Asunder questions from a newbie

[rochestertank]

1) I bought 2 crabs in the same sized shells a while back and one has switched shells and now looks 2-3 times his original size (which is approximated from the look of the other one who is in his original shell looking as small as the first day - he is now big enough that his pincers look like maybe even 4 times their original size). Any comments? I've only had them for about a month. The big one is VERY active though and the other one seems like he just sits there playing with himself.

2) As of yet I have no "live" rock. I am sort of a neat freak and also very protective of the animals in my tank. So, I don't want to get any of those nasty creatures that cling onto your live rock when you get it. Anyway, to help the system I'm thinking about getting some - what do you recommend for someone who is really into cleanliness and doesn't want to import parasites and what not. don't worry; i'm already planning on going slow. I move like one of the snails when it comes to changing my tank. Also a stupid question: Do you touch the live rock with your bare hands?

3) Finally, any creative ways you guys use to anchor green algae/ seaweed sheets into the tank for blennies? so far i have an annoying and ugly suction clip and a large plastic spork...

Thanks in advance. I'm sure I'll have more "dumb" questions in the future.

 

[RhodeIslandReef]

You will end up with all sorts of stuff on live rock no matter what you do. Some of them are good, and some of the stuff not so good. Theres no way around it, but there are more benefits of having LR in your tank.

You can use a cleaning magnet to hold your algae to the side of your tank. If you had some LR I like to use a rubber band on a small piece of LR and fasten it that way.

 

[rochestertank]

the cleaning magnet is an awesome idea! I will try it!

 

[IslandCrow]

All that "nasty" stuff on your rock isn't necessarily bad. I've had really good luck with the rock I buy from my LFS. Other than a couple aptasia anemonies, one of which I'm not sure came in with the rock at all since it didn't appear until 4-5 months afer I'd had the rock, the rock has been pest-less. Even the aptasia wasn't a big deal to me. My peppermints gobble that stuff up before it ever has a chance to become a nuissance.

As far as algae/seaweed, I rubberband a piece of nori to a small rock or piece of dead coral for my tang, and that works great. I don't even have to worry about taking out anything that's uneaten. Since it's on the sandbed, my crabs eat anything the tang doesn't.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

super glue your algea clip to the cleaning magnet......

 

[rochestertank]

SUPERGLUING IT. THAT IS BRILLIANT! HOPEFULLY THE GLUE WON'T RPODUCE NITRATES OR NITRITES OR AMMONIA OR ANYTHING. I AM GOING TO THINK ABOUT THAT because my newest thing is to clip the seaweed on and then drop the clip in but it only halfway sinks. also thanks for the info about the stuff not being so bad on the live rock. a couple more days and I'll get my first piece...:rollface:

 

[Andrew]

I do believe there are some types of superglue to stay away from. I may be wrong but I was told to use LockTite gel superglue, gel superglue, and Aquamend epoxy. Those are some names people recommend to me.

 

[Jon Evans]

if you get some good peppermint shrimp and other inverts, they will take care of the pests on the live rock for you. It is food for them.

 

[rochestertank]

does anything in my tank eat peppermint shrimp? for example, damsels? thanks in advance.