6 Week Package Update

[JJP161]

Ok my 75 gallon "package" tank has been up and running for about 6 weeks and it is incredible. Every single day we find something new. In fact last night when I was feeding my brittle stars a new decorator crab popped out from under a rock and grabbed a piece of shrimp and then I found a baby decorator crab on some vegetation.

So far I have found the following items and please forgive any incorrect names I am still brand new to saltwater and reef tanks.

Algae: Red Macro
Algae: Caulerpa Mexicana
Anemone: Condylactis Blue
Anemone: Curley Cue
Anemone: Red Rock
Chicken Liver Sponges
Coral: Cup
Coral: Tube
Crustacean: Barnacle
Decorator Crab
Baby Decorator Crab
Crustacean: Hermit Crab, Blue Leg
Crustacean: Peppermint Shrimp
Crustacean: Porcelain Crab
Snails
Sponge: Blue
Sponge: Red
Spone: Orange
Sponge: Red Boring
Sponge: Yellow Ball
Tunicate: Blue
Tunicate: Orange
Worm: Chaetopterid
Worm: Christmas Tree
Worm: Feather Dusters
Worm: Spaghetti Worm

The best part to all of this is there is actually less maintenance and upkeep than there was with my African Cichlid tanks.

So far I have only added 3 fish, two Clowns and one yellow tang.

I did learn a very important lesson with the yellow tang, ALWAYS QT new fish. After 3 days I found "black ich", fortuantely I moved him to a QT tank over 2 wks ago and haven't seen any signs of distress in my main tank. I know a rookie mistake, that taught a very important lesson.

I do have a mushroom frag and one long tentacle anemone that disappeared well over 3 weeks ago and still no signs of them. But this is absolutely amazing and I can't say enough about how great Tampa Bay Saltwater is. In fact 3 of the firefighters I work with have seen my tank and are itching to get started soon.

Richard, thank-you for an awesome reef tank.

Joe

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/182435IMG_0056d.jpg

 

[HowardW]

<<< Worm: Chaetopterid
Worm: Christmas Tree
Worm: Feather Dusters
Worm: Spaghetti Worm >>>



Are you sure you got Christmas Tree Worms on TBS rock?

 

[JJP161]

Hi Howard,

No, I'm not sure, just going by pictures and a guess as I have never seen one before. It is very small and does have a a center tube or stalk with 3 levels of feathers. I should have mentioned in the first post that I am guessing on the ID of many of the subjects and could be way, way off. Sorry for any confusion.

Joe

 

[liverock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12288240#post12288240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JJP161
Hi Howard,

No, I'm not sure, just going by pictures and a guess as I have never seen one before. It is very small and does have a a center tube or stalk with 3 levels of feathers. I should have mentioned in the first post that I am guessing on the ID of many of the subjects and could be way, way off. Sorry for any confusion.

Joe

Could be small xmas worms....there used to be thousands before the severe red tide event we had here almost 3 years ago, pretty much wiped them out.....but from what I have seen in growth over 15 years is that for an xmas worm to get the size of a pencil and about two inches long is 5-10 years....slow growers!

Richard TBS:rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

 

[HowardW]

Well if you got Christmas Tree Worms on the rock that is way cool and you are lucky

I only asked because I don't recall ever seeing them appear on aquacultured rock I've seen in the past few years (including my own), although I remember they used to be seen pretty regularly on the wild collected Gulf rock.

Any way you can post a pic of them??

 

[JJP161]

Hi Richard & Howard,

I will definitely try to get a picture, but it is so small I'm not sure I can get a good picture. I also had to move some rock around in the last few days trying to locate the missing anemone as I was afraid if he was dead and I didn't remove him it would cause serious water problems. I was very careful but hope I didn't damage anything. I will keep you posted.

Thank-you,
Joe

 

[JJP161]

Hi Howard,

I don't have a picture of the christmas tree worm yet, but I am still trying. Can they hide or retract inside?

But this may be a picture of a baby brittle star? Sorry for the bad picture, but up close you can see the dark and light grey stripes like my bigger brittles and they are moving all around. I know I could be way off here so go easy on me.

Thank-you,

Joe


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/182435IMG_0050d.JPG

 

[HowardW]

I can't tell for sure what that is from your pic, looks like it may be a small serpent star.


Yes, Christmas Tree worms are very sensitive and can quickly retract on the slightest movement or light changes. Mine will usually retract just from walking up to the tank.

 

[docklink]

When I received my package 4 yrs ago, one rock had several pair of Xmas worms. Unfortunately, they have passed on over time.

 

[cvjeff]

B E A utiful.

 

[JJP161]

Still no sign of my christmas tree worms, but mine were smaller and more of a brown color. They also only had 4 rows on them. As soon as I spot them I will get a picture.