Odd Question???

Spex · 08-19-2008, 11:08 PM

So I have just started my first reef. Im going to do a long probably month long cycle before I add anything. Anywho I was wonder if it is possible to buy small creatures such as mini brittle stars, small clams/muscles. And other things along those lines to add to the diversity of the tank.

Varga · 08-19-2008, 11:14 PM

those things usually appear on their own. But you can buy them too. I would google something like "detritus crew"

lcstorc · 08-19-2008, 11:15 PM

Many of those will just appear from your live rock. I have thousands of micro brittles and hundred asterinas and lots of other stuff that I never added. You will be amazed at the stuff that comes from the live rock. You can even find clams/muscles still alive in the rock or on the rock of a piece of coral you add.
Do lots of research and go slowly. Very important lessons in reefing.

Spex · 08-19-2008, 11:19 PM

Okay that sounds fair. I am going as slow as possible. I do have one of those little asterinas he just popped out of nowhere the first night. Which is impressiev cause I had the rock curing for atleast 2 weeks hahahaha.

DAHansen · 08-19-2008, 11:22 PM

I've seen micro-brittle stars available on eBay and around various places.

I've never seen SMALL clams and muscles other than what comes on live rock on occasion.

I would wait at least a few months before adding creatures as sensitive as stars and clams - they need a very stable environment.

Also, if you get some good live rock, you will end up with a LOT of diversity - I wish I had originally taken longer to add livestock in order to let my liverock more fully "develop."

lcstorc · 08-19-2008, 11:22 PM

Things will pop out for months and even years. I kept a 20g tank with nothing but sand and a piece of LR. There were things still appearing when we turned the tank into our clown tank.

Spex · 08-19-2008, 11:25 PM

Man this hobby is so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriously have watched my tank for like 2 hours every night hahahahaha Well I guess that answers my questions. Now what is a long enough time to wait. Cause I assume my readings will probably level out in just a few weeks but I just have this feeling I should wait longer than that.

BigJay · 08-19-2008, 11:39 PM

I've never had micro brittles in my tanks. I'm jealous.

lcstorc · 08-19-2008, 11:41 PM

What size tank and how much LR and other filtration? Is the rock cured or uncured? What are you using as an amonia source to start the cycle. The best way to know is to watch your test results.

lcstorc · 08-19-2008, 11:43 PM

I tried to ship them to somebody once but they didn't make it or I would ship you some.

Spex · 08-20-2008, 01:00 AM

I have a 55 gal with a 4-5in sand bed and about 50-60lbs of rock Im not too sure, I also have a 29 gal sump with an octopus skimmer and a fuge. Alas no true ammonia source yet. I was going to drop a deli shrimp into the tank in about a day or 2. And the rock actually came from other peoples tanks so I guess uncured (it sat in a bucket for a week after I bought it.)

08-19-2008, 11:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spex Midas Blenny Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Covington,WA Posts: 101 View Gallery Karma Komment	Odd Question??? So I have just started my first reef. Im going to do a long probably month long cycle before I add anything. Anywho I was wonder if it is possible to buy small creatures such as mini brittle stars, small clams/muscles. And other things along those lines to add to the diversity of the tank.

08-19-2008, 11:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Varga Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Odd Question??? those things usually appear on their own. But you can buy them too. I would google something like "detritus crew" __________________ Varga's Cube http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...on-cube-5.html

08-19-2008, 11:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Odd Question??? Many of those will just appear from your live rock. I have thousands of micro brittles and hundred asterinas and lots of other stuff that I never added. You will be amazed at the stuff that comes from the live rock. You can even find clams/muscles still alive in the rock or on the rock of a piece of coral you add. Do lots of research and go slowly. Very important lessons in reefing. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

08-19-2008, 11:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Spex Midas Blenny Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Covington,WA Posts: 101 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Odd Question??? Okay that sounds fair. I am going as slow as possible. I do have one of those little asterinas he just popped out of nowhere the first night. Which is impressiev cause I had the rock curing for atleast 2 weeks hahahaha.

08-19-2008, 11:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
DAHansen Sea Pen Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Abington, MA Posts: 301 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Odd Question??? I've seen micro-brittle stars available on eBay and around various places. I've never seen SMALL clams and muscles other than what comes on live rock on occasion. I would wait at least a few months before adding creatures as sensitive as stars and clams - they need a very stable environment. Also, if you get some good live rock, you will end up with a LOT of diversity - I wish I had originally taken longer to add livestock in order to let my liverock more fully "develop." __________________ Dave - Who wants to breed corals some day. Dave's fishlog *Please Reef Responsibly.*

08-19-2008, 11:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Odd Question??? Things will pop out for months and even years. I kept a 20g tank with nothing but sand and a piece of LR. There were things still appearing when we turned the tank into our clown tank. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

08-19-2008, 11:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Spex Midas Blenny Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Covington,WA Posts: 101 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Odd Question??? Man this hobby is so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriously have watched my tank for like 2 hours every night hahahahaha Well I guess that answers my questions. Now what is a long enough time to wait. Cause I assume my readings will probably level out in just a few weeks but I just have this feeling I should wait longer than that.

08-19-2008, 11:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
BigJay Golden Moray Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,548 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Odd Question??? I've never had micro brittles in my tanks. I'm jealous.

08-19-2008, 11:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Odd Question??? What size tank and how much LR and other filtration? Is the rock cured or uncured? What are you using as an amonia source to start the cycle. The best way to know is to watch your test results. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

08-19-2008, 11:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Odd Question??? I tried to ship them to somebody once but they didn't make it or I would ship you some. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

08-20-2008, 01:00 AM	#11 (permalink)
Spex Midas Blenny Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Covington,WA Posts: 101 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Odd Question??? I have a 55 gal with a 4-5in sand bed and about 50-60lbs of rock Im not too sure, I also have a 29 gal sump with an octopus skimmer and a fuge. Alas no true ammonia source yet. I was going to drop a deli shrimp into the tank in about a day or 2. And the rock actually came from other peoples tanks so I guess uncured (it sat in a bucket for a week after I bought it.)

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