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

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

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

Your worm thing is a mantis shrimp. You want to get rid of
it. You can prepare some salt water extra salty, and dip
the rock in that and the mantis shrimp will come out.

Do a goggle image search for mantis shrimp, and you will
see pictures of it.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Gill Passman wrote on 10/11/2006 4:51 PM:
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

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

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