I infected my son ... (Cycle and ID question)

[Jesse Sunday]

It's official. He's as much of an addict as I am now.

This is the start of my son's 32g BioCube that we just picked up this weekend.

We added about 30lbs of (live) sand/crushed coral/shells and even some seaweed/other random life, on Sunday.

It's settled down nicely.

He's super excited for a pistol shrimp and goby pair. I'm low-key excited because this is the first non bare bottom tank I've had.

I'm guessing since there is 30+lbs of live-as-live-can-be material, that the cycle should be taken care of?

Anyone know what kind of plants those are? Some even have extensions like polyps on a coral. So pretty!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Best addiction in this present day

 

[luis angel]

happy for both of you and I hope you can share the process

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Best addiction in this present day

Very true!

(potentially not the cheapest though)

 

[Goaway]

Anyone know what kind of plants those are? Some even have extensions like polyps on a coral. So pretty!

The green plant is finger algae (codium) sp.

That pink fuzzy stuff..

@ISpeakForTheSeas

Hoping thats not a type of hydroid and actually a macro algae

 

[Jesse Sunday]

The green plant is finger algae (codium) sp.

That pink fuzzy stuff..

Hoping thats not a type of hydroid and actually a macro algae

Ohhhhhh no!? I'll take better pictures of it tonight (and clean the glass too!)

Thanks for the Finger Algae ID though! I am excited to find more when we go back to the beach!

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Here are a few more, clearer pictures after the glass was cleaned.

 

[Jekyl]

I would definitely still add some rock to the tank. The substrate can handle some of the load, while rocks are the majority.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

I would definitely still add some rock to the tank. The substrate can handle some of the load, while rocks are the majority.

For sure rockwork! We'll be picking up some rocks (dry) from our LFS this weekend to craft the scape/structure he wants. And then we'll use those random small rocks from the beach as filler.

Thank you!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

That pink fuzzy stuff..

@ISpeakForTheSeas

Hoping thats not a type of hydroid and actually a macro algae

The pink thing looks like it's probably a red macro of some kind (possibly a Gracilaria species) with epiphytic hydroids growing on it.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

The pink thing looks like it's probably a red macro of some kind (possibly a Gracilaria species) with epiphytic hydroids growing on it.

Sooooo, in the future, do I want the "fuzzy" macros or chuck them?

I thought they might be part of the actual algea, but if they're a pest then I'll see what I can do to get rid of it.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Sooooo, in the future, do I want the "fuzzy" macros or chuck them?

I thought they might be part of the actual algea, but if they're a pest then I'll see what I can do to get rid of it.

Closer up pics of the fuzzy portions would help with saying for sure, but yeah, generally speaking you don't want fuzzy macros (or hydroids).

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Closer up pics of the fuzzy portions would help with saying for sure, but yeah, generally speaking you don't want fuzzy macros (or hydroids).

Here are crops of the pics I have. I can take more tonight.

Soooooo, maybe I shouldn't take stuff from the Gulf and add it to my tanks....... ???

 

[LiverockRocks]

First look thought it was a type of Bryozoa headed south. Bryozoa tend to flourish in winter water temps here and recede when it warms up... but idk for sure what you have there.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

First look thought it was a type of Bryozoa headed south. Bryozoa tend to flourish in winter water temps here and recede when it warms up... but idk for sure what you have there.

I'm so looking forward to meeting you all at RAP next week!

Thank you for checking out my post and your information!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Soooooo, maybe I shouldn't take stuff from the Gulf and add it to my tanks....... ???

You can definitely add stuff from the Gulf to your tanks - I personally just suggest quarantining anything you want to add before putting it in the tank, including macroalgae and such for 60-76 days to catch anything you don't want before it gets into your system (things like hydroids, invasive macroalgae, invasive colonial tunicates, diseases, etc. are generally unwanted in tanks).

Here are crops of the pics I have. I can take more tonight.

You would need much closer up pictures of just one or two of the individual white, fuzzy parts - each piece of the white stuff likely has little tentacles on it, and we'd need to be able to at least sort of be able to see them to say for sure.

That said, I'm leaning toward hydroids because I can't see the typically well-defined zooecia (the little "house" the little bryozoan feeding crown [lophopore] comes out of) - there are exceptions where the zooecia are not well-defined though, such as with Amathia species. So, again, closer pics could help with saying for sure, but I understand if you can't get closer pics than this.

As a note, hydroids would generally be unwanted, and bryozoans would generally be wanted (they're filter-feeders and are typically very pretty).

 

[PharmrJohn]

I would definitely still add some rock to the tank. The substrate can handle some of the load, while rocks are the majority.

I absolutely agree. About 25 to 30lbs. And don't just stack it against the back wall. Create an aquascape. Leave enough space to clean around it. Critters like places to hide and play.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Also, great job in getting your son into the hobby. I'm currently teaching my daughter.

 

[LiverockRocks]

You can definitely add stuff from the Gulf to your tanks - I personally just suggest quarantining anything you want to add before putting it in the tank, including macroalgae and such for 60-76 days to catch anything you don't want before it gets into your system (things like hydroids, invasive macroalgae, invasive colonial tunicates, diseases, etc. are generally unwanted in tanks).

You would need much closer up pictures of just one or two of the individual white, fuzzy parts - each piece of the white stuff likely has little tentacles on it, and we'd need to be able to at least sort of be able to see them to say for sure.

That said, I'm leaning toward hydroids because I can't see the typically well-defined zooecia (the little "house" the little bryozoan feeding crown [lophopore] comes out of) - there are exceptions where the zooecia are not well-defined though, such as with Amathia species. So, again, closer pics could help with saying for sure, but I understand if you can't get closer pics than this.

As a note, hydroids would generally be unwanted, and bryozoans would generally be wanted (they're filter-feeders and are typically very pretty).

If you are going to collect items from the Gulf, remember to obtain a recreational fishing license. There are locations where recreational collecting is prohibited.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

You can definitely add stuff from the Gulf to your tanks - I personally just suggest quarantining anything you want to add before putting it in the tank, including macroalgae and such for 60-76 days to catch anything you don't want before it gets into your system (things like hydroids, invasive macroalgae, invasive colonial tunicates, diseases, etc. are generally unwanted in tanks).

You would need much closer up pictures of just one or two of the individual white, fuzzy parts - each piece of the white stuff likely has little tentacles on it, and we'd need to be able to at least sort of be able to see them to say for sure.

That said, I'm leaning toward hydroids because I can't see the typically well-defined zooecia (the little "house" the little bryozoan feeding crown [lophopore] comes out of) - there are exceptions where the zooecia are not well-defined though, such as with Amathia species. So, again, closer pics could help with saying for sure, but I understand if you can't get closer pics than this.

As a note, hydroids would generally be unwanted, and bryozoans would generally be wanted (they're filter-feeders and are typically very pretty).

OMGoooooodness! Thank you so much for your time and information! I truly appreciate it!

I'll be a bit more cautious about what I collect.

If you are going to collect items from the Gulf, remember to obtain a recreational fishing license. There are locations where recreational collecting is prohibited.

Ah, that's something I should do for sure. Thank you!