Today, I launched a series of articles about interconnected, biotope-specific tanks. This is a major DIY project! :-) The first system I will be describing is a 260-gallon+ nearshore Indo-Pacific reef system with 3 connected biotope-specific tanks. It will look something like this:
Overview of the System
The system will be comprised of:
A 135-gallon nearshore shallow reef display tank
A 30-gallon mangrove root biotope tank
A 20-gallon seagrass tank
A 75-gallon FOWLR tank
Because these tanks will be connected, the total water volume will be 260-gallons minus the volume of water displaced by live rock in the display tank and FOWLR tank and the deep sand beds of the mangrove and seagrass tanks. Additional volume will be added to the system by way of a large sump.
The specific biotopes represented by each tank were chosen based on the critical role that biotope plays in the overall health and stability of the display tank’s biotope. In other words, mangrove-fringed shorelines, seagrass beds and open ocean are all individual biotopes intrinsically connected to the coral reef ecosystem. The destruction of the mangroves has an effect on the reef. The disappearance of healthy seagrass beds has an effect on the reef. The pollution of the open ocean, and the resulting harm done to open ocean species, has an effect on the reef.
I'd love to have people here follow along and provide feedback on this forum for future articles. Part 1 of the series can be found at this link:
Biotope-Based Marine Aquaria:
Interconnected Biotope Tanks Improve Overall System Stability