Got a hitchhiker or unknown critter?? Check here for an ID
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Bensadork
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I posted this in my thread about my new tank. I have found numerous asterina starfish and like 3 stomatella snails. Awesome to have those in my live rock. I also believe that I have a tiny Purple feather duster which is also awesome. My concern is this little guy here. Member Wiz notified me that it is aiptasia which I've read is not good whatsoever. It's only about 1/8 to 1/4 inch tall right now. It's been there for like a week or so but this morning when I woke up I just found a small asterina starfish where the aiptasia was previously. I was told that they can move around if they get disturbed but I can't find the freaking thing anywhere. It's so tiny that it is incredibly easy to miss but my question is what the heck am I going to do if I can't find it and it starts to become an issue?
Bensadork
Active Member
so as well as the hitchhikers i have discussed in this thread already, I am starting to think i have a massive amount of copepods starting to linger around on my aquarium glass. Ive been seeing what looks like little shrimp darting all over my live rock for a couple days now. I have been reading that a mandarin goby is great for eating these copepods and they are one of the most beautiful fish i have ever seen. On the other hand, i have also read that they are a beast to train to eat dry foods and can be super tricky to keep alive. My tank is about a month into the cycle and everything has gone right along as planned and its turning into a beautiful thriving reef tank. The only life I have in it so far is all the hitchhikers I keep seeing (more and more every day). I have also read that seeing an increasing amount of copepods all over my glass is a sign of good parameters in my tank. I have yet to get a liquid test kit but I should be getting one in the next couple of days. If all of my parameters are correct should I go ahead and get a cleanup crew of crabs and snails and such? or should i wait until i can accurately monitor all of my parameters for a couple more weeks and then decide to add life. I have already gone through the diatom bloom and i even have a small purple feather duster that hitchiked on my live rock and seems to be thriving and growing every day. I feel like all of these things happening would not be happening if my tank wasnt cycling correctly. Im rambling on I know but jeez im so excited to be able to get some actual animals in my tank I want to add them as soon as possible but I certainly do not want to jump the gun and kill any animals or even put them through hard times. I just recently purchased a cheap petco powerhead to stick in my bucket for water changes as I have not done one yet. I was told to wait a while before I did a water change so thats exactly what I did. I am about a week away from my first water change and i want to be prepared for everything when im ready to add some life
Wiz
2500 Club Member
I might be a little late on this 1 and the picture is a bit blurry but my guess is a stomatella. Good to have
Cought this guy a few days ago munching on some coraline. Limpet or chitton?
Wiz
2500 Club Member
okay, the little shrimp things are probably some type of copepod. at the beginning you will get vast blooms of them and they will disappear just as quick. a mandarin goby is one of the hardest fish to keep I definitely would not even consider getting one at this point. Not to mention that copepods are good and you don't want to get rid of them per se. you are probably just about ready for a clean up crew. But I would say to err on the side of safety and definitely get the test kits first. believe me I know how exciting it can be. But if you're like me it will truly saddened you to even see one snail bite the big one. I hate thinking that I caused a death. everything sounds great but you should always test to be sure. Just my opinion. funny thing I just picked up a mandarin yesterday. MyPod population has been growing and doing quite well for a while now. I have seen at least 10 to 12 types of pods in my tank. And my refugium is just unbelievable. & I am still concerned that the Mandarin will clean me out. Lol they are the most beautiful fish I've seen though I agree.
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http://s779.photobucket.com/user/up2no6ood/media/P1020444_zpsa521a9de.mp4.html
Got one more for ya. Something seems to be spawning these critters. About every 3 weeks on sunday when the white lights turn on I will see a few of these floating in the water column.
Got one more for ya. Something seems to be spawning these critters. About every 3 weeks on sunday when the white lights turn on I will see a few of these floating in the water column.
Outlaw
Active Member
Curious, I just found these small brownish beasties on my front glass (~0.5 mm, and they move a little).
After looking closely, I have also found super tiny white specs crawling around the side glass. I have a video, but haven't hosted it anywhere.
Any ideas?
After looking closely, I have also found super tiny white specs crawling around the side glass. I have a video, but haven't hosted it anywhere.
Any ideas?
Outlaw
Active Member
Finally got a vid of the tiny things up. Some is algae, some is microbubbles, but I think you'll know what I mean. Any info greatly appreciated.
http://youtu.be/26-R96QZyfU
http://youtu.be/26-R96QZyfU
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Outlaw
Active Member
Well, that would be wonderful. Only things added to the tank in the last month+ are stony corals (all dipped in Bayer), 2 peppermint shrimp, a rock nem and RBTA (undipped, obviously, lol).
If I find out they're Pods, I'll gladly leave the small algae buildup on that wall as it isn't really viewable.
If I find out they're Pods, I'll gladly leave the small algae buildup on that wall as it isn't really viewable.
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