Our Tbs

[Safir]

jezz - i saw two cirolanids on my rock, but spotted them and flicked them off before it went in teh tank. haven't seen any more.

i have picked out 4 gorillas and have a mantis in there still, so don't feel too alone

also got probably a dozen other hitchiker crabs, at least two red mithrax and at least 5 porcelain crabs included.

 

[jharler]

I feel pretty lucky. I got my first shipment on Thursday and so far, the only hitchikers I've found are a serpent star and a baby snail. No signs of any crabs or mantis. I'm also having a dream cycle with no ammonia. I haven't had to do a water change yet.

I hope I have the same kind of luck with Part 2.

 

[elzool]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7332876#post7332876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by liverock
Something is causing ammonia, or your test kit is faulty...take each rock and inspect, with your eyes, and nose.....anything funky smelling, scrape off.....if there is anything......how old is the test kit?

Smelled, scaped and smelled some more. No foul or funkified odors.
Called Hagen, the manufacturer of the test kit and found it was made in Feb of 05'.

I'll pick up a Seachem Ammonia test tomorrow. Until then, just in case, I'll continue doing water changes.

I have seen more critters in the last 15 minutes than I've seen in the last two days.

I pulled up something I thought was dead... it was a rock and I found a wee lil starfish beneath it and this guy was also on the rock. I'm trying to decide if he should stay or go.

Then I saw this bigger guy. Friend or Foe?

Finally, I saw this guy out looking for food. At least his antenna thingie was out before I took the picture.

Next investment, macro lens.

 

[patsan]

Jesse....I had one cirolanid....and never another. I also don't think anyone had anything NEAR what poor Brian went thru.

Josh, I barely had a cycle with both my shipments also. Some have it easy, and some have it rough. The big thing is.....if there is an ammonia spike that doesn't seem to be able to control, then most likely a sponge or turkey wing is dead in that tank. You will also be seeing hitchhikers very soon. You couldn't be so lucky not to get gorilla crabs.

elzool.....some people disagree with me, but the only crabs I'd keep are the porcelains...the other will start eating things you'd like to keep.
That 2nd picture is a gorilla for sure. If it has the black claws, get it out of there as soon as you can.

 

[elzool]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7334871#post7334871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patsan
elzool.....some people disagree with me, but the only crabs I'd keep are the porcelains...the other will start eating things you'd like to keep.
That 2nd picture is a gorilla for sure. If it has the black claws, get it out of there as soon as you can.

Super!
I found another one in the hole next door.

Glad I already went to Sears & Roebuck.

I'm off to huntin'... As Elmer Fudd would say, "It's cwab season!"

 

[Stormtrker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7333448#post7333448 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patsan
Here is a picture I got of Sally's pond in here back yard....and the creature swimming in it. I was trying to get a closer shot but just couldn't.

Hey Pat, glad yall had a great vacation and got to meet some of the TBS tank gang. Is that an alligator in Sally's pond?
Carla

 

[Red_Six]

Can someone post a picture or a link to this crab catching tool from Sears. I hope to get my TBS package soon.

 

[jallen1964]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7326553#post7326553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by krajacich
You should also try testing for nitrites and nitrates. It could be that the bacteria in the tank are converting the ammonia to nitrite. You may just be one of the lucky ones who has a really easy cycle We'd love it if you'd post some pics of your tank....we LOVE pictures.

Good call Danielle. My ammonia never showed, but my nitrites were sky high.:eek2: A large water change has brought them down. Thanks

John

 

[Safir]

sears site is down, but here's one on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Flexible-Spring...461132110QQcategoryZ20761QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Red_Six]

Thanks for the tool picture. I have one

 

[jharler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7336457#post7336457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jallen1964
Good call Danielle. My ammonia never showed, but my nitrites were sky high.:eek2: A large water change has brought them down. Thanks

John

I asked about doing a water change for nitrates in my tank journal thread and Richard said not to worry about it. He said that in the gulf, nitrates are usually around 35-40 ppm. He said doing a water change for the nitrates will only slow down the cycle and suggested only changing for ammonia.

Edited to add: In fact, he told me not to even bother testing for anything but ammonia. However, I am keeping a spreadsheet so I can see how the readings change over the course of my cycle.

 

[patsan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7336723#post7336723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jharler
I asked about doing a water change for nitrates in my tank journal thread and Richard said not to worry about it. He said that in the gulf, nitrates are usually around 35-40 ppm. He said doing a water change for the nitrates will only slow down the cycle and suggested only changing for ammonia.

Edited to add: In fact, he told me not to even bother testing for anything but ammonia. However, I am keeping a spreadsheet so I can see how the readings change over the course of my cycle.

There is a big difference between NitrItes and NitrAtes.

Yes Carla....that is an alligator in their pond.

 

[bobt2]

just keep doing water changes for the amm. i had a bad cycle and did 2 changes a day till i found a bad sponge. i never lost anything because of all the backbreaking changes

 

[drk70]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7328635#post7328635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jaredt
today a dead gorilla surfaced and was laying dead on a rock upide down...all together not torn up. Not sure why this happened...has something like this happened to any of you?

take care,
Jared

Probably just a molt.

Glad to see some fresh rock pics.

 

[drk70]

You can get the "claw" at Home Depot too!

 

[patsan]

Not sure about where you all live, but by me, I get the claw at an auto part store. Much less expensive than Sears.

 

[patsan]

Bob caught this when we were fishing. It was just a baby.

 

[drk70]

Cool!! You always catch cool stuff down there.

 

[jallen1964]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7338097#post7338097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patsan
There is a big difference between NitrItes and NitrAtes.

Yes Carla....that is an alligator in their pond.

Am I correct in performing a water change for high nitrites. I thought they were poison like ammonia.

John

 

[patsan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7338789#post7338789 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drk70
Cool!! You always catch cool stuff down there.

Yeah, I know....I caught sticks and twigs.