Got Part 2 Saturday

[snodine]

Richard sent 4 boxes of rock and a box containing 13 bags of critters. I just finished putting all the rock and critters and other assorted goodies in my tank. I would take pictures but I'm too tired to hold up the camera. Pictures tomorrow (later today) - promise.

Just a short list of what was in the bags:

2 shrimp
4 cucumbers
3 fish
sponges
5 clams (I think)
4 anemones (I think)
a gorilla crab big enough to wear a saddle now living in the sump
lots of snails
lots of hermit crabs

Pictures later today! Could use a little assistance with identification too.

Richard offers great service and a fantastic product. You will not be disappointed in choosing TBS rock.

 

[snodine]

Part 2 pictures

Part 2 pictures

Ok, here are some pictures of the tank before part 2 was added.
(the tower in the middle is not TBS rock).

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2181.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2181.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is the tank after part 2 was added.

Front:
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2318.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2318.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Back:
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2329.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2329.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The 5 boxes ready to be opened.

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2308.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2308.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Some of the bags floating in the tank.

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Pictures of some of the new residents - any help with identification would be greatly appreciated.

Cucumber? (1 of 4)

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2315.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2315.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2316.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2316.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Red thing - clam?

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2317.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2317.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[snodine]

More pictures.

More pictures.

Another clam? (1 of 3)

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2323.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2323.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

2 Anemones

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2321.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2321.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Another anemone

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2326.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2326.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Anyone know what this is on top of the rock?

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2325.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2325.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

One of 2 shrimp.

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2332.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2332.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Checked parameters and seeing detectable amounts of ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. Will be keeping an eye on it over the next week or so. Making water just in case it is needed.

So, anyone still wondering about getting TBS rock?

 

[HowardW]

I would place the tree sponges and the gorgonians into holes or crevices in the rockwork in high flow areas as opposed to planting them in the sandbed because the bases can end up dying and rotting.

 

[divemonster]

Hey Steve-O! Your tank looks great!! Are you having fun yet, and did your poor wife forgive you? I'm on her side on that one It's tough keeping you men in line

I think the clam with the yellow growth on it is called a jewel box clam, and it looks like there is a scallop or something like that in the background. I don't the name of the clam with the red sponge on it, and it looks like there is another type of clam in the foreground.

The soft coral with the "flat blades" is called a Blade gorgonian.

The two anemones in the same pic are flower anemones and the other type is a condylactis.

The growth on top of that rock looks like sponge to me.

 

[snodine]

Teri,

My wife was in Arizona over the weekend visiting her brother and his family. I planned it right this time - she was not home to see the mess I made and I had time to clean everything up. My Momma didn't raise no dummy!

Thanks for the IDs. I've moved some things around a little mainly because stuff kept falling over. I also took Howard's suggestion and moved the sponges and gorgonians up out of the substrate and wedged them into the rocks.

The ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are sneaking up a bit (ammonia - 0.25, nitrite - 0.50, nitrate - 40) although the ammonia level is half of what it was last night. I'm hoping everything stabilizes in the next couple of weeks because I'm going to a frag swap on the 25th. I'm hoping to get my first coral there.

 

[HowardW]

<<< The ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are sneaking up a bit (ammonia - 0.25, nitrite - 0.50, nitrate - 40) although the ammonia level is half of what it was last night. I'm hoping everything stabilizes in the next couple of weeks because I'm going to a frag swap on the 25th. I'm hoping to get my first coral there. >>>


I would begin doing partial water changes to bring the nitrate levels down. I also would not add any further corals, fish, or anything else for at least 2-3 months until the tank breaks in and all the water parameters are fully stable and you've done several water changes and gotten past your first algae breakout (if you get one). One of the biggest mistakes people make IMO is trying to add too much too soon to a new tank.