At The Bommie's Edge - New Animals!

[smchan]

Subscribed and following. I'm enjoying your disciplined approach to your aquarium.

[xerophyte_nyc]

Noticed an interesting growth pattern on an unknown algae, wonder if it is good or bad? Identification Forum Post

 

In other news, I performed 2 successive daily water changes of 7 gallons each, roughly 20% of the total tank + sump water volume, each time. Hair algae is starting to look ugly. There is still tons of detritus all over which is feeding the algae. I await more CUC members to start to make a dent into the crud.

 

I'm very tempted to rent a juvenile Mithrax sp. Emerald Crab. If a few more water changes leave the hair algae unchanged in the coming weeks, then I will consider it.

[anemone fan]

Add 1 mexican turbo snail. They plow through GHA.

[xerophyte_nyc]

Add 1 mexican turbo snail. They plow through GHA.

 

Thanks! I will re-evaluate my GHA situation as the tank develops. It seems the GHA has reached a climax, in fact it may even be thinning out somewhat. Diatoms are for the most part gone.

 

There is still lots of debris everywhere, from the initial die off. It's like a sticky, brown dust everywhere. If I had a few hundred bristle worms they would probably devour it

[xerophyte_nyc]

More clean up crew members added today

 

A custom order arrived from IPSF. I like that their animals are captive bred.

• 2 "microhermits", aka Calcinus laevimanus, the left-handed Hermit
  
• 3 aff. Strombus maculatus, which are really some Columbellid species
  
• 3 Nerite snails
  
• 2 Trochus intextus, aka Hawaiian trochus
  
• 6 Polychaete, aka Bristle Worms
  
• 6 Cirratulid worms, aka "Mama Mia worms" or "Hair Worms" (misidentified by IPSF as Terebellids or "Spaghetti Worms")
  
• 25 Gammarus amphipods
  

 

There were a few extra hermits and Columbellids in the box. Everything was alive and well, I followed their acclimation guidelines. The animals are making their way around my tank. The Cirratulids were all bunched up together, I gently teased them apart with a piece of rounded plastic as they were laying on the sandbed. 30 minutes later, they were out of sight.

[xerophyte_nyc]

Some more unknowns (I will post these on the ID forum)

 

Bryopsis, or something ornamental? It's the only one of its kind anywhere in my tank. If someone can confirm Bryopsis, this rock is easily removed and I can deal with it. Has anyone tried smothering a small patch with some epoxy?

 

Any ideas on algae type?

 

Here's a better photo of another unknown red algae.

 

These circular (algal?) growths are found on the same piece of Manado rock as the previous algae.

 

Are these eggs of some sort? They are found along the underside of this shelf rock.

 

On a different note, a week since being added to the tank, GSP is finally peeking. It is very shy. It is in a low flow area, low light. Better wake up before being taken over by GHA!

[spanko]

This looks to be Caulerpa taxifolia here.

 

 

This almost looks like the tentacles of Pseudocorynactis here.

 

[Mr. Microscope]

That rock structure looks awesome! I especially like the look of those rocks under the overhang.

 

I'd move that GSP into a higher flow area. I've found it's growth retarded in low flow areas. Also, it helps to do a little manual removal of GHA around corals.

[xerophyte_nyc]

That rock structure looks awesome! I especially like the look of those rocks under the overhang.

 

I'd move that GSP into a higher flow area. I've found it's growth retarded in low flow areas. Also, it helps to do a little manual removal of GHA around corals.

 

Thanks for the tip Senor Micro

[xerophyte_nyc]

It's amazing how new life appears. Copepods, Forams, Fan Worms, snails, sponges, Corallimorphs, Isopods...and of course the dreaded Aiptasia.

 

 

I found a cluster of about a dozen baby Aiptasia on the surface of a piece of rock. There are other goodies on the same rock, so I don't want to boil it. Instead, I mixed up a dense slurry of salt, took the rock out of the tank, and spread the paste over the affected area and let it sit for 2 minutes. That should be enough to take care of it. I will keep a close eye on the rock in the weeks to come.

 

Small fan worm in the middle:

 

One of my hermits changed shells, looks ridiculous in the new long shell but I guess there's room in there!

 

Cirratulid worms with their bright red tentacles

 

Unknown hitchhiker, a sea star???

 

Closer look at a probable hitchhiker Corallimorph

 

More Corallimorphs

 

Baby snail (?) in the middle

[googoomas]

Wow, seems to be full of life! Im not even seeing that amount of life in my rock after 18 months. Great start!

[anemone fan]

More clean up crew members added today

 

A custom order arrived from IPSF. I like that their animals are captive bred.

• 2 "microhermits", aka Calcinus laevimanus, the left-handed Hermit
  
• 3 aff. Strombus maculatus, which are really some Columbellid species
  
• 3 Nerite snails
  
• 2 Trochus intextus, aka Hawaiian trochus
  
• 6 Polychaete, aka Bristle Worms
  
• 6 Cirratulid worms, aka "Mama Mia worms" or "Hair Worms" (misidentified by IPSF as Terebellids or "Spaghetti Worms")
  
• 25 Gammarus amphipods
  

 

 

It's amazing how new life appears. Copepods, Forams, Fan Worms, snails, sponges, Corallimorphs, Isopods...and of course the dreaded Aiptasia.

 

Closer look at a probable hitchhiker Corallimorph

 

More Corallimorphs

 

Its refreshing to see someone else who actual knows the organisms and calls them what they actually are (cirratulids and corallimorphs). Are you getting this from a book or have you taken some classes. As a marine biologist who studies Cnidarians it can be frustrating to hear people say zoanthids, corallimorphs, and gorgs as corals or cerianthids as anemones.

[xerophyte_nyc]

Its refreshing to see someone else who actual knows the organisms and calls them what they actually are (cirratulids and corallimorphs). Are you getting this from a book or have you taken some classes. As a marine biologist who studies Cnidarians it can be frustrating to hear people say zoanthids, corallimorphs, and gorgs as corals or cerianthids as anemones.

 

I do have a book on invertebrates but most of what I know simply comes from hours of reading things on the web and looking at photos. I can understand how many people who grow and care for things (fish, plants or animals) don't particularly care about nomenclature but I believe it is important to make an attempt to correctly identify what you have in your possession.

[timdanger]

Bryopsis, or something ornamental? It's the only one of its kind anywhere in my tank. If someone can confirm Bryopsis, this rock is easily removed and I can deal with it. Has anyone tried smothering a small patch with some epoxy?

 

i'm not sure that i share the optimism on this just being caulerpa. i'm not saying it's bryopsis for sure, but if it were me, and this is an easy rock to remove, i would remove it -- a bryopsis infestation is a terrible problem to deal with.

 

Regarding the exact identification, take a look at this close-up of bryopsis in Reefkeeping Magazine: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/bcap/feature/index.php

 

notice it's more feathery/wispy/fern-like appearance.

 

compare that to this close-up of caulerpa taxifolia from the University of Hawaii: http://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_a...a_taxifolia.htm

 

this looks more rigid and formed, like holly leaves.

 

if it were me, there would be no question that this rock would come out as soon as possible. worst case scenario, you've misidentified, and you've gotten a different nuisance algae out of the tank.

[xerophyte_nyc]

i'm not sure that i share the optimism on this just being caulerpa. i'm not saying it's bryopsis for sure, but if it were me, and this is an easy rock to remove, i would remove it -- a bryopsis infestation is a terrible problem to deal with.

 

Regarding the exact identification, take a look at this close-up of bryopsis in Reefkeeping Magazine: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/bcap/feature/index.php

 

notice it's more feathery/wispy/fern-like appearance.

 

compare that to this close-up of caulerpa taxifolia from the University of Hawaii: http://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_a...a_taxifolia.htm

 

this looks more rigid and formed, like holly leaves.

 

if it were me, there would be no question that this rock would come out as soon as possible. worst case scenario, you've misidentified, and you've gotten a different nuisance algae out of the tank.

 

I have been keeping a close eye on this unknown Bryopsis look-a-like. It has not grown at all. Whatever it is, I will leave it be as it is benign for the time being.

[xerophyte_nyc]

More wildlife photography

 

Interesting translucent unknown algae (?)

 

One of my small left-handed hermits, Calcinus laevimanus

 

Nerite snail kissing the glass

 

Lots of hair algae along with Corallimorphs and a green Acetabularia in the corner

 

Isopod ?

 

Trochus intextus, camouflaging with its surroundings

 

Sandbed is evolving...lots of worm tracks are now being formed

 

Green star polyp, Pachyclavularia, finally extending some polyps after about a 10 day hiatus

 

Another interesting algal hitchhiker

[xerophyte_nyc]

New Additions

 

The hair algae outbreak seems to be winding down. There seems to be less volume, much of it is browning, and in spots it detaches easily with a blast of water.

 

In the meantime, I continue to feed the tank daily and build up the sandbed. It must be working, because if not the phosphates and nitrates would be out of control and algae would be everywhere - instead, algae is not thriving as much. I have to find a balance where I can maintain a baseline level of microalgae to keep my snails going strong.

 

I made a bunch of frozen reef food - I went shopping in the supermarket and picked up some raw shrimp, scallops, squid and bass. That went into the blender mixed with some phytoplankton, nori, algae wafers, garlic, frozen mysis and cyclops. I used egg crate to mold it into cubes, and some went into zip-loc baggies.

 

The Xenia frag I got last week shrank down to almost nothing, but it has now started to slowly expand.

 

 

Picked up a nice feather duster worm, probably Sabellastarte indica . I will target feed phytoplankton periodically. There is also plenty of nutrients floating around my water especially after basting and feeding my blended reef food, so I am hopeful I can keep this specimen long term. It acclimated very quickly, opening up immediately after I placed it on the sandbed. I find these animals fascinating, not sure exactly why but if I can keep it healthy I will add others.

 

 

Of course I had to get some Ocellaris for starters! My kids wanted them, they are hardy and fun - great choice for first fish. They are named Mac and Cheese, and seem to be getting along very well together so far.

 

 

I also picked up this little beauty, couldn't resist - Torch Coral, Euphyllia glabrescens. This particular clone has a nice purple tentacle with super neon green tips. Under actinics the motion and glow is truly mesmerizing, and will be even more attractive as it grows. The tentacles are not long either. They are nice and compact. It too acclimated right away. Beginner's luck, I suppose.

 

Regular lights:

 

Moon light glow:

 

Here's a new FTS. The brown is dying hair algae.

[crazyfishgirl]

Tank looks great. I especially like the rockwork.

[xerophyte_nyc]

More wildlife photography

 

Another interesting algal hitchhiker

 

I think I have a positive ID, Neomeris annulata, a calcareous species that is reef safe. I have bunches of them in different spots. Interesting shape and nice lime green color.

[Mudfish]

I think I have a positive ID, Neomeris annulata, a calcareous species that is reef safe.

 

 

Bingo.

[xerophyte_nyc]

I have been super busy the last few months - work, family, etc. My reef continues to evolve in all its glory. Pods galore. Worms, critters and inverts all over the place. New coralline algae as well as lots of interesting macroalgae. A few aiptasia that are not all that troublesome. Hair algae is a thing of the past. Some minor cyanobacteria here and there.

 

I have added quite a bunch of new coral. I have grown fond of zoas, favias, platygyra and acans. I probably have more than I can handle, and I'm not so sure I will have room to let them all grow out. But there is a method to my madness. Over time I will keep those that I really like, and the rest will be traded or swapped.

 

I have also finally figured out how to take relatively decently colored photos under actinic lighting. Next step in photography will be to use a tripod and eliminate the blur. Here are some photos to enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xerophyte_nyc]

Here are a bunch more photos, mostly taken under the daylight LED regime:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[spanko]

Is there a recent FTS of this wonderful biotope?

[21093r53]

excellent start up!

[Paigee]

Very nice! Love all the colours, they are fantastic!