how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far

rDr4g0n · 03-01-2007, 10:02 PM

ok guys i have some hitchikers that seem to be doing well, but i want to be sure they make it!

first up, the sponges

there are other encrusting sponges here and there that seem to be doing ok. many of the encrusting sponges died. i also had a nice blue sponge that didnt make it. in the pic you can see a purple one. part of it has died, but it seems to be regaining its health. the yellow ball sponge seems perfectly fine. what can i do to be sure these guys live?

next is the cup corals!

these dudes are my favorite. theyre the largest and are usually open. there are others here and there, and a few colonies of very small ones. i target feed them microvert 2 or 3 times a week. what else can i do to ensure their continued health?

finally, tunicates!

my tunicates have been multiplying! i hope they cover this rock, because that would look very cool! once again, any advice on keeping them strong?

thanks in advance!

prow · 03-01-2007, 10:06 PM

no need to do anything special. the higher the nutrients the more they will grow.

Dentoid · 03-01-2007, 10:14 PM

I haven't done anything special with mine. Just whatever micronutrients go in with the fishes food and an occasional dose of Marine Snow. My cup corals are always open. In fact I find new ones all the time. I think they are pretty hardy. Everytime I get a new coral, I have a hard time finding a place to put it because everywhere I want to place it, there is a cup coral! The sponge probably, will not make it. BTW, love those Tunicates!

lcstorc · 03-01-2007, 10:19 PM

I have an identical yellow ball sponge. It seems to just sit there. I've never really worried about it but I do overfeed my tank.

rDr4g0n · 03-01-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dentoid

I haven't done anything special with mine. Just whatever micronutrients go in with the fishes food and an occasional dose of Marine Snow. My cup corals are always open. In fact I find new ones all the time. I think they are pretty hardy. Everytime I get a new coral, I have a hard time finding a place to put it because everywhere I want to place it, there is a cup coral! The sponge probably, will not make it. BTW, love those Tunicates!

i love the tunicates too. probably the best hitchiker besides the cup corals.

oh ya! i forgot to turn my powerhead back on after feeding last night. i woke up and turned it on first thing and guess what floated up in teh current? a pistol shrimp! he was clear with a big brownish red claw! i grabbed him and tossed him in the sump. i still hear some clikcing in my rock though.

Dentoid · 03-01-2007, 10:49 PM

I found a pistol shrimp tonight too. It excavated a big hole under a rock. The rock is precariouly, tripoded on some rubble, not the best engineer. I knew I had one, that is why I got the Watchman goby, but he is on the other side of the tank. I was hoping they would host. Oh well. BTW, your Warholesque photomontage' is great!

rDr4g0n · 03-02-2007, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dentoid

BTW, your Warholesque photomontage' is great!

lol thx wait till you see teh dali version!

saltyfishtanks · 03-02-2007, 10:49 AM

where did u get theat rock rDr4g0n i have admired it since u posted the first pics of your setup in jan

you do realize rock of that quality is somewhat rare

bluespotjawfish · 03-02-2007, 11:54 AM

Tampa Bay, right? These orange tunicates are the favorite of my hitchhikers. Glad to see that yours are multiplying.

rDr4g0n · 03-02-2007, 01:56 PM

www.tampabaysaltwater.com

they do a few things that others dont do. they dont cure the rock. they get it out of the ocean, then ship it. This means whatever is on there, youre going to get. if its tunicates and corals good, if its gorilla crabs and mantis shrimp.. oh well. he also ships the rock submerged in water. theyre tripled bagged in insulated boxes so that the stuff arrives alive with minimal die off (mostly sponges die off, but as you can see, some have survived.)

great place if you dont mind the downside, which is bad hitchikers.

03-01-2007, 10:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
rDr4g0n Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south texas Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far ok guys i have some hitchikers that seem to be doing well, but i want to be sure they make it! first up, the sponges there are other encrusting sponges here and there that seem to be doing ok. many of the encrusting sponges died. i also had a nice blue sponge that didnt make it. in the pic you can see a purple one. part of it has died, but it seems to be regaining its health. the yellow ball sponge seems perfectly fine. what can i do to be sure these guys live? next is the cup corals! these dudes are my favorite. theyre the largest and are usually open. there are others here and there, and a few colonies of very small ones. i target feed them microvert 2 or 3 times a week. what else can i do to ensure their continued health? finally, tunicates! my tunicates have been multiplying! i hope they cover this rock, because that would look very cool! once again, any advice on keeping them strong? thanks in advance! __________________ I know there are quite a few typos in this post. It's not that I'm stupid... it's more like... I'm lazy. - John My 29 Gallon tank of AWESOME My DIY Projects: My $50, 150watt lighting • 10 gallon tall tank • Hood for my 10gal. tall my r0xx0r DIY protein skimmer • 2 cheap strip lights into 1 • Grow cyano!?

03-01-2007, 10:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
prow Tridacna maxima Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 4,375 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far no need to do anything special. the higher the nutrients the more they will grow.

03-01-2007, 10:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,827 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far I haven't done anything special with mine. Just whatever micronutrients go in with the fishes food and an occasional dose of Marine Snow. My cup corals are always open. In fact I find new ones all the time. I think they are pretty hardy. Everytime I get a new coral, I have a hard time finding a place to put it because everywhere I want to place it, there is a cup coral! The sponge probably, will not make it. BTW, love those Tunicates! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

03-01-2007, 10:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 21,928 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far I have an identical yellow ball sponge. It seems to just sit there. I've never really worried about it but I do overfeed my tank. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

03-01-2007, 10:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,827 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far I found a pistol shrimp tonight too. It excavated a big hole under a rock. The rock is precariouly, tripoded on some rubble, not the best engineer. I knew I had one, that is why I got the Watchman goby, but he is on the other side of the tank. I was hoping they would host. Oh well. BTW, your Warholesque photomontage' is great! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

03-02-2007, 10:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
saltyfishtanks Sea Pen Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: upstate new york Posts: 308 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far where did u get theat rock rDr4g0n i have admired it since u posted the first pics of your setup in jan you do realize rock of that quality is somewhat rare __________________ 48x24x24 120gallon, 2 seio 1500, 1200gph little giant return, 4 icecap t5 w/giesmann bulbs, aquamedic 500w heater/digital controller, sump/refuge is bioballs to chetomorpha to live rock with about 3-4 inches of crushed coral bottom

03-02-2007, 11:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Tridacna maxima Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 4,476 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far Tampa Bay, right? These orange tunicates are the favorite of my hitchhikers. Glad to see that yours are multiplying. __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

03-02-2007, 01:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
rDr4g0n Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south texas Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to care for my hitchhiker inverts that survived so far www.tampabaysaltwater.com they do a few things that others dont do. they dont cure the rock. they get it out of the ocean, then ship it. This means whatever is on there, youre going to get. if its tunicates and corals good, if its gorilla crabs and mantis shrimp.. oh well. he also ships the rock submerged in water. theyre tripled bagged in insulated boxes so that the stuff arrives alive with minimal die off (mostly sponges die off, but as you can see, some have survived.) great place if you dont mind the downside, which is bad hitchikers. __________________ I know there are quite a few typos in this post. It's not that I'm stupid... it's more like... I'm lazy. - John My 29 Gallon tank of AWESOME My DIY Projects: My $50, 150watt lighting • 10 gallon tall tank • Hood for my 10gal. tall my r0xx0r DIY protein skimmer • 2 cheap strip lights into 1 • Grow cyano!?

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