got my first shipment - TBS

[lsher]

Just wanted to drop a line and share with folks a few pics of my tank and rock Richard had sent out. Great stuff!!

Tank: 25g CADLIGHT 'all-in-one' (too big to call a nano, right?)

I have already found ...
hermit crab, a few snails, gorilla crab, and hear some cracking ...

This is my first aquascaping job so pls don't be too harsh. Comments welcome.

More pics can be found ...

http://www.pbase.com/lsher/25g_cad_reef_tank&page=all

Lloyd

edited: not sure why my embedded images aren't showing up.

 

[lsher]

i think i figured out my problem posting images ....

 

[wickedfood]

cool tank. i wouldn't don't about aquascaping too much until you get the next shipment.

 

[lsher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9078418#post9078418 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wickedfood
cool tank. i wouldn't don't about aquascaping too much until you get the next shipment.

Yea, I told myself not to worry about it until everything settled down and I got the second shipment, but when the water started to clear up I couldn't help myself!

here are my current water parameters ...

NH3 0.5
NO2 0
NO3 0
pH 8.2
SG 1.026
temp 78.2

anyone know if this little snail is safe to keep around? i've seen a few other much smaller ones ...

Lloyd

 

[HowardW]

Nice looking setup! Can't tell what kind of snail that is in the pic, almost looks like a hermit crab maybe.

I'd go easy on that HQI halide light for the first couple of weeks and the most important thing is to keep up on the small water changes when necessary to keep the amm. level below .5 - .7

 

[HowardW]

Also......the only snails I removed from my tanks were these guys:

 

[lsher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9087954#post9087954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
Nice looking setup! Can't tell what kind of snail that is in the pic, almost looks like a hermit crab maybe.

I'd go easy on that HQI halide light for the first couple of weeks and the most important thing is to keep up on the small water changes when necessary to keep the amm. level below .5 - .7

Thanks for the feedback - the only lights i'm running right now are t5's - very tame

the water seams pretty stable - I'm consistently staying @ or below .5 amm levels

 

[lsher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9087977#post9087977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
Also......the only snails I removed from my tanks were these guys:

I wish I had seen this earlier. On the first day the rock was in I found one of these trying to escape the tank so I gently placed in a nice little spot and kept my eyes on him for a few hours until he disappeared. I haven't seen him since, but next time I'll remove him.

Thanks for the heads up.

Lloyd

 

[lsher]

I have at least 1 gorrila crab - I know the rock he's living in, but he seams to be moving around within the rock a lot. I will see peering out through different holes during different parts of the day. Yesterday, I setup a shot glass trap with a piece of krill (pic's included). Left it alone with lights out all night and no luck.

I check on it a few times during the night and I think this little bugger is messing with me. I would shine my flashlight in his hiding spot to see if hes around and this little guy would push a piece of shell out through the hole to block my view!! :mad2:

This guys starting to **** me off!! I want him gone!!

I should i be worried about the krill causing an ammonia spike in the tank? Any other advice for getting the guy out??

 

[HowardW]

Yes, a decomposing krill will add to the ammonia. I've never had luck using the glass or bottle trap for gorilla crabs. I think the best method is manual removal either by nabbing them with the grabber tool or just removing the rock they're on and removing them.

 

[lsher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9097040#post9097040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
Yes, a decomposing krill will add to the ammonia. I've never had luck using the glass or bottle trap for gorilla crabs. I think the best method is manual removal either by nabbing them with the grabber tool or just removing the rock they're on and removing them.

Howard -
Thanks for the feedback. I checked the ammonia level and it spiked over 1.0, so I did a approx 30-40% water change and were back to .5.

With the gorilla crab - I got lucky - i noticed him on the rock out of his hole and I got him with a grabber tool. :rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

I'm glad he's gone and will be on high alert for any more ...

Still hear a lot of clicking coming from the tank, but haven't seen anything that might be causing it ....

Thanks again for the help!!

Lloyd

 

[snookhunter]

What kind of snail is that?...and why are they bad? Do they just prey on the critters in the sand?

I pulled some out of my tank because I was afraid they would eat the critters in the sand but I still have a couple I haven't removed yet. They didn't seem to be bothering anything so I've left them for now.

 

[lsher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9097940#post9097940 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lsher

With the gorilla crab - I got lucky - i noticed him on the rock out of his hole and I got him with a grabber tool. :rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

Lloyd

I spoke too soon. I still have multiple gorilla crabs in the tank. One v. big one. The next few days will be hunting season in my tank.

Not sure if i should delay my second shipment from Richard until after I removed all (that I know of) crabs. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[HowardW]

I would take part 2 as soon as your ammonia is 0 and the tank has cycled and all water parameters are stable. You may find a bad crab or 2 months down the road, just try and get them out as you find them.

 

[lsher]

"Package" - Second Shipment

"Package" - Second Shipment

On Friday morning my ammonia drop to zero so i sent Richard an email and within a hour he had responded back to me with a shipping tracking number. Said it would be on this mornings flight and I should pick-up the packages after work. I was shocked at the turn around!!

Anyway, I picked up the package that night and found everything arrived perfectly - the rock and the critters are excellent. And I'm amazed at the extras!!! - anenome (sp?), small goby, a few stony corals, polyp, decorator crab (coolest critter ever!!), and a few others I can't name.

All is doing well. Ammonia poped up to .5 within 12 hours did a 30% water change and its never been back above .25. My Nitrates jumped to 20, i think this a good thing!! Need to read-up a little more.

NH3 = .25
NO2 = .25
NO3 = 20
pH = 8.4
SG =1.024
T = 78.3

I still have gorilla crabs - I've killed about 6-7 from the first shipment and I know I have more in my older rock. And now i have more and at least 1 confirmed stone crab. He needs to go. I still have a ton of popping coming from the tank, but I've never seen a mantis - no idea where its coming from - its actually coming from multiple rocks!!

I think I have my first casualty - I haven't seen my Peppermint Shrimp all day - i think a crab or a mantis got it. Hope not!!

And if its gone I'm concerned for the safety of my goby. He's always around and in the rock I believe hosts the most crabs!!! Watch over your shoulder young goby.

Any advice for what I should do regarding the missing shrimp? Should I replace it??

Everything else seams to be OK.

Do I need to feed the tank at this stage? I feed the annamie (sp?) and a few other critters some chopped krill from a turkey baster. Hope thats OK - dont want to over feed and cause a NH3 spike!!

Pls advise.

Few pics ... more can be found here ....


and some specific pics ...

not sure what this guy is!!

decorator crab

Thanks again Richard for everything!! You rock!!

Lloyd

 

[Eldouble]

I took three days for me to see my peppermint shrimp. Keep looking, he's probly still there.

 

[lsher]

the first day I saw him a lot - he would most of his free time riding the current from one end of the tank to the other. he seamed to enjoy it.

he clearly wasn't the shy type - now its been over 24 hours without sight of him - i think he's a gone - but I'm holding out hope!!

if you doesn't turn up by the weekend should i replace him? will the new guy just become mantis/crab food?

 

[liverock]

hidden!

hidden!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9162534#post9162534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lsher
the first day I saw him a lot - he would most of his free time riding the current from one end of the tank to the other. he seamed to enjoy it.

he clearly wasn't the shy type - now its been over 24 hours without sight of him - i think he's a gone - but I'm holding out hope!!

if you doesn't turn up by the weekend should i replace him? will the new guy just become mantis/crab food?

They usually hang under and upside down on a rock.....

Richard TBS

 

[JCote]

Mine did (does) the same thing - sometimes I don't see it for several days. After I'd had it about a month, I looked in and saw just an empty shell - antennas and all. I spent the next two days bummed out and plotting revenge on whatever had done this horrible deed.
A few days later, I was looking at the tank and there was the shrimp hanging out in it's usual spot happy and healthy as ever! Back from the dead, Peppermint Patty lives! I plan to celebrate her return each year by hiding salmon eggs and chocolate in the tank.

 

[HowardW]

<<< I looked in and saw just an empty shell - antennas and all. >>>


Not back from the dead, that's what you see after they molt.