Western_reefers gorgonian/NPC forest.

[Western_reefer]

Well today the sponge looked a lot worse so I decided to take it out for fear it would nuke the tank. I'm glad I did because as soon as it hit the air, I almost vomited from the smell. (guess that means it died)

I'll be getting another one eventually.

Sorry to hear, that really sucks.

 

[Western_reefer]

Hey Bongo, did the basket starfish accept/eat the foods when you fed them? Take a few pictures of them opened up. Do yours open up during the day or only at night?

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

So far only seen them open at night. I'll feed soon to see what happens.

 

[Western_reefer]

I've had the Basket starfish for 16 days so far and so far so good! :dance:

 

[slapshot]

Moses, I was watching your video, you know what you need, if I can spend your money for you, LOL, is a tunze wavebox. The effect on my gorgs was amazing. Plus everything sways.

 

[Western_reefer]

Moses, I was watching your video, you know what you need, if I can spend your money for you, LOL, is a tunze wavebox. The effect on my gorgs was amazing. Plus everything sways.

Yeah lol, If I had the money, I would have gotten a tunze wavebox a looonngg time ago. I've always wanted one, but I won't have $500 to spend on a tunze wavebox. lol

 

[herring_fish]

Let Than Glamorize

Let Than Glamorize

Moses,

How are the black muscles doing? I bought some that looked like that at the grocery store ...not too smart. They were cold water muscles and they didn't last very long at all.

What beach did you get yours from, Maine, Florida, San Diego? I called "Your Reef" about the green lipped muscles but he said that he didn't ever get requests for them. I had some a long time ago. That was before I could feed the tank like I can now so I might be able to keep them alive. Are they tolerant of tropical tanks?

Also, does anyone have access to barnacles that are from warm waters? I think they will be happy in well fed tanks. I like the way that they feed so actively. I wish that I could get some of the living ones that are big and purple like the dried ones that are available for decoration or homes for blennies. Anyway, barnacles would need to be attached to something that can go into the reef tank unless they could be found in a large clump.

Oh, I bought different types of the clams from the sea food counter and most of the them are doing quite well after a year. Some have a better chances than others. Perhaps 60% are still around and are growing. They aren't very pretty sitting on or burrowing into the sand but at 2 to 5 bucks a bag, they added some variety to my stark new tank when I started it up.

We have talked about brittle stars. What other critters could be collected, in warm waters like Florida, that we are passing up? Divers aren't that expensive.

 

[Western_reefer]

Moses,

How are the black muscles doing? I bought some that looked like that at the grocery store ...not too smart. They were cold water muscles and they didn't last very long at all.

What beach did you get yours from, Maine, Florida, San Diego? I called "Your Reef" about the green lipped muscles but he said that he didn't ever get requests for them. I had some a long time ago. That was before I could feed the tank like I can now so I might be able to keep them alive. Are they tolerant of tropical tanks?

Also, does anyone have access to barnacles that are from warm waters? I think they will be happy in well fed tanks. I like the way that they feed so actively. I wish that I could get some of the living ones that are big and purple like the dried ones that are available for decoration or homes for blennies. Anyway, barnacles would need to be attached to something that can go into the reef tank unless they could be found in a large clump.

Oh, I bought different types of the clams from the sea food counter and most of the them are doing quite well after a year. Some have a better chances than others. Perhaps 60% are still around and are growing. They aren't very pretty sitting on or burrowing into the sand but at 2 to 5 bucks a bag, they added some variety to my stark new tank when I started it up.

We have talked about brittle stars. What other critters could be collected, in warm waters like Florida, that we are passing up? Divers aren't that expensive.

Looks like they are still doing well. I'm keeping my tank at 70F-75F, so, they might last longer.

I collected them from the coast of California, Bodega Bay. I didn't call Your Reef, I forgot to call them. lol I'm not sure if the Green Muscles are tropical or not.

Hmm... Good question. I've never seen anyone sell live Barnacle clusters that come from Florida. I'll email a diver and ask him.

Do you know what kind of clams they were? Were they Little Neck clams?

Hmm... There is a lot of stuff out there. lol

 

[herring_fish]

I wouldn’t have a clue what they were called and I couldn’t get a good picture of them. <br>They were fun to see when I first got them and now are just bio diversity.<br>I just went to the counter and ask for a few of each of the different clams.

 

[Western_reefer]

I wouldn't have a clue what they were called and I couldn't get a good picture of them. <br>They were fun to see when I first got them and now are just bio diversity.<br>I just went to the counter and ask for a few of each of the different clams.

They look like Little Neck clams.

 

[herring_fish]

Green Lipped Mussels

Green Lipped Mussels

If you say so. The one on the right is different. It is about 3 inches in size and is gray or tank at the edge but gradually turns more black at the center. It has grown about a half of an inch. It only opens about a quarter inch or more to filter feed but again, not very pretty.

I went looking around the net and finally found this article on the green lipped mussels. I don't want to hijack this thread so I will post a path to it here but also start a new thread about them to see if anyone is having any success with them.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2003/invert.htm

The temperature range is acceptable but I guess that you would need a well feed filter feeding tank to keep them alive. They need to eat a lot of food!

They only live 2 to 3 years and if they are a good size when you get them, then they my be some what old. It would be hard to tell if you are starving them to death or providing them with a good retirement.

Then next step is to find a source for them at sea food prices plus shipping.

 

[Western_reefer]

Hmm... Those Mussels look very cool. I wonder if you could find a local sea food store that sells them live... lol

 

[Western_reefer]

Here is a video and a few pictures of the basket starfish that I took this morning.
Video
View My Video




Pictures

 

[slapshot]

Nice work! He looks healthy.

 

[Western_reefer]

Nice work! He looks healthy.

Thanks! Both Basket starfish are growing back their arms very fast! :dance:

 

[Western_reefer]

Hey Bongo, how are your Basket Starfish doing?

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

Great, they open u[ a little during feeding but when I get up in morning and the lights are off and it's dark, I can see them open all the way. (typically)

 

[Western_reefer]

Great, they open u[ a little during feeding but when I get up in morning and the lights are off and it's dark, I can see them open all the way. (typically)

Glad to hear they are doing well. Can you take a few update pictures of them open?

 

[Western_reefer]

Hey slapshot, how are your tube sponges doing?

 

[slapshot]

Funny you should ask, I was going to ask you the same thing. So far so good. They have colored up more since adding them. I am a little concerned that the bottm, where the two join appears to me to have shrunk a little. The white on the top of the one has colored up and the one that looks different, like Bongo's (RIP) swells up at night. It is kind of cool but the wall gets twice as thick.