Caribbean Inspired Reef -*not* a biotope ;)

[Europhyllia]

I am getting a little lazy as far as my willingness for daily dosing of phyto, etc goes and was going to cut back on NPS in my next tank.
I really do love gorgonians though and luckily there are bunches of photosynthetic ones easily available, the majority collected in the Caribbean.
That made me reconsider the biotope approach since I really tend to like those.
Of course I would never get rid of the mandarins so they'd have to count as foreign invasive species in my biotope - sorry
I know how bad is that?! Not even started cycling yet and already cheating and making compromises...
So what do you think about the Carribean Biotope idea?
Is it too boring? Too limiting?
I am guessing it would be mostly gorgonians, some nice macro, Ricordea of course.
Pearly Jawfish go with that so that would make it easy since I wanted a jawfish tank anyway!
What other corals would go with a caribbean theme?

[txg8gxp]

Sounds different, but I like that. You could add some really nice color to the tank between gorgs and rics.

[StevenSeas]

sounds nice and colorful and definitely out of the ordinary which I love. But, wouldnt a Carib biotope require cooler water than our normal reef tanks ie a hard working chiller. I only ask because when I wanted a catalina goby I looked into them and they are Caribbean *if i rememeber correctly* and they required a temp of like 72

[Europhyllia]

"The Catalina Goby is native to the cold waters off the Eastern Pacific coast of the United States."

I think the water around Cuba is pretty warm. However I just remembered my anthias. I can't let go of my anthias either.
So scrap that whole biotope idea. I just don't have the discipline for it.

lol

[StevenSeas]

lol well atleast your sticking to what you like, and hmm maybe i was thinking of another goby that i liked, maybe green banded idk, anyways good luck with whatever you decided to keep in your now mixed biotope. course IDK why your saying your 75 is going to be FOWLR seems to me to be a perfect place to do the Carribean full on biotope.... ;)

[Kristy]

If this means you might be parting with your anthias, let me know!

[Kristy]

Posting on my phone which makes me too slow!

[Europhyllia]

If this means you might be parting with your anthias, let me know!
what are you up to? you already got a harem! what's going on now? another tank?

[Kristy]

No - Mike would kill me if I start putting anthias in his FOWLR. Just thinking I know someone who would love those!

[RayAllen]

Karin, How do you sleep? LOL

Your mind is always racing with ideas for your aquarium or worried about whats in the aquarium. Just have fun with it. Remember it is a hobby not a job!

Presonally I think biotopes and specific region or locals aquariums are really cool, but if you stay true to them you obviously will be limited when you add tenants.

[Europhyllia]

LOL
It does stress me out doesn't it.
Then again I work by myself from home while also taking care of a 4 year old and a 1 year old so a lot of these ponderings are just conversations I have with myself to keep me from going crazy...

Starting over is so full of possibilities. I want to end up with something I am going to like for years to come.

[Europhyllia]

I figured it out!
I will call it a 'Caribbean Inspired Reef' not a biotope. So I can be as inspired as I want to be and get that nice natural reef look without having to part with my darlings. :)
I am jsut tired of teh one of this and one of that hodge podge look. I think I will like it better with a theme.
And I am so pleased that the jawfish and gorgonians will fit right into that theme and will be the focal point of the tank!

[ZeroHour]

I have those same conversations work from home with an 8 month old. Im doing the anti-tope meaning whatever I feel like impulsively forcing to live together will learn to like it......(kidding)

Sounds like a great idea and similar to the direction I had thought of going with my nano when its replaced. Good luck and keep us posted.