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Very much a newbie but have a couple of questions
Hi All,
Been lurking here a couple of months or so and picked up some great info.... 5 weeks ago I set up a Nano Reef tank in a 15gall tank I had lying about doing nothing....been keeping freshwater but wanted a new challenge.... Everything comes in pretty well with the tests I've done to date - got more kits ordered but right now:- Temp is around 80F - a bit high but the idea is to put some fans into the hood SG has crept up to 1.026 but from people I've spoken to this is OK for Corals pH is 8.4 Alk is the higher range of normal (sorry just a colour chart) NO2 is 0 - has settled so the tank has cycled from my FW experience - only had a small reading.... The tank is set up with a protein skimmer, a couple of powerheads and around 9 Kilos of LR..... Lighting is currently two 15 watt tubes - one actinic - another 15 watt will be added tomorrow when I get my delivery from my mail order.... The livestock so far consists of:- 3 Blue Hermits - all have moved on shell wise since introduction 3 Nassarius Snails - want to add more 2 Cleaner Shrimps - both have moulted since being added 2 Feather Dusters - one brown and cream, the other pink A colony of White Star Polyps that have rapidly become a massive bush Some Green Mushrooms - not happy initially but have done better since moving them lower in the tank Every 3 days I am adding a small amount (2.5ml) of Phytoplankton.... The glass and substrate is getting a covering of diatoms which is what I would expect - nothing severe I'm emptying the cup from the Protein skimmer either daily or alternate days depending on how full it gets..... Water smells good.... I used RO water to set up the tank and am continuing to do so....I do need to top it off tomorrow but can't lift the RO water container (feeble girlie) Two things are going on which I would appreciate some help with:- 1. I have noticed that the water surface is covered with pink dust like material - this has happened in the last couple of hours....looking closely it seems to be like mini White Star Polyps - is it? or should I be worried.... 2. Something nasty seems to be lurking in the live rock.....the live rock in question is the one that the White Star Polyps are populating....it is worm like....it has two horn like bits....it peeps out sometimes and before the polyps carpetted the rock I'm sure I saw a worm like thing dive across the rock and hide in another hole.....last night I noticed something interesting in the substrate and gave it a poke (wish I hadn't and had been more patient) - it floated towards the white star LR and something popped out, opened it's jaws and gobbled whatever it was up in a brutal way.....could it be a bristle worm?....how can I remove it? and should I remove it? The tank will eventually house a couple of Clown fish - no other fish (young children, wouldn't be allowed to do anything else) - I've spotted a breeding pair which are tempting me but if I have something nasty in the tank as far as I can see the fry would be mincemeat so little point in spending the money TIA Gill |
Very much a newbie but have a couple of questions
Gill Passman wrote: 1. I have noticed that the water surface is covered with pink dust like material - this has happened in the last couple of hours.... 2. Something nasty seems to be lurking in the live rock.....the live rock in question is the one that the White Star Polyps are populating....it is worm like....it has two horn like bits.... Hi Gill, I don't think you need to worry. The 'pink dust' you describe probably can only be identified via a microscope but it sounds to me like some sort of dinoflagellate bloom. If that's the case, it should go away on its own over time. In the meantime, if you can agitate the surface a bit to get the material into the water column your featherdusters would probably love to eat the stuff. Saying that you have a "bristleworm" would be like saying you have a fish or a crab; accurate but not very useful. Your worm could be any of hundreds of different species that are found in the aquarium trade. If you would like a good I.D. then you'll need a really good picture or set of pictures that you can post to the following forum: http://forum.marinedepot.com/Forum11-1.aspx FWIW: This is probably THE best source for invertebrate identification that you'll find this side of a university level marine biology department but they do need to be able to see specific details so please read the instructions posted there before you fire up the camera. Having said all that, your worm is almost certainly one of the good guys. Most of the worm species that are found in home aquariums are harmless and beneficial scavengers and detrivores. There is a species or two that prey on cnidarians but, since your polyps and mushrooms are doing well and you've already seen the worm eating what sounds like detritus, I'd say there's virtually no chance that your worm is anything but a positive asset. Optimistically yours, Alex |
Very much a newbie but have a couple of questions
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Very much a newbie but have a couple of questions
I did a google and my critter is more worm like....I only saw it in full
once but will do some more investigations after lights out....it is living in a bit of live rock which is carpeted with White Star Polyps....in the space of 8 days these have increased in number.....the hermits and the cleaner shrimps have given this rock a good going over without damage.... If I did put the rock in an over the top salt solution wouldn't this adversely affect my coral? Thanks Gill |
Very much a newbie but have a couple of questions
Tidepool Geek wrote:
Gill Passman wrote: 1. I have noticed that the water surface is covered with pink dust like material - this has happened in the last couple of hours.... 2. Something nasty seems to be lurking in the live rock.....the live rock in question is the one that the White Star Polyps are populating....it is worm like....it has two horn like bits.... Hi Gill, I don't think you need to worry. The 'pink dust' you describe probably can only be identified via a microscope but it sounds to me like some sort of dinoflagellate bloom. If that's the case, it should go away on its own over time. In the meantime, if you can agitate the surface a bit to get the material into the water column your featherdusters would probably love to eat the stuff. Saying that you have a "bristleworm" would be like saying you have a fish or a crab; accurate but not very useful. Your worm could be any of hundreds of different species that are found in the aquarium trade. If you would like a good I.D. then you'll need a really good picture or set of pictures that you can post to the following forum: http://forum.marinedepot.com/Forum11-1.aspx FWIW: This is probably THE best source for invertebrate identification that you'll find this side of a university level marine biology department but they do need to be able to see specific details so please read the instructions posted there before you fire up the camera. Having said all that, your worm is almost certainly one of the good guys. Most of the worm species that are found in home aquariums are harmless and beneficial scavengers and detrivores. There is a species or two that prey on cnidarians but, since your polyps and mushrooms are doing well and you've already seen the worm eating what sounds like detritus, I'd say there's virtually no chance that your worm is anything but a positive asset. Optimistically yours, Alex The pink dust also appears to be pink bubbles as well....if I put my arm in the tank I get a coating of pink stuff on me....I did some google searches and I think you are right about it being a dinoflagellate bloom - I'm stirring it up a bit and both feather dusters seem keen....I actually am getting another feather duster at the weekend....I bought two pinks but one appears to have been DOA and the LFS has agreed to replace it..... The more I'm playing and researching this thing...the more I see how difficult it is to identify any hitch hikers....I do know that the LR and Coral were in the LFS for around 3 months before I bought it and that the livestock in the tank other than corals has not been impacted....but then again it could be something nasty. I only ever saw it once in full and that was a very quick look....I saw the jaws the other night.....as for photographing it I need to get a good look....maybe I should camp out one night by the tank.... I'm afraid I cannot resist the pair of clowns - they are just so lovely and have been at the LFS without an anenome and very happy for over 2 months....I've reserved them - haven't parted with any cash so guess I can change my mind - they will keep them until the tank is ready :-) Gill |
Very much a newbie but have a couple of questions
Yea you would not want to put your coral in extra salty
water. If it's not a mantis shrimp, then don't do the salt water dip. Wayne Sallee Wayne's Pets Gill Passman wrote on 10/12/2006 3:34 PM: I did a google and my critter is more worm like....I only saw it in full once but will do some more investigations after lights out....it is living in a bit of live rock which is carpeted with White Star Polyps....in the space of 8 days these have increased in number.....the hermits and the cleaner shrimps have given this rock a good going over without damage.... If I did put the rock in an over the top salt solution wouldn't this adversely affect my coral? Thanks Gill |
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