Live rock is coming alive!!

[Paul_MTS]

my eyes are now very sore but check out what I'ved spotted coming out....

also rejigged a few bits of rock...

this 1 pulsates(sp )

this fella zips back into his hole with most movements i made.

could anyone ID this litle critters for me?

 

[billa_bong]

I think gradually building up is a good way to go for both..might minimalize a rapid algae overgrowth but preserve coralline and other hitchhikers. SH

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on the ids.

picture 1,2,5 are just feather dusters, i have roughly 30-40 of these off my liverock and its been in my tank cycling for a month this week.

picture 3 looks like a worm of some kind

picture 4 looks like a sponge...

 

[Paul_MTS]

I thought those ones were feather dusters, so tiny compared to ones you buy at your LFS!

can't wait until more things start popping out.

picked up a ammonia test kit today to keep track of the readings. Had nitrite from day 1.

 

[mandi]

Maybe the other ones are hydroids?? I'm really not sure.

I don't know if you've checked it out already, but I've found this site -- http/www.reefs.org/hhfaq/index.html -- to be very helpful for IDing some hitchikers!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

thanks for the link, will have a look through it.

I'ved spotted a snail aswell it kind of poked out a long white tube then drag its shell towards the tube thingy.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

how long did it take for those to sprout out?

 

[Paul_MTS]

was put in wednesday mid day. so just 1 day! the counts up to 5 feather dusters now.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

what lighting do you use and how long is it on for?

 

[Paul_MTS]

2x 55W power compacts. first day I only put 1 on for about 6 hours. 2nd both went on for about 10 hours and today both were on since 8 up until nowish.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

what size is the tank? sorry for all the questions lol, i'm starting up a tank myself and i want surprises but i dont know if i have the lighting for it

 

[Paul_MTS]

it's a 24x15x15 tank. no worries for the Q'd glad to help!

 

[William]

Looking very good,please keep us updated, progress like this is always exciting

 

[Paul_MTS]

cheers, will be updating!

at thew moment my ammonia has come down to 0 and nitrite is about .10 and i can't test my nitrates as i'ved lost the SW colour chart.

starting to get alot of brown algae now.

 

[Paul_MTS]

yay levels are at 0 and even nitrate is still at 0, algae and mineral mud must be doing it's job!

I'bed got a cleaner crew coming tomorrow including, 5 rock hermits, 5 blue leg hermits, 5 turbo snaisl and 5 astrea snails. i know there's a few many hermits so I'm selling about 4-5 of them to mates at work with marine tanks.

so can i add my first fish(ies) now?

whats best to add first?

I'm planning on perc clown, purple fire fish, jawfish and i like the look of canary wrasse.

 

[steelhealr]

Jawfish need a deep sand bed, I believe 3-4 inches. Least aggressive go in last. Canary wrasse is listed as 'expert only' on some sites. Wouldn't recommend it at this time. They are not totally reef safe if you plan to have feather dusters or corals.

Stay with the firefish and pers for now. I'd add the firefish first (most shy). How big is your tank again (gallons)? SH