BrianPlankis
Premium Member
I wonder if the octo would eat porcelain crabs? I would love to get the gorillas out (one is eating one of my TBS brains!!!!) But I don't want the porcelains to go.
Brian
Brian
Our Tbs
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Fred_J
New member
Brian
I hope I'm not repeating myself too much but I put a large grocery store shrimp in a tall glass (had to weight it down with an old dead coral) I caught a big gorilla and my red mithrex one right one right after the other one night. I think they were used to the smell of sliversides and could not resist the cocktail shrimp. I know you've tried before but the relief/joy/pleasure is really worth it when it works.
Fred
I hope I'm not repeating myself too much but I put a large grocery store shrimp in a tall glass (had to weight it down with an old dead coral) I caught a big gorilla and my red mithrex one right one right after the other one night. I think they were used to the smell of sliversides and could not resist the cocktail shrimp. I know you've tried before but the relief/joy/pleasure is really worth it when it works.
Fred
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BrianPlankis
Premium Member
Fred,
Yeah, I've tried the glass method a few times and they just refuse to enter the glass. I'll probably try it a couple more times just for grins. I know of 3 remaining in the tank after spearing one with a chopstick last night
Unfortunately the big one that is eating the brain is adept at hiding. I'm going to try some carbonated water into holes on that rock this weekend. I need to rearrange anyway as I got a small rock with 5 or 6 watermelon shrooms on Wed
Brian
Brian
lossman
New member
Well, since we had already wrecked our Caribbean Reef biotope by putting a Falco's hawkfish in the tank, we decided, what the heck and got a lawnmower blenny to hopefully eat the hair algae we have going in the tank. Moose is in quarantine right now and will be there for about 4 weeks or so. Will post pictures as soon as we get some.
We found a new reef store. It's about an hours drive away but has an awesome selection of stuff. Prices are really good too. They have a contact that dives in the Gulf and they are going out this weekend to collect some stuff. I have Monday off from work so might go back to the store then to see what they brought in. Otherwise, Brett and I will go back next Saturday.
The tank is doing really well. Just a little bit of hair algae that seems to be very slow growing and does not spread much.
Just did my monthly heavy feeding of the tank. Managed to find all 4 serpent stars and got them some silversides. The condy filled her gut with two pieces and Harley and Clifford pigged out on some silversides they managed to steal as well as some fresh brineshrimp that we picked up today. The fish are growing by leaps and bounds and the tank looks so healthy and alive. Can't wait to get some new corals and gorgonians to fill out the blah spots.
Our tank is just about a full year old. I still spend every spare minute gazing at the tank and watching the life evolve in there. This was the best "decoration" we could have put in our house.
BTW, just to rub salt in the wounds of you up in the North....today was an awesome day. High 70's, low 80's, bright sunshine with a slight breeze. We drove to the new fish store with the windows down and the sunroof open. Later ate supper out on the lanai. I sure don't miss the snow, sleet, ice and cold of the north!!!
Sally
Moose is in quarantine right now and will be there for about 4 weeks or so. Will post pictures as soon as we get some.We found a new reef store. It's about an hours drive away but has an awesome selection of stuff. Prices are really good too. They have a contact that dives in the Gulf and they are going out this weekend to collect some stuff. I have Monday off from work so might go back to the store then to see what they brought in. Otherwise, Brett and I will go back next Saturday.
The tank is doing really well. Just a little bit of hair algae that seems to be very slow growing and does not spread much.
Just did my monthly heavy feeding of the tank. Managed to find all 4 serpent stars and got them some silversides. The condy filled her gut with two pieces and Harley and Clifford pigged out on some silversides they managed to steal as well as some fresh brineshrimp that we picked up today. The fish are growing by leaps and bounds and the tank looks so healthy and alive. Can't wait to get some new corals and gorgonians to fill out the blah spots.
Our tank is just about a full year old. I still spend every spare minute gazing at the tank and watching the life evolve in there. This was the best "decoration" we could have put in our house.
BTW, just to rub salt in the wounds of you up in the North....today was an awesome day. High 70's, low 80's, bright sunshine with a slight breeze. We drove to the new fish store with the windows down and the sunroof open. Later ate supper out on the lanai. I sure don't miss the snow, sleet, ice and cold of the north!!!
Sally
krajacich
Premium Member
That's great news Sally! Nothing like a pretty, healthy tank....of course you realize that you can't brag about your tank without giving us pictures
I need to buy new light bulbs for my tank so it's looking a bit yellow right now. I'm still trying to decide if I want to buy the new pc light bulbs or if I want to switch to a T5 set-up. I keep going back and forth....
It's really cold here today, below zero plus windchill so about -15 to -20. No snow though. Hope everyone is keeping warm!
I need to buy new light bulbs for my tank so it's looking a bit yellow right now. I'm still trying to decide if I want to buy the new pc light bulbs or if I want to switch to a T5 set-up. I keep going back and forth....
It's really cold here today, below zero plus windchill so about -15 to -20. No snow though. Hope everyone is keeping warm!
lossman
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6772884#post6772884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by krajacich
That's great news Sally! Nothing like a pretty, healthy tank....of course you realize that you can't brag about your tank without giving us pictures
I'll have to play with pictures tomorrow and see what I can come up with. Otherwise, you all will have to wait until Pat and Bob come visit us (with Pat's most awesome camera and clicking abilities!!)
patsan
Premium Member
The tang ate all the hair algae I had in my tank.
We don't have any hair algae in the TBS tank, so I don't know if the blenny would eat it or not. Our PITA blenny seems to be happiest just digging up the sand and making the water all cloudy.
As far as weather......not fair!
This was the snow at it's worse that I saw when we had the blizzard last week:
After that, we were nice and warm in the 50's this week, and it melted all the snow. We had fierce winds yesterday, and now today the cold. As you all know, I hate the cold with a passion. But, I have to say...this winter has been one of the mildest I can remember. Hopefully it won't last much longer. I can't wait to be in shorts again.
I got an email from the guy who bought my tank + lights. He sent me a few pics of it, and it's awesome looking. He plumbed it together with his 120g. I had asked him what he thought of the T-5 lights..because he was really leery of buying the lights.
He said he has noticed a few of his sps have faded a bit, and the T-5's are not as intense as his halides...which he knew would be the case. But he said his lps and softies are doing better with the T-5's than the MH's, and the clams are holding their own. He said he's pleased with them so far, and even more pleased that the new tank is running him less than $25/mo.
We don't have any hair algae in the TBS tank, so I don't know if the blenny would eat it or not. Our PITA blenny seems to be happiest just digging up the sand and making the water all cloudy.
As far as weather......not fair!
This was the snow at it's worse that I saw when we had the blizzard last week:
After that, we were nice and warm in the 50's this week, and it melted all the snow. We had fierce winds yesterday, and now today the cold. As you all know, I hate the cold with a passion. But, I have to say...this winter has been one of the mildest I can remember. Hopefully it won't last much longer. I can't wait to be in shorts again.
I got an email from the guy who bought my tank + lights. He sent me a few pics of it, and it's awesome looking. He plumbed it together with his 120g. I had asked him what he thought of the T-5 lights..because he was really leery of buying the lights.
He said he has noticed a few of his sps have faded a bit, and the T-5's are not as intense as his halides...which he knew would be the case. But he said his lps and softies are doing better with the T-5's than the MH's, and the clams are holding their own. He said he's pleased with them so far, and even more pleased that the new tank is running him less than $25/mo.
patsan
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6773046#post6773046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lossman
I'll have to play with pictures tomorrow and see what I can come up with. Otherwise, you all will have to wait until Pat and Bob come visit us (with Pat's most awesome camera and clicking abilities!!)
Oh please!! That's not until the end of April...the beginning of May when we visit you......so you NEED to take some before then.
Just set the camera on the basic setting (I can't rememer the size right now) so the pictures are bigger than what you've posted in the past. Maybe 640x something??????
Then you probably won't even have to re-size them. I never resized any pictures I took with my Olympus camera. I didn't take them at higher resolutions...just regular and they still came out pretty good.
Id?
Id?
As I've been home on a brief vacation - I decided to stay up late to see if anything "new" is in the tank. Surprisingly enough - a couple things I noticed, that I'm hoping you guys can help id.
The first is a common sea star that I've read either is absolutely harmless or eats corals. Odd how this one is missing some limbs - but here's the pic: (caught it moving from the substrate to the glass)
The second is a continuation of some snails pat and I have noticed in our tanks. I believe I've located the "resting" spot during the day for some of mine:
Finally - the nastiest / weirdest critter find in the tank. It appears to be a worm but appears more slug-like rather than a hunter. Either way I was tempted to dust off the "claw" and crab the guy. Exposed to my flashlight it slowly retracted back under the LR. It appears to be at least 1~2 inches.
Retracting:
Extended one hour after lights out:
Any help is appreciated. I cannot remove the LR the worm-thingy is under. Given that it's been a year I can't figure out whether it is a net positive or neutral. Obviously doesn't attack the fish.
Thanks.
Id?
As I've been home on a brief vacation - I decided to stay up late to see if anything "new" is in the tank. Surprisingly enough - a couple things I noticed, that I'm hoping you guys can help id.
The first is a common sea star that I've read either is absolutely harmless or eats corals. Odd how this one is missing some limbs - but here's the pic: (caught it moving from the substrate to the glass)
The second is a continuation of some snails pat and I have noticed in our tanks. I believe I've located the "resting" spot during the day for some of mine:
Finally - the nastiest / weirdest critter find in the tank. It appears to be a worm but appears more slug-like rather than a hunter. Either way I was tempted to dust off the "claw" and crab the guy. Exposed to my flashlight it slowly retracted back under the LR. It appears to be at least 1~2 inches.
Retracting:
Extended one hour after lights out:
Any help is appreciated. I cannot remove the LR the worm-thingy is under. Given that it's been a year I can't figure out whether it is a net positive or neutral. Obviously doesn't attack the fish.
Thanks.
lossman
New member
And a few more pictures, now that I got the hang of resizing.
We fed the tank some live brine shrimp last night. The condi made sure she got her share!!
Hitchhiker brain corals
This ricordia was eaten down to about a half dozen little polyps. It has now grown back to twice it's original size and it has a couple of babies growing under it's mantle.
We fed the tank some live brine shrimp last night. The condi made sure she got her share!!
Hitchhiker brain corals
This ricordia was eaten down to about a half dozen little polyps. It has now grown back to twice it's original size and it has a couple of babies growing under it's mantle.
BrianPlankis
Premium Member
Re: Id?
Re: Id?
Asterinid species of stars. More info here:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rs/index.php
VERY likely that it is a harmless grazer. Unless you see it eating a coral, just let it be. It is missing an arm because it reproduces by dropping an arm. If you look closely it looks like your star is growing three more arms.
It could be a Collonista sp. of snail, but could also possibly be a trochus species of snail. How big are they? But without a crisp clear picture of the snail withdrawn into the opening of the shell these are just guesses
This is most likely a chiton, which are by far one of my favorite hitchhikers. They tend to eat film algaes and sometimes coralline algae. Completely reef safe unless you have an acrylic tank, sometimes they can scratch that with their hard "tongue". I would replace the word nastiest with most beautiful creature in your tank, but I'm biased I have at least two of them in my tank and one of them is pink/red in coloration, very pretty.
Brian
Re: Id?
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6774224#post6774224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phil519
The first is a common sea star that I've read either is absolutely harmless or eats corals. Odd how this one is missing some limbs - but here's the pic: (caught it moving from the substrate to the glass)
Asterinid species of stars. More info here:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rs/index.php
VERY likely that it is a harmless grazer. Unless you see it eating a coral, just let it be. It is missing an arm because it reproduces by dropping an arm. If you look closely it looks like your star is growing three more arms.
The second is a continuation of some snails pat and I have noticed in our tanks. I believe I've located the "resting" spot during the day for some of mine:
It could be a Collonista sp. of snail, but could also possibly be a trochus species of snail. How big are they? But without a crisp clear picture of the snail withdrawn into the opening of the shell these are just guesses
Finally - the nastiest / weirdest critter find in the tank. It appears to be a worm but appears more slug-like rather than a hunter. Either way I was tempted to dust off the "claw" and crab the guy. Exposed to my flashlight it slowly retracted back under the LR. It appears to be at least 1~2 inches.
Retracting:
Extended one hour after lights out:
Any help is appreciated. I cannot remove the LR the worm-thingy is under. Given that it's been a year I can't figure out whether it is a net positive or neutral. Obviously doesn't attack the fish.
Thanks.
This is most likely a chiton, which are by far one of my favorite hitchhikers. They tend to eat film algaes and sometimes coralline algae. Completely reef safe unless you have an acrylic tank, sometimes they can scratch that with their hard "tongue". I would replace the word nastiest with most beautiful creature in your tank, but I'm biased
I have at least two of them in my tank and one of them is pink/red in coloration, very pretty.Brian
BrianPlankis
Premium Member
For those of you that don't follow my thread, here are some pictures I took over the last few days:
Here are some closeup pics of the Columbellid snail (mis-identified Strombus grazers from ipsf.com) egg mass. This thing is TINY, probably about 1/2 the diameter of a #2 pencil eraser, so these pics are the best my camera can do with a 4x magnifying glass in front of the lense:
Day1:
Day3:
Not much difference huh? But all four babies are moving around inside.
Here are my new green striped "watermelon" shrooms:
Under 10K:
Actinic only:
Some more pics...this time of recovery and growth! For those of you that don't remember, I briefly tried Crystal Seas bioassay salt in my tank and several of my corals didn't like it. The most striking one was my "colt" coral which completely bleached.
Here is a picture of it bleached, but starting to recover, it was a brighter white before this pic:
And here is a picture of it yesterday fully recovered under actinics (under actinics it has a nice green tint in the polyps):
My green hairy mushroom also shriveled up, but now is happy:
My "eagle eye" zoas also shrunk and closed a lot, but have flourished since the switch back to Kent.
Here is a pic just after I got it back in June 2005:
And here is the new growth as of yesterday, there are almost as many polyps on the back side as well. This colony does have some kind of black sponge growing between the polyps, but doesn't seem to be affecting it at all.
And finally my zoa rock that has recovered as well.
Brian
Here are some closeup pics of the Columbellid snail (mis-identified Strombus grazers from ipsf.com) egg mass. This thing is TINY, probably about 1/2 the diameter of a #2 pencil eraser, so these pics are the best my camera can do with a 4x magnifying glass in front of the lense:
Day1:
Day3:
Not much difference huh? But all four babies are moving around inside.
Here are my new green striped "watermelon" shrooms:
Under 10K:
Actinic only:
Some more pics...this time of recovery and growth! For those of you that don't remember, I briefly tried Crystal Seas bioassay salt in my tank and several of my corals didn't like it. The most striking one was my "colt" coral which completely bleached.
Here is a picture of it bleached, but starting to recover, it was a brighter white before this pic:
And here is a picture of it yesterday fully recovered under actinics (under actinics it has a nice green tint in the polyps):
My green hairy mushroom also shriveled up, but now is happy:
My "eagle eye" zoas also shrunk and closed a lot, but have flourished since the switch back to Kent.
Here is a pic just after I got it back in June 2005:
And here is the new growth as of yesterday, there are almost as many polyps on the back side as well. This colony does have some kind of black sponge growing between the polyps, but doesn't seem to be affecting it at all.
And finally my zoa rock that has recovered as well.
Brian
patsan
Premium Member
Nice pics B....
I know what you mean about trying to get the closest picture of the snails. Ours are so small, even with my macro lens, I can't get a good picture of them. Possibly if they weren't situated where they were, I could do a little better, but am limited to taking them on the glass where we find them.
I'm glad to hear your corals are coming along better with the Kent Salt. I love that zoa! Looks like it's doing great now.
I can't wait to get our lights back. I believe Sunlight Supply will just be receiving them from us today....so it'll be a little longer.
I wonder if FedEx works (delivers) on holidays?? Anyone know?
I know what you mean about trying to get the closest picture of the snails. Ours are so small, even with my macro lens, I can't get a good picture of them. Possibly if they weren't situated where they were, I could do a little better, but am limited to taking them on the glass where we find them.
I'm glad to hear your corals are coming along better with the Kent Salt. I love that zoa! Looks like it's doing great now.
I can't wait to get our lights back. I believe Sunlight Supply will just be receiving them from us today....so it'll be a little longer.
I wonder if FedEx works (delivers) on holidays?? Anyone know?
BrianPlankis
Premium Member
Well,
I just discovered my oldest bisma worm ejected from its home this morning and obviously dead. So it was removed to prevent a nutrient spike
I'm trying to find a more steady supply of phyto so I can dose daily. Does anyone buy LIVE phyto online? Not DTs, way too much phospahte for me. I have a local phyto guy, but he can't keep up with demand.
Brian
I hope you get your lights back soon! I'm sure your corals miss it!
I just discovered my oldest bisma worm ejected from its home this morning and obviously dead. So it was removed to prevent a nutrient spike
I'm trying to find a more steady supply of phyto so I can dose daily. Does anyone buy LIVE phyto online? Not DTs, way too much phospahte for me. I have a local phyto guy, but he can't keep up with demand.
Brian
I hope you get your lights back soon! I'm sure your corals miss it!
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