Journey's journey into SW Aquaria

[journey0820]

Second Shipment Arrived last night

Hi all,
My first shipment of LR is lonely no more! You are NOT going to believe what came in my second shipment. Seriously. Here are some pics. Remember that I have ordered nothing but live rock, live sand, and a Clean up crew. Here we go:

 

[journey0820]

I was FALLING OUT last night when I opened up these packages. The LR itself was so spectacular...really cool shapes with nooks and crannies and life all over them. Baby brittle stars, sponges (red, orange, yellow, turquoise, purple, pink), culerpa, grasses, baby feather duster clusters, and tons of tiny creatures I couldn't identify). But then...DUN-DUN-DUN...I open up my box of CUC...sure I have two adorable peppermint shrimp, blue legged hermit crabs and snails -as planned. Also a sea cucumber that is aquarium safe.

But, then there were some "extras". First, let me tell you that the guy sending the rock, Richard, has emailed me a few times - just as excited as I am - about the things he was packing up for me. He emailed me to tell me about a particular piece that he thought would be "killer" for my tank. I mean - how cool is that? But then...(first live rock picture, then extras pictures)

Uh...that's alot of stuff...how am I going to fit the rock in there?

 

[journey0820]

So, what's in my tank right now? Half of it, I don't even know so forgive the descriptive but made up names:

50 lbs LR and however much LS
Red sponge in the shape of one you would use in the tub
Two sea cucumbers (aquarium safe)
Two peppermint shrimp
God only knows how many snails and what types
God only knows how many blue legged hermits
Tons of extra shells for said inverts
A crab (maybe an arrow?) that pulls pieces of the culerpa off and sticks them to himself and then does this ballerina dance in the tank...he's gorgeous and really active.
A green crab with claws
A decorator crab who is hard to find because he blends so well.
Multiple feather dusters but one particularly large and pretty one
A orange tree like sponge
A red tree like sponge
A purple tree-like harder thing with purple polyps on it.
A purple sea fan like thing with thinner branches and tinier polyps
A clam that I found on a rock
A condy anemone
Another kind of anemone (or coral?) that is flatter, and tan
Two shave brush tree things
A tiny fish that is either a pajama cardinal or a polka dot cardinal
A red starfish that is either a brittle or banded maybe? He's not a the big fat red sand sifter
All sorts of plants that you push down into sand bed
A jeweled snail

I had a slipper lobster (they stay relatively small) but after some research it seems like he will ultimately be too big for my tank. Plus he freaked me out a little. And he supposedly "bulldozes" around the tank and can knock rock around. I felt bad but gave him to my LFS and he found a home that same hour. Mostly, I think it was because he freaked me out. I'm honest.

That's everything I can think of right now. I'm sure some folks will have opinions about the nems but I'm excited.

 

[journey0820]

Some more pics because we are all picture addicts and I'm so excited I think I'm in shock. Maybe if I can see the pics on here I'll really believe this stuff is in my tank. Wow.

 

[journey0820]

Does anyone know what that purple tree like thing is with the polyps on it (in the background past the condy anemone)?

 

[journey0820]

I have to say that working with this company to get my tank started has been such a positive experience. My tank cycled in less than a week - there was no huge spike in ammonia because the rock had little die off. There was plenty of bacteria because they existed in the rock and he provided a bag to add to the tank to get it started. The tank takes care of ammonia - no problem now. My diatom bloom was hardly existent. It's like getting all the greatness without the costs. Part of me is still holding my breath like...okay...things are just going too well. Something must not be right...

The pictures are taken 2 weeks from the day I got my first shipment of everything - the day I put water in the tank...I'm just dumb founded. I expected to be at the point the tank is now a year from now...maybe longer. And with much more money dropped into it. I'm sorry to go on and on about this...I'm just so dang happy!

I'll be keeping a super close eye on the water parameters...with all that added life, I don't want to go into a deep cycle now. Water changes, water changes!

Thanks for letting me share my excitement...this forum has been so helpful to me. I really enjoy being a part of this community.

 

[journey0820]

Here is our crab friend with the culerpa on his legs...anyone know the ID?

 

[journey0820]

Here is our condy friend. Looking very happy and healthy today. Finally found a good footing. Naturally not where I would have preferred but...

 

[nycsicktank]

looking very good so far

 

[alpha123]

(sic) Holely smoking cow! That is not just rock!

The crab is hilarious. He actually had me fooled until I read the discription. And those spronge, they are huge...You must be researching as heck, trying to keep everything alive. And that purple condy looks fantastic, you must be itching to throw a clown in there.

thanks for the pictures. Be sure to give us update.