Clean Up Crew on the way

BrothaWolf · 09-18-2006, 12:44 PM

Set the tank up Sept 1. 29 gallon Oceanic Bio Cube 30lb live rock +/-35lbs live sand 1 nasty piece of shoprite shrimp... (cant wait to chuck it) just over 2 weeks now Ammonia and Nitrite both spiked quickly and dropped to zero for about 5 days now Nitrates went up 20% water change last night trace Nitrates well below 5... Ive counted over 20 little feather dusters, 2 spaghetti worms... when the lights go out 1 fire bristle worm (pretty sure he is a fire... he is 1/2 red and 1/2 black) at least one tiny bristle star (hard to tell if its just one with all those arms) crazy coepods running all over the place, some mysterious quick zippy little guy that i havent seen long enough to ID and a strange worm like tentacle that is in one of the holes in my rock no idea what it is we just call it "the monster". I cant believe how "busy" the tank is and I havent added anything to it. As much as I cant wait for the cleaner crew Im having a blast discovering all the creepy crawlers that are already here... Had a small out brake of hair algea that i removed as well as one or two bubbles of bubble algea (both removed in bucket of saltwater out of tank with a toothbrush) Hope I got it all! If not I will cook the 2 pieces that are mainly affected.
Ordered my clean up crew from Premium Aquatics (one of our sponsors) They were one of the few places I found that had EVERYTHING I wanted in stock. I know I over did it on the crew but Im a bargain shopper Was cheaper to buy 12 then buying 8-10... I will let Darwin get it straight for me or maybe I will start ANOTHER tank! The crew is due to arrive tomorrow! Im a bit worried they might not have enough to eat. I kept the lights in the tank off a couple days to help with algea before I scrubbed it...
Any tips on feeding just incase? Crew includes the following
Nerite, Cerith, Nassarius (tiny ones), Trochus, Margarita and one little fighting conch Some Scarlet Hermies (got 2 big bags of extra shells from AC moore for $2 each) and a cleaner shrimp... Gonna do more research on food but Im feeling lazy today so feel free to chime in with your feeding tips, fav foods, feeding schedule etc.

lcstorc · 09-18-2006, 01:14 PM

I too am enjoying the mystery of live rock only in a tank. In fact I am about to start a thread with all of my mystery critters.
As to the fire/bristle worm, is the front half one color and the back another? If so then it is an ordinary bristle and fine unless it is rather large. There is a pic on a thread somewhere with a true fire worm and it is more like stripes kind of down the length of the worm. Hard to describe, but the ones that are one color in front and another in back are apparently fne and are filter feeders. (I did watch one eat a micro star once.)
Keep an eye on those hermits. They can become problems as you have obviously heard.
I generally don't feed my cleanup crew. They get lots of leftovers from the tank. You could put a pellet or two in the tank now and again for the hermits and some nori perhaps if you have turbos. I know mine will eat nori anyway. Particularly in the beginning you want to keep them a bit hungry so they do their job and clean the tank for you.
Can't wait to see some pics as you progress.

BrothaWolf · 09-18-2006, 01:58 PM

Yup thats it red in the front black in the back!

Snelly40 · 09-18-2006, 02:53 PM

looks good, the scarlet hermit crabs are the best out of the hermits. goodluck and i used to sit infront of my tank for hours when i first put the LR in to see hwat would come out

BrothaWolf · 09-19-2006, 05:26 PM

Crew arrived today. Caught 2 hitchhikers... One posing as a little Nassarius and the other as a Nerite.... The one in the Nass shell was a tiny hermit white with brown spots The one in the Nerite shell is a hermit with brownish legs with red tips... I can see the fish store missing the Nass (maybe) but the Nerite is a big fella and I think he was harrassing the other nerites on the trip here They are both in a bucket as I dont know what to do with em and the general consensus seems to be that CRABS ARE EVIL. (cept for my scarlets They are a hoot) Didnt get my cleaner shrimp as they were outta stock so I got a peppermint and a blood. Anyways all are doing good (cept for one nerite who wont come out of his shell I think he still hiding from the hitchhiker or dead...) They packed a tiny bit of green algae in with the blood shrimp Not sure what it is Looks like a little ball of grass (cheato maybe) I put it in my tank to see what it will do... and UGH looks like the bubble algae coming back... Anyways here are a couple pics of the tank...

boozeman · 09-19-2006, 07:28 PM

It's ALIVE!!!!!!

lcstorc · 09-20-2006, 08:43 AM

LOL Booze
See if your lfs will take the crabs. May be tough since you didn't buy them there, but worth a shot. Even if they don't give you credit see if they will take them off of your hands.
That's what I did anyway.

BrothaWolf · 09-20-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcstorc

LOL Booze
See if your lfs will take the crabs. May be tough since you didn't buy them there, but worth a shot. Even if they don't give you credit see if they will take them off of your hands.
That's what I did anyway.

Lynn did you eat my scarlet hermit???? Just 3 little legs left! Not sure who but someone did eat up the little bit of bubble algae that I had growin!!!

lcstorc · 09-21-2006, 11:32 AM

Pretty sure hermits are not on the delicious list though I have never tried. LOL
Now put a blue, snow, king etc in front of me w/butter and I make no promises.

Hermits go to another tank or the lfs. Just inherited two yesterday. Anybody want them? YT and serpent star also will be looking for good homes.

09-18-2006, 12:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
BrothaWolf Acropora Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,798 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Clean Up Crew on the way Set the tank up Sept 1. 29 gallon Oceanic Bio Cube 30lb live rock +/-35lbs live sand 1 nasty piece of shoprite shrimp... (cant wait to chuck it) just over 2 weeks now Ammonia and Nitrite both spiked quickly and dropped to zero for about 5 days now Nitrates went up 20% water change last night trace Nitrates well below 5... Ive counted over 20 little feather dusters, 2 spaghetti worms... when the lights go out 1 fire bristle worm (pretty sure he is a fire... he is 1/2 red and 1/2 black) at least one tiny bristle star (hard to tell if its just one with all those arms) crazy coepods running all over the place, some mysterious quick zippy little guy that i havent seen long enough to ID and a strange worm like tentacle that is in one of the holes in my rock no idea what it is we just call it "the monster". I cant believe how "busy" the tank is and I havent added anything to it. As much as I cant wait for the cleaner crew Im having a blast discovering all the creepy crawlers that are already here... Had a small out brake of hair algea that i removed as well as one or two bubbles of bubble algea (both removed in bucket of saltwater out of tank with a toothbrush) Hope I got it all! If not I will cook the 2 pieces that are mainly affected. Ordered my clean up crew from Premium Aquatics (one of our sponsors) They were one of the few places I found that had EVERYTHING I wanted in stock. I know I over did it on the crew but Im a bargain shopper Was cheaper to buy 12 then buying 8-10... I will let Darwin get it straight for me or maybe I will start ANOTHER tank! The crew is due to arrive tomorrow! Im a bit worried they might not have enough to eat. I kept the lights in the tank off a couple days to help with algea before I scrubbed it... Any tips on feeding just incase? Crew includes the following Nerite, Cerith, Nassarius (tiny ones), Trochus, Margarita and one little fighting conch Some Scarlet Hermies (got 2 big bags of extra shells from AC moore for $2 each) and a cleaner shrimp... Gonna do more research on food but Im feeling lazy today so feel free to chime in with your feeding tips, fav foods, feeding schedule etc.

09-18-2006, 01:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 21,727 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clean Up Crew on the way I too am enjoying the mystery of live rock only in a tank. In fact I am about to start a thread with all of my mystery critters. As to the fire/bristle worm, is the front half one color and the back another? If so then it is an ordinary bristle and fine unless it is rather large. There is a pic on a thread somewhere with a true fire worm and it is more like stripes kind of down the length of the worm. Hard to describe, but the ones that are one color in front and another in back are apparently fne and are filter feeders. (I did watch one eat a micro star once.) Keep an eye on those hermits. They can become problems as you have obviously heard. I generally don't feed my cleanup crew. They get lots of leftovers from the tank. You could put a pellet or two in the tank now and again for the hermits and some nori perhaps if you have turbos. I know mine will eat nori anyway. Particularly in the beginning you want to keep them a bit hungry so they do their job and clean the tank for you. Can't wait to see some pics as you progress. __________________ 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.

09-18-2006, 01:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
BrothaWolf Acropora Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,798 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clean Up Crew on the way Yup thats it red in the front black in the back!

09-18-2006, 02:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Snelly40 Manta Ray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,038 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Clean Up Crew on the way looks good, the scarlet hermit crabs are the best out of the hermits. goodluck and i used to sit infront of my tank for hours when i first put the LR in to see hwat would come out __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

09-19-2006, 05:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
BrothaWolf Acropora Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,798 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clean Up Crew on the way Crew arrived today. Caught 2 hitchhikers... One posing as a little Nassarius and the other as a Nerite.... The one in the Nass shell was a tiny hermit white with brown spots The one in the Nerite shell is a hermit with brownish legs with red tips... I can see the fish store missing the Nass (maybe) but the Nerite is a big fella and I think he was harrassing the other nerites on the trip here They are both in a bucket as I dont know what to do with em and the general consensus seems to be that CRABS ARE EVIL. (cept for my scarlets They are a hoot) Didnt get my cleaner shrimp as they were outta stock so I got a peppermint and a blood. Anyways all are doing good (cept for one nerite who wont come out of his shell I think he still hiding from the hitchhiker or dead...) They packed a tiny bit of green algae in with the blood shrimp Not sure what it is Looks like a little ball of grass (cheato maybe) I put it in my tank to see what it will do... and UGH looks like the bubble algae coming back... Anyways here are a couple pics of the tank... Last edited by BrothaWolf : 09-19-2006 at 05:30 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

09-19-2006, 07:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clean Up Crew on the way It's ALIVE!!!!!! __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

09-20-2006, 08:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 21,727 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clean Up Crew on the way LOL Booze See if your lfs will take the crabs. May be tough since you didn't buy them there, but worth a shot. Even if they don't give you credit see if they will take them off of your hands. That's what I did anyway. __________________ 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.

09-21-2006, 11:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 21,727 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clean Up Crew on the way Pretty sure hermits are not on the delicious list though I have never tried. LOL Now put a blue, snow, king etc in front of me w/butter and I make no promises. Hermits go to another tank or the lfs. Just inherited two yesterday. Anybody want them? YT and serpent star also will be looking for good homes. __________________ 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.

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