Jelly's!

[lilegolasgurl]

I recently moved and I took my fresh and brackish with me, but my 125 reef was too big for the new house and I sold it to my lfs who used it for a display.
I really am craving a salt tank though (especially since I live near the Monterey Bay Aquarium) and I have virtually no room, and I love exotics (I used to have a sea dragon species tank a few years ago). This comes to the actual topic; I talked to the guy that is in charge of the jellyfish and dives/collects them in the wild for the Monterey aquarium about keeping jellies at my home. He insured me that it was manageable and I we came up with a setup that I'd like to throw by you guys.

First, this is for a group of maybe 2-4 upside-down jellies.

30 gall tank for display+mangroves w/ articblue/daylight 65w compact florescent.
20 gall refugarium complete with mangroves, algae and snails/shrimp/invertebrates
10-gallon sump
The sump flows through the refugarium and separate low flow pumps take water to the display tank to not disturb the jellies.

The refugarium may be overkill, but it will be visible as well and I enjoy the look.

Also, if anybody has experience with jellies I'd love any feedback, especially about where you got the jellies and the breeds. O, and I have questions:
1. I am planning a species tank, but will any fish/invertebrates be compatible?
2. Moon jellies are readily available in the area, but my local water is 55 degrees f and I don't want to purchase a chiller, how warm can moon jellies be kept?
3. I'd like to keep spotted jellies (small+tropical). Are they available to buy commercially?
4. Finally can different jellies go together (as long as they are both tropic or both cold water) I was curious to put spotted and upsidedowns together.

I'm real excited about this tank and I'm very thankful for any help you guys can offer!

 

[Def]

I used to have a sea dragon species tank a few years ago

I've gotta ask... Sea dragons are endangered species, only found in Australia and protected by the environmental biodiversity laws in Australia as far as I know. How were you able to get hold of some, and how did you keep them in a tank?

 

[steelhealr]

Hi..you'll have your work cut out for you. Although I haven't kept them, I've read some and here are the disadvantages:

1) rated as expert with regards to care
2) not reef safe.....you won't be able to safely keep any corals
3) venomous..although mild, not worth seeing if you get an allergic/anaphylactic reaction
4) short lived, when it dies, it can crash your tank, especially a 30G

IMO, it's not worth it, however, some people say that about nano tanks. If you are up for such a challenge, why not look into seahorses. Don't let me be the cloud raining on your parade.....don't let anyone stop you if you have the time and money to maintain the tank. SH

 

[lilegolasgurl]

About the sea dragons, in my only town I was friend with a public aquarium owner and he let me house a pair while they remodeled the display. I figure he had the correct permits etc to own them. So technically I never owned any.

Well, I went to the huge aquarium store at the capitol today and I talked with the owner. He actually has kept jellies (moons) and he will be able to order me both moons and upsidedowns. I'm going to go ahead with the project and start the plumbing next week (I am trying a differnt design to accomidate the moon jellies in the display tank). Hopefully I have enough experts in my area to insure the jellies a long, full life. Its a big project and between setting up the ref and cycling I am planning on ording the jellies in november/december. I'll keep you posted!

 

[steelhealr]

Excellent project...we're all interested in how you make out. Post back. SH

 

[Francis]

I'm New to the marine thing whats a refugarium?

Thanks,

Francis.

 

[steelhealr]

Francis..take this off this thread and try posting it in the hardware section or general chat..you'll get more answers. SH

 

[Dragonscales]

Just out of curiosity, what sized tank did you house the sea dragons in? They need pretty much a swimming pool to be housed comfortably (especially when courting) hence why they have yet to be captive bred for commercial use in the aquarium trade, etc.

 

[HellKitten]

I used to have a sea dragon species tank a few years ago

I've gotta ask... Sea dragons are endangered species, only found in Australia and protected by the environmental biodiversity laws in Australia as far as I know. How were you able to get hold of some, and how did you keep them in a tank?

The Sea Dragons at my local aquarium, (The Florida Aquarium) are insured at $10,000 apiece. It is also virtually impossible for even licensed aquariums in the US to get them. They have the leafy and weedy species....They won't even let you photograph them, and they close the exhibit at regular intervals to avoid stressing them. This would lead me to speculate on the sanity of this aquarium owner/operator to let an average joe care for, or transport their dragons..

 

[SirMinion]

The Sea Dragons at my local aquarium, (The Florida Aquarium) are insured at $10,000 apiece. It is also virtually impossible for even licensed aquariums in the US to get them. They have the leafy and weedy species....They won't even let you photograph them, and they close the exhibit at regular intervals to avoid stressing them. This would lead me to speculate on the sanity of this aquarium owner/operator to let an average joe care for, or transport their dragons..

However, bizarrely, the Weedy and Leafy Sea Dragons at New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas were the only ones out of 10,000 fish representing more than 530 species to survive a week without heat, light or filtration apart from some huge old Tarpon.

Go figure!

Most of the aquarium's 10,000 fish did not survive after the storm knocked out power essential for making the water habitable, and the facility's emergency generator later failed.

Electricity has since been restored at the Aquarium of the Americas, at the foot of Canal Street along the Mississippi River.

The survival of the rare, leafy and weedy sea dragons from Australia surprised the aquarium staff, who did not think the dragons -- cousins to the seahorse -- could survive "even a minor fluctuation in the temperature of their water," Lee said.

"It was very surprising for everyone and also a big rallying point for our staff," Lee said. "We had staff who stayed through the storm and have been there stabilizing the animals and the collection and getting them ready to move out."

The sea dragons will be taken to Dallas World Aquarium

 

[Riley]

That is Bizarre

 

[Opcn]

Quick Q, what dopoached seadragons have to do with jellyfish?