Beginner's guide to Live Rock
- Thread starter Palmetto
- Start date
Palmetto
Premium Member
Re: Creepy crawlies.
Re: Creepy crawlies.
Yes, those creepy crawlies are part of any healthy reef!
The worms, pods, and whatnots are all going to eat leftover food particles, as well as making babies that feed your fish and corals.
And, I hate to tell you this.... some of them are over a few inches.
However, most of the little buggers come out at night and you hardly notice their presence. (unless you dig through Live Rock for a living, then you notice them, um, OFTEN!)
After a time of observing your reef, you will become more fascinated and less squeamish about them. (or have a fish-only tank!)
Re: Creepy crawlies.
Yes, those creepy crawlies are part of any healthy reef!
The worms, pods, and whatnots are all going to eat leftover food particles, as well as making babies that feed your fish and corals.
And, I hate to tell you this.... some of them are over a few inches.
However, most of the little buggers come out at night and you hardly notice their presence. (unless you dig through Live Rock for a living, then you notice them, um, OFTEN!)
After a time of observing your reef, you will become more fascinated and less squeamish about them. (or have a fish-only tank!)
You could use dead/base rock if you don't want the critters...save allot of money to.
Of course every time you add a coral or even fish, you will probably introduce some type of critters into the tank..
There mostly nocturnal, but you will still see some of them out during the day...especially when you feed the tank.
The only things that grow really large are the worms...they can get to be several feet if they eat enough and live long enough. I think the biggest worm ever posted on reefcentral was about 7 feet. hehehe.
Of course every time you add a coral or even fish, you will probably introduce some type of critters into the tank..
There mostly nocturnal, but you will still see some of them out during the day...especially when you feed the tank.
The only things that grow really large are the worms...they can get to be several feet if they eat enough and live long enough. I think the biggest worm ever posted on reefcentral was about 7 feet. hehehe.
newbiemarine
New member
pics?
pics?
Anyone have any pics of pods, and what worms are we talking about? I wanna have an idea if this is for me or not. If they are only nocturnal, then I'm not sure I mind so much. How about Fiji rock, which I find is not as 'alive' as other rock? Do they carry that much?
pics?
Anyone have any pics of pods, and what worms are we talking about? I wanna have an idea if this is for me or not. If they are only nocturnal, then I'm not sure I mind so much. How about Fiji rock, which I find is not as 'alive' as other rock? Do they carry that much?
stevensmd
Premium Member
you want the pods..they are very good for your tank..if you ever have a Mandarin, you will have to have a very good supply of them. Your critters can indicate a healthy tank.. I like my bristle worms too...here is a good website that I refer to time to time.
dave
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_pages/faq_rock1.htm
dave
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_pages/faq_rock1.htm
Palmetto
Premium Member
Re: pics?
Re: pics?
I found you a bristleworm picture. They really are good clean-up crew, just no fun to find without gloves!
I actually handle our rock with thick industrial gloves now. My hands were becoming cracked and punctured by too many unknown things, probably not a good idea!
Any good Live Rock will have little creatures crawling around in and on them. Drop some food in after lights out and watch with a flashlight to see some interesting things....
Re: pics?
newbiemarine said:
I found you a bristleworm picture. They really are good clean-up crew, just no fun to find without gloves!
I actually handle our rock with thick industrial gloves now. My hands were becoming cracked and punctured by too many unknown things, probably not a good idea!
Any good Live Rock will have little creatures crawling around in and on them. Drop some food in after lights out and watch with a flashlight to see some interesting things....
sfsuphysics
Active member
I had one of those on my Kaelini, but dont think he survived the curing process, although I haven't physically seen him, (he was laying quite lifeless on the tank bottom) he might of gotten wisked away by the currents
Radicaljbr
Active member
Re: Re: pics?
Re: Re: pics?
He is right about the flashlight. But if I may add my 2 cents, try putting a red lense on the flash light. Red light does not scare the creatures away.
Re: Re: pics?
Palmetto said:Drop some food in after lights out and watch with a flashlight to see some interesting things....
He is right about the flashlight. But if I may add my 2 cents, try putting a red lense on the flash light. Red light does not scare the creatures away.
Fizz71
FragSwapper
Let's see...Mantis Shrimp, Gorrilla Crabs, Aiptasia, Mojano..and those are just off the top of my head...There are many creatures that can be devastatingly destructive...like the shrimp and gorilla crab...or reproduce, take over and kill everything around them like the Aiptasia and Mojano.
In nature these animals have predators to keep them in check, or generally don't have the tasty treats available (the stuff we buy) like we have in our tank..or have enough of them that they don't do more damage than the reef can recover.
So far I've only gotten Aiptasia..and I think (knock on wood) I've killed them all.
..and here's a good link on hitchhikers...
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_pages/faq_rock1.htm
--Fizz
In nature these animals have predators to keep them in check, or generally don't have the tasty treats available (the stuff we buy) like we have in our tank..or have enough of them that they don't do more damage than the reef can recover.
So far I've only gotten Aiptasia..and I think (knock on wood) I've killed them all.
..and here's a good link on hitchhikers...
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_pages/faq_rock1.htm
--Fizz
Shoestring Reefer
New member
I've never had the red flat worms, but from what I understand they are a pest. I have the white/clear kind, and they almost completly dissappeared as my tank cycled. I have heard the same from many other reefers. I now have to look to find one.
Thanks for the info/pics,
The Aiptasia seems harmless enough as long as you babysit?
Don't you have to monitor everything to maintain your balance?
How did you kill them, just remove them when you see them?
I've heard external curing (extra salty) helps, but what about when curing LR in a new tank?
The Aiptasia seems harmless enough as long as you babysit?
Don't you have to monitor everything to maintain your balance?
How did you kill them, just remove them when you see them?
I've heard external curing (extra salty) helps, but what about when curing LR in a new tank?
Palmetto
Premium Member
No, Aiptasia are far from harmless. They will sting and kill corals, and they reproduce like wildfire.
Your #1 priority upon discovering them should be their elimination, IMO.
We could fill a separate thread with Aiptasia advice, but you may find this link helpful:
http://www.palmettoreefs.com/aiptasia.htm
You can also email me at Darren@PalmettoReefs.com if you like.
Extra-salty doesn't seem to bother Aiptasia, BTW, although it DOES usually run hairy crabs and mantis shrimp out of the rock.
Your #1 priority upon discovering them should be their elimination, IMO.
We could fill a separate thread with Aiptasia advice, but you may find this link helpful:
http://www.palmettoreefs.com/aiptasia.htm
You can also email me at Darren@PalmettoReefs.com if you like.
Extra-salty doesn't seem to bother Aiptasia, BTW, although it DOES usually run hairy crabs and mantis shrimp out of the rock.
Take it from me salted, unless you want a "Rock Anemone" tank, get rid of the Aip's Now!!!
I've had aptasia, and had success with two methods of elimination:
1) Copper banded butterfly fish - they love it, but are often susceptible to being bullied and withering away. They require frequent feedings of mysis mostly. Also, they are sometimes caught with cyanide and often fail to fully recover, only to wither away after a few months. They may pick on some corals, too, so you need to be careful with them.
2) Peppermint shrimp - I have three now in my 90 reef, and they got rid of the aptasia 100%. My understanding is taht there are a few differnt types of peppermint shrimp, so be sure to make sure you get the right kind.
Some people will get rid of the aptasis with a kalkwasser paste, but I prefer to do it through mother nature.
Agree with Water Keeper - get rid of the aptasia asap. They will cost you time, $, and be a constant source of aggravation.
AP
1) Copper banded butterfly fish - they love it, but are often susceptible to being bullied and withering away. They require frequent feedings of mysis mostly. Also, they are sometimes caught with cyanide and often fail to fully recover, only to wither away after a few months. They may pick on some corals, too, so you need to be careful with them.
2) Peppermint shrimp - I have three now in my 90 reef, and they got rid of the aptasia 100%. My understanding is taht there are a few differnt types of peppermint shrimp, so be sure to make sure you get the right kind.
Some people will get rid of the aptasis with a kalkwasser paste, but I prefer to do it through mother nature.
Agree with Water Keeper - get rid of the aptasia asap. They will cost you time, $, and be a constant source of aggravation.
AP
Shoestring Reefer
New member
Kalk solution worked for me, although a couple needed a double dose because they retracted before they got killed.
Fizz71
FragSwapper
I used Joe's Juice...awesome stuff. As you can see from this photo:
http://www.fizzhome.com/posted/aptasiazoo.jpg
..They'll start to damage the corals around them. There are about 3 in that photo, but about 5 on the rock once I took a closer look...and it got worse in the week following that photo until I got Joe's Juice.
The aptaisia are all gone from it now (and one that spread near by), but the coral still hasn't recovered. It now has some dead holes where the aptasia used to be. I'll have to take another shot sometime.
I bought some pepermint shrimp too, but after I put them in the tank, I never saw them again..my fire shrimp might have eaten them.
--Fizz
http://www.fizzhome.com/posted/aptasiazoo.jpg
..They'll start to damage the corals around them. There are about 3 in that photo, but about 5 on the rock once I took a closer look...and it got worse in the week following that photo until I got Joe's Juice.
The aptaisia are all gone from it now (and one that spread near by), but the coral still hasn't recovered. It now has some dead holes where the aptasia used to be. I'll have to take another shot sometime.
I bought some pepermint shrimp too, but after I put them in the tank, I never saw them again..my fire shrimp might have eaten them.
--Fizz
white_queen
New member
Great thread! I also had wodnerful success with the peppermint shrimp killing off my aptasia growth. They were fantastic. Nothing else I tried worked properly but those little guys sure did the job. And they spawned frequently providing a fresh source of food for my percs. pair.
