From mitch - green algae going away HUZZAH! - and a new question

So after putting in the phosphate remover stuff, it looks like the
green algae issue is starting to depart. For the first time today, it
looks like the snails ate more of the junk overnight than what grew.
Tested the phosphates, and they are right around 0 (there was SLIGHT
coloration in the test, but not even enough to register as the lowest
level of phosphates present). Nitrates still holding at 0, calcium
and KH in the ranges indicated by the test kit as ideal. Pretty
exciting to not have to fiddle for the moment.

On the negative side, it appears that one of my hermit crabs has gone
to that great aquarium in the sky...found his body, in two pieces, at
the back of the tank. No idea what could have happened to him. The
other crabs seem to be happily chewing away at the algae on the live
rock, so I'm going to guess that when I was messing with the rock
configuration a couple weeks ago, I might have mashed him
inadvertantly or something...pulled out what was left of him.

Now for the new question...what kind of gloves should I wear when
going into the tank? I need to get my powerhead out and clear the
intake...but I have a rather large bristleworm who has taken up
residence on the live rock directly above the powerhead. Even if they
didnt sting, I'd want gloves as I find this guy creepy as hell (he's
around 7 or 8 inches in length)...so the real question is, what is
'sufficient coverage' and what is 'overkill'? I was thinking that non-
powdered latex gloves would be sufficient, but I'm not sure if putting
latex covered hands into the tank would be a bad idea.

Any suggestions?
Mitch

On Nov 8, 8:57 am, Big Habeeb wrote:
So after putting in the phosphate remover stuff, it looks like the
green algae issue is starting to depart. For the first time today, it
looks like the snails ate more of the junk overnight than what grew.
Tested the phosphates, and they are right around 0 (there was SLIGHT
coloration in the test, but not even enough to register as the lowest
level of phosphates present). Nitrates still holding at 0, calcium
and KH in the ranges indicated by the test kit as ideal. Pretty
exciting to not have to fiddle for the moment.

On the negative side, it appears that one of my hermit crabs has gone
to that great aquarium in the sky...found his body, in two pieces, at
the back of the tank. No idea what could have happened to him. The
other crabs seem to be happily chewing away at the algae on the live
rock, so I'm going to guess that when I was messing with the rock
configuration a couple weeks ago, I might have mashed him
inadvertantly or something...pulled out what was left of him.

Now for the new question...what kind of gloves should I wear when
going into the tank? I need to get my powerhead out and clear the
intake...but I have a rather large bristleworm who has taken up
residence on the live rock directly above the powerhead. Even if they
didnt sting, I'd want gloves as I find this guy creepy as hell (he's
around 7 or 8 inches in length)...so the real question is, what is
'sufficient coverage' and what is 'overkill'? I was thinking that non-
powdered latex gloves would be sufficient, but I'm not sure if putting
latex covered hands into the tank would be a bad idea.

Any suggestions?
Mitch

i use tweezers to grab those guys, just wait to grab them until you
see the whole body, or they will break in half, then you will need to
get the other half later.

latex gloves are fine, as long as you wash them with soap and
thouroughly rinse first, and i mean THOUROUGHLY. also, those latex
will prob not stop the cactus spines ont eh bristle worms, hehe. and
why gloves? jsut use tweezers or something...

good to hear it was your phosphates!! looking up!

p.s. why remove the bristle worm anyway? getting too big for you? i
removed my large arse one, and i have one more that i have seen
lately...

"Big Habeeb" wrote in message oups.com...
Now for the new question...what kind of gloves should I wear when
going into the tank? I need to get my powerhead out and clear the
intake...but I have a rather large bristleworm who has taken up
residence on the live rock directly above the powerhead. Even if they
didnt sting, I'd want gloves as I find this guy creepy as hell (he's
around 7 or 8 inches in length)...so the real question is, what is
'sufficient coverage' and what is 'overkill'? I was thinking that non-
powdered latex gloves would be sufficient, but I'm not sure if putting
latex covered hands into the tank would be a bad idea.

Any suggestions?

Why don't you check the offer of the online fish stores?
Something like this:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=3871
or this:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=8162

"Big Habeeb" wrote in message oups.com...
On the negative side, it appears that one of my hermit crabs has gone
to that great aquarium in the sky...found his body, in two pieces, at
the back of the tank. No idea what could have happened to him.

Have you heard about molting?
Make sure these are not only old exoskeletons...
Is the shell next to the thing you found or it walked away ? ;-)

"wolfdogg" wrote in message ps.com...
p.s. why remove the bristle worm anyway? getting too big for you? i
removed my large arse one, and i have one more that i have seen
lately...

He has never said about removing worm - read again.

On Nov 8, 2:29 pm, "Pszemol" wrote:
"Big Habeeb" wrote in ooglegroups.com...
On the negative side, it appears that one of my hermit crabs has gone
to that great aquarium in the sky...found his body, in two pieces, at
the back of the tank. No idea what could have happened to him.

Have you heard about molting?
Make sure these are not only old exoskeletons...
Is the shell next to the thing you found or it walked away ? ;-)

Didnt see any shell...just what looked like a ****load of legs

And yes, your previous post was correct - not looking to remove the
worm, just not looking to be in too close contact with him either

Mitch

"Big Habeeb" wrote in message ups.com...
Have you heard about molting?
Make sure these are not only old exoskeletons...
Is the shell next to the thing you found or it walked away ? ;-)

Didnt see any shell...just what looked like a ****load of legs

Then the hermit is alive, it was just old exoskeleton...
http://www.pirx.com/gallery/crustaceans/ebhermit02

Pszemol wrote:

Didnt see any shell...just what looked like a ****load of legs

Then the hermit is alive, it was just old exoskeleton...

Yep, and every time it moults, it gets a little bigger. You might want to pick
up some spare empty shells for them to swap into.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.