Tubedoods tank questions...

[tubedood]

Hey there folks, I have a few questions tonight about the little aquapod 12 we are working on. Ive searched for a few hours on here (gosh I get side tracked by everyone elses posts!). Our build is an Aqua Pod 12 gallon... 6 weeks or so into it... just a cleanup crew so far( 2 hermits (scarlet)) and 3 snails. We got a new coral this weekend... zoos! pic is on the aquapod 12 gal thing.

1st question. Little white 16th inch or so dots on the glass that seem to move real slowly... maybe 12 of em? Any ideas? We have 2 Nass snails and 1 linebacker hershey kiss sized Trochus.

2nd... Im trying to be real accurate on water issues. I did a larger (4 gallon ) change last week to lower Nitrates. Helped with the trates but I think I didnt mix water well enuff, as saw some possible salt crystals flowing into the tank . SG WAS 1.025, was wanting to slowly lower to 1.024 (I read that lower SG helps reduce stress? this right?). regardless 4 days later the SG is 1.0255. Im doing a waterchange tomorrow, and will bring it back to 1.025. Or can I bring it to 24? Im trying to go slow. (and using a swingarm Im thumping quite hard!)

3rd. The new Zoos seem to be happy, they are at the bottom (small tank tho right? A flow return arm from the upper right side is flowing down to the glass in front of them in the lower left. This ok for light/flow? most are opened to the point of what appears fully open.

Can I leave the actinic lights on when I sleep? the zoos look fabulous with it ... or should I use the little led blue things?

As always thanks for all your help and patience!
~Dale & Hillie

[funkpolice]

I gave up trying to id the little white things in my tank. I have alot of them, mostly at night, they haven't hurt anything yet. You should let your new water age for a while, I usually let it sit in a bucket with a power head and a heater for one week. The salinity is very different between the mixing the water, and when I use it. I'm not really sure, but I think 1.025 is a good s.g. for a reef. I know some people keep it higher, some lower, but mine is 1.024-1.026. I'm not super experienced (8 months), so maybe someone else can give you some more accurate/clearer answers.
bill

[tubedood]

whelp looks like my zoos are getting eaten. I didnt dip them or whatever I should have done. Still have a bunch of polyps, just noticing gaps and little hairlike possible worms on the underside. Maybe Im mistaken. Regardless thanks for all of your support.

[funkpolice]

can you post pictures, I'm sure it will help. I've never dipped any of my zoas, but I do look them over very carefully with a magnifying glass, and I've never found anything that scared me yet. A lot of my rocks have some kind of tube worms on the underside, they kind of look like white hairs, maybe that is what you have too.
bill

[tubedood]

man this hobby is frustrating. a few hours ago Im posting I love the look of the zoos, now I am wanting to crapcan them.

[tubedood]

my daughters got our cam at her moms house. I can tomorrow bill. Thanks for your input, its appreciated

[Kate]

Don't get frustrated tubedood, just look at it, as a natural thing, and for the most part, the little critters are NOT going to hurt your corals. The things to look for that will, are called hitchhikers. Here is a page, that has some pictures that might help you identify what you have!

ATJ's Marine Aquarium Site - Reference - Hitchhikers

[tubedood]

Thanks Kate! And the zoas are actually doing really well, even with the lil guy in their rock. He looks like a real small starfish but stuck in the rock! I'll try to get a piccy tonight.

[lcstorc]

Glad things are improving.
Is the starfish white with uneven arms? If so it is likely and asterina star. I have thousands and have never had a problem with them so you should be fine.
As far as the salinity that is really not a big swing at all so I wouldn't worry about it. I would worry more about the swing arm. I would test it against somebody's refractometer. If the swing arm is well maintained (rinsed well with RO/DI and stored upside down) it should be consistant. So you just need to find out how far off it is and that will help you get what you want.

[tubedood]

Cool Lynn, as always your help and knowledge is appreciated! Im surfing the forums a little today and think I have a 2 starfish (possibly brittle or serpents)... Living IN the live rock... like all I can see are their arms! Is this possible?

[DAHansen]

Yes, particularly if they have tiny little arms - micro brittle stars! They're good for you!

So far I only have one... I want a couple dozen or so...