Cryptic Zone and Fuge

[Shadowramy]

After reading about some of Steve Tyree's SPS tanks and the use of a type of benthic zone or cryptic zones he provides, I decided to make one for myself. The importanace of a benthic zone is to help with water quality and polishing, as well as provide a natural ocean zonation which is presently lacking.

The cryptic area is a dark area in which many sea squirts and sponges and other cryptic organisims live and feed. Tyree has had much success with using this, however I have only heard little mentioned about it.

Has anyone else done benthic zone or cryptic zones?

[Rob]

i believe JustDavidP uses something like this.

we are going to be talking about it on an upcoming show..

[V]

makes for an interesting topic. look foward to it.

[gwen_o_lyn]

makes for an interesting topic. look foward to it.

me too- sounds interesting!

[johnnyblackheart]

I currently use a benthic zone on my 55gal FOWLR, I think it works extremely well. I used tufa rock and it took no time at all for the rock to fill up with all kinds of sponges and stuff. I use to have some cheato in there on a reverse photo period. It just didn’t seem to be helping, and actually seemed to make the sump all scummy.

I am currently working on my third reef tank (a 30 gal long) and I was planning on adding a benthic zone to this tank also. My current 15gal Nano Reef does not have one and I have thought of adding one but I try not to tinker too much with a running system.

[Reefbaby]

cool - I'm interested in this as well!

[Rob]

cool - I'm interested in this as well!

awesome, you are going to get to hear all about it soon..

[V]

linkmans at it again


Nadav Shashar, Nadav Shashar, Ph.D. , Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, Tel (508) 289 7680, Fax (508) 289 7900 (Benthic marine ecologist)

this is prob the best resource,
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~rroberts/Lect-12.pdf




the rest are general knowledge
http://tolweb.org/accessory/Cephalop...ts?acc_id=1998
http://darter.ocps.net/classroom/klenk/Ecology.htm
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep6c.htm

[V]

critter:clam worm

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/reso...s/species8.htm

[Reefbaby]

Veriann - to make my life easier, all the links that you post in the threads, could you also post them in your wave thread so that I can find them again easily? Thanks buddy!

[V]

yeah, i can do that, just stopped uploading in that thread cause u guys where working in there! hows it coming along anyways?

[bmwaaron]

What did he use to hold the sand on top of the egg crate?

[Shadowramy]

I used window screening from Loewes - about 5 buck for 15 feet. I did double it over and overlap it on the sides.