hello! Let's try to discuss the topic of algae once again. I would really like to hear from you something like: "...I have brought cystoseira or ulva or another species that grew for a year under such and such conditions." This relates to your phrase about the insights; it would be great to have more details about what they were. As of today, all the zostera has finally died and been removed, which was my last hope. After all, it's a higher plant that lives both in the Azov Sea and in estuaries under very different water conditions. The symptoms are the same: two weeks and it's over. Best regards.

Ricardo7341

Phyllophora grew without any problems continuously, with new areas of thallus being a very bright red color, while the old areas of thallus were an intense beetroot color. For 2.5 years, phyllophora grew without artificial lighting, as the aquarium was placed in the darkest corner of the room. Ulva will not grow without agitation; instead, it will deteriorate and spoil the water.

Marie5735

Knowing how the phyllophora grows (it really has very bright red shoots that catch the eye), I studied its thickets in the sea. I had never seen anything like it; it looked sad, covered in a film. Phyllophora sleeps in the summer. The first thing I did upon hearing about the "mahalki" was to direct a pump with a "bio flow" attachment at the best clumps of ulva. It didn’t help. Although in natural seawater, everything can be different, I won't argue. Sincerely.

Larry

I think that phyllophora, as a resident of non-shallow waters (and a red algae), requires weaker lighting?

Daniel132

This is very possible. In the first six months, when the phyllophora was growing the best, there were two Osram fluorescent lights above the aquarium, leftover from the freshwater setup. But with just one phyllophora, it looks very gloomy. The codium will be much more decorative, especially the large bushes, which are bluish-green and somewhat resemble either a sponge or a coral. What kind of light does it need? Best regards.

Melissa

Hello everyone! I have a question about my aquarium. Since its launch, I have had a foam sponge. After reading forums, I have repeatedly tried to get rid of it. Each time after removing the sponge, the water started to SMELL. Not a bad smell, just a normal slightly marine scent, which I always noticed briefly after feeding. But when you enter the apartment, it is distinctly noticeable and it’s annoying. Just the other day, I threw out the sponge again—the water smelled the same day, I put it back, and the next morning there was no smell. What could this indicate? Best regards.

Larry

While I was gathering my thoughts, Olga responded very well... I will just add that a good filter can help in such a situation by removing organic matter from the water before it is processed by bacteria. This happens to you because of the stones; Black Sea stones have too dense a structure, so their effectiveness is lower... In principle, there is nothing wrong with a small aerobic filter in the form of a sponge or pad...

Randall7906

Absolutely right, it cannot be any other way; biochemical processes occur the same everywhere...

Spencer7805

Hello everyone! Thank you, I understand about the sponge, I won't touch it anymore. The topic of Black Sea stones is still on my mind. Probably the most suitable and closest to J.K. (living stones) would be from shell rock (marine). I saw such stones somewhere a long time ago, either in Kerch, or in Feodosia, or in Odessa. But there's an even bigger problem - their extraction. A stone just lying in shallow water, which has been turned over a hundred times by storms, won't do. It needs to be chipped off from a large mass, then there will be plenty of animals and undamaged algae. Maybe someone can suggest where such stones can be found? Best regards.

Jeremy8404

No chipping is needed, just go deeper into the Black Sea, for example. I can dig it out if someone can transport it. And a description of the dimensions and appearance of the desired boulder.

Amber6362

Very interesting, could it be that I actually saw these stones in Odessa? Olga, please provide a bit more detail: what are the stones made of, how can one go deeper, what grows on them? Best regards.

Michael3221

I was at the Yellow Rock (haven't been there for a thousand years). At Chkalov Beach. Then we went to 16 Fontan - if you go down from the monastery, it's to the left of the boat station. Then behind Cape B. Fontan - Green Hill, where the slabs are and closer to Battery 411, right at the cape. In the very Black Sea area. Then - in Illichivsk... and further. But up to Sanjeyka. Is that enough?

Kathleen

Hello! How long has the Black Sea aquarium in the photo been in existence? What is the power and performance of the aquaturbine and its operating period per day? What is the volume of the aquarium? If ulva and other algae thrive, it will be possible to do without a stirrer. If holes start to appear on the ulva and it begins to detach from the substrate and die, it needs to be removed urgently to prevent it from spoiling the water. What is the number of live mussels operating in the aquarium? Thank you in advance.

Sharon

Is there a phyllophora near the turbine? What plant is on the wall on the left side? Congratulations - Magnificent aquarium!

Jennifer5371

Hello! I really liked the sand in your aquarium and its condition... it looks just as good as aragonite sand...

Debra

Gas bubbles coming out of the sand is a normal process; I have them constantly as well... theoretically, it's restored nitrogen, but practically I can't say for sure... it might be oxygen produced by microalgae living in the sand... In any case, they are not dangerous, and moreover, they say that everything is fine with the sand... You should be concerned about the appearance of black hydrogen sulfide zones, but in normally functioning sand, they won't be present... I only had them during the startup phase... Good luck to you...

Heather2018

How long has the ulva existed in its current form? What is the current list of organisms in your aquarium? It is possible that the lighting is too strong for the phyllophora, as it grows at depth? Could that be why it is not growing? In our case, it grew in a dark corner without lighting and had a stunning bright beetroot red color. Is the water in the aquarium artificial or natural?

Wanda666

Phyllophora loves such salinity. It also prefers low light (the deep waters are saltier, especially in the vicinity of the Bosporus).

Brenda

I continue to be plagued by doubts about salinity. Perhaps all Black Sea residents love it, while they have simply adapted to and tolerate the lower levels. After all, many fish did not go into the Azov Sea, as it seems there is nowhere lower to go. If they say that the Black Sea is about 6-8 thousand years old, from an evolutionary perspective, that is a blink of an eye. Olya, I am very interested in your opinion as a specialist. Best regards.

Shane

How are things in the Danish kingdom these days? Has everything not been lost yet?

Katie4842

And what is the temperature now?

Linda

Hi! I think that for maintaining algae, 30 fish in your volume is catastrophically too much (too much organic matter). It should be reduced by about half.

Christopher4108

Hello everyone! I manage to keep the temperature around 28 degrees during the heat. The duct fan is connected through a voltage regulator, and I can smoothly adjust the airflow from barely there to full power, just keep adding water. In winter, with the room temperature at 21-22 (my own boiler), I lower it to 19. There are a lot of fish, but I just have nowhere to put them, might as well take them back to the sea. For now, I'm addressing the issue by feeding them rarely, a couple of times a week. Best regards.

Raven7170

It's really hot, think about the refrigerator... In summer, I understand 25 degrees, but in winter - 13 and not a degree more (rise of deep waters).

Caleb6320

I think at +13 the swallows will die. When I kept the aquarium on the insulated balcony, in winter at +16 everyone started to feel bad. For winter, +18-20 is just perfect.

Craig7302

Hello everyone! So, my wife has revolted against my aquarium, saying how long can we look at this eyesore. I can't argue with that, plus, what a woman wants... I'm going back to the good old freshwater tank. My father will take some sand, stones from Odessa, a few swallows of shrimp, and some hermits in a hundred-liter tank at work. The rest will be disposed of. A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the aquarium discussion. The topic is closed. Best regards.

Tina

Hello! It's a pity, of course.... I wish you success in creating a new (old) aquarium...

Eric5208

It's hard to call such a beautiful aquarium a wretched thing... but if it has already happened, one should be glad that at least freshwater can be enjoyed by others, and that is not always possible.

David953

It's a pity... But won't she agree to 2 aquariums??? Flowers for the wife, ice cream for the kids...

Shawn

There is simply no space for two aquariums. I can add one thing: the creatures won't be lost; Nafal will take some. It turns out he also keeps Black Sea species, but he just doesn't have the opportunity to go on the forum. I will try to take the remaining swallows to the Troitsky pet store, where there is a marine aquarium of 8 tons. In general (of course), it’s about time for the comrades by the sea to take on this topic, conduct experiments, and resolve questions; who knows, there might be a continuation. Best regards.

Michael

Thank you for the friendly push... I really need to speed up in this direction.

Michele9664

Can I see photos of the 8th volume of the Black Sea aquarium?

Joshua3019

I have been working with Black Sea fish for 5 years, specifically their adaptation. There are many questions for which I haven't found answers. But I have also learned a lot. Here are a couple of photos. I am waiting for questions and hope to get answers to my questions!!!

Vanessa

Great photo of the rooster !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 and the tongue ) Tell me how long your rooster has been living and under what conditions and with whom? I would be interested to hear your questions?

Kristin

From May 1 to October 1, the Black Sea Aquarium exhibition - where can I get information about this exhibition?

Mark7376

The triggerfish lived with us for 3 years. This year, there was a strong hurricane in Crimea. We were without electricity for 3 days. We lost a lot of fish. The small exhibition is located in the village of Nikolaevka; I will attach a photo. There are 14 aquariums of 550 liters each, one crocodile tank, and a pool of 3 tons. The rooster lived alone and didn't eat for a long time. I read a lot of literature about its nature (the elders called it barabulapas), and I tried to introduce 7 barabulas; by morning, only 3 were left. Gradually, we switched it to sprats.

Martha

I have a request for you. Could you post photos of your aquariums and talk about them and their creation in the "Photos of Forum Participants' Aquariums" section, or create your own thread in that section? Many more people would see them there. I think many would find it very interesting.

Rachel9060

I still find it difficult to adapt to the forum. There are some small challenges, like how to post a photo with a quote? I have to reduce the quality of the photos so they fit here. And there are several other problems related to my lack of knowledge about computer capabilities. I'll practice for a couple of days and give it a try!!!

Katie3017

I kept Lepadogaster Lepadogaster for a long time in the sea. The fish are just great. However, I faced a problem with feeding them. The thing is that the fish only eat what floats, and not everything. While I was at the sea where I caught them, I was catching shrimp and fry for them, and they ate well, but at home, there is a problem with live shrimp; they don't eat our fry. Although I trained them to eat beef heart, they still didn't eat very well. Have you kept these fish? Maybe you can suggest something regarding their feeding. I also really wanted to have a Black Sea burbot in the aquarium, but I couldn't catch one.

Brandon4517

Almost all fish, except for the ruffe, refuse to eat at first, and this is understandable as they are in shock. The simplest and most reliable method is to imitate the movement of potential food, that is, when there were no fry, I would take a piece of fish, hook it onto my rod tip, which is the end of my telescopic fishing rod, and create movement with that piece of fish. In 9 out of 10 cases, this works.

Joyce

Yes, I fed them like that somewhere. But there were problems. Sometimes the fish seemed to take the pieces of meat, but then spat them out, and unfortunately, somewhere deep under a rock. And I had to run around with pieces of meat for about 30-60 minutes until I fed everyone. Otherwise, the fish are just great.

Jeffrey496

After the global water change and substrate disturbance in my aquarium, wonders occurred: new inhabitants appeared, small snails that look very much like whelks. They have now grown to the size of millet grains. During the day, they are hardly visible, probably hiding under the stones, but at night they crawl up to the glass to the water's surface. I collected the substrate last summer from the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, taking shell gravel and fine pebbles.

John

Rapana is the largest Black Sea snail. The laid eggs resemble an opened anemone. Each egg is about 1-1.5 cm long and 0.2-0.3 cm wide. Your snails are definitely not Rapana.

Rebecca

Yes, this is definitely not rapana. My snails have elongated shells. What's surprising is how their eggs lay in the substrate for almost a year and didn't spoil.

Frederick

Language

Tracy

Hello. I decided to set up a Black Sea aquarium and need some advice. The aquarium is planned for next year, and I want to determine in advance whether I can handle this project and prepare accordingly. It's 150 liters, as I don't have space for a larger one. The expected inhabitants are peacock gobies and bullheads, maybe some others as well. My question is what equipment will be needed, how to transport fish and plants if the train journey takes almost 2 days? What else do I need to know about this topic? Thank you.

Michael5242

First, gather the necessary equipment (except, perhaps, the lighting). You will need to prepare water from sea salt and osmolates. If live sand is needed, I can arrange that. Then, you start the system on this sand. After that, add the rocks. And only then, all the rest.