Ogre's 46g Bowfront Reef
- Thread starter OgreMkV
- Start date
I pulled these two snails from my tank. They are whelks and they ate a whole lot of my barnacles before I could catch them.
Good job, buddy. Keep it up.
They snail that you pulled out looks like Nassarius Snails that I just added to my tank.
They snail that you pulled out looks like Nassarius Snails that I just added to my tank.
They look like them, but these have a single 'snout' (for lack of a better word) that marks them as whelks.
I'm also trying a gorilla crab trap, no luck last night though.
I'm also trying a gorilla crab trap, no luck last night though.
Another quick update
Params
Ammonia = 1
Nitrites = .25
SG = 1.024
temp = 80F
Alk = 1.2-1.7
More confirmed sightings: the tiniest hermit crab I've ever seen and amphipods.
I'm about to go do a calcium test...
Params
Ammonia = 1
Nitrites = .25
SG = 1.024
temp = 80F
Alk = 1.2-1.7
More confirmed sightings: the tiniest hermit crab I've ever seen and amphipods.
I'm about to go do a calcium test...
All Nassarius spp. are whelks, but not all whelks are Nassarius. In other words, it is hard to tell if these guys are OK or not. I have had one for nearly 12 years in my reef--it is most definitely carnivorous.
I'd say it is safe to go ahead and do a nice water change on the tank. You don't want to lose life from those params. The bacteria etc., won't be harmed nor hindered by it, so I wouldn't worry about that. Also, it will not slow down the cycle.
I'd say it is safe to go ahead and do a nice water change on the tank. You don't want to lose life from those params. The bacteria etc., won't be harmed nor hindered by it, so I wouldn't worry about that. Also, it will not slow down the cycle.
Picture Update
Some new pics. I'm getting the lovely diatom bloom and some hair algae. My Macroalgae is really growing. What was one stalk is now four. I've also found a porcelain crab. I hope it's alive, it's not moving, but we'll see.
If I'm starting to get diatoms, is my cycle almost over? Please, I hope.
New pics, please forgive the crummy quality. The only camera with a macro setting is my (VERY) old Sony.
FTS
Porcelain crab (if you can see it). The glass is a crab trap.
Sea urchin... still kickin
Some new pics. I'm getting the lovely diatom bloom and some hair algae. My Macroalgae is really growing. What was one stalk is now four. I've also found a porcelain crab. I hope it's alive, it's not moving, but we'll see.
If I'm starting to get diatoms, is my cycle almost over? Please, I hope.
New pics, please forgive the crummy quality. The only camera with a macro setting is my (VERY) old Sony.
FTS
Porcelain crab (if you can see it). The glass is a crab trap.
Sea urchin... still kickin
Almost cycled
Ammonia is down to .75. I had one spike on day 3 up to a little more than 2.5
Nitrates are down to .2 ppm from a high of .4... though I'm still watching them both closely.
Nitrites are coming up slowly.
pH is rock steady at about 8.1
Temp is rock steady at 81F
everything is within normal levels.
Diatoms are flourishing. The crabs and sea urchin are happy. I've got tons of feather dusters. My one cup coral is doing well... though might be a bit hungry by this point. I'm still not actively feeding.
I think the gorilla crab is dead. I jammed a pointy stick into his hole several times. Not the most elegant method, but it appears to have been effective.
I have removed the HOB filter and am actively looking for a HOB skimmer or skimmer/refugium combo. I read too many scary things about what goes through the filter and comes from the filter. Plus, I need the pods.
I tell you what, I've watched a lot of reef build threads in anticipation of this last week. I haven't done everything perfectly and I'd be scared if I had. I've got some unwanted guests on my live rock, but I still couldn't be happier with Tampa Bay Saltwater. My rock looks like rock from a 1 year old tank. I've got life and it's really cool stuff... like my sea urchin.
I find myself watching the urchin for signs of stress, but he's cruising around his rock, perfectly happy. Not dropping any spines or anything.
I'm going to e-mail Richard at TBS and see what he says. I might plan for the next batch of rock for next Friday.
Ammonia is down to .75. I had one spike on day 3 up to a little more than 2.5
Nitrates are down to .2 ppm from a high of .4... though I'm still watching them both closely.
Nitrites are coming up slowly.
pH is rock steady at about 8.1
Temp is rock steady at 81F
everything is within normal levels.
Diatoms are flourishing. The crabs and sea urchin are happy. I've got tons of feather dusters. My one cup coral is doing well... though might be a bit hungry by this point. I'm still not actively feeding.
I think the gorilla crab is dead. I jammed a pointy stick into his hole several times. Not the most elegant method, but it appears to have been effective.
I have removed the HOB filter and am actively looking for a HOB skimmer or skimmer/refugium combo. I read too many scary things about what goes through the filter and comes from the filter. Plus, I need the pods.
I tell you what, I've watched a lot of reef build threads in anticipation of this last week. I haven't done everything perfectly and I'd be scared if I had. I've got some unwanted guests on my live rock, but I still couldn't be happier with Tampa Bay Saltwater. My rock looks like rock from a 1 year old tank. I've got life and it's really cool stuff... like my sea urchin.
I find myself watching the urchin for signs of stress, but he's cruising around his rock, perfectly happy. Not dropping any spines or anything.
I'm going to e-mail Richard at TBS and see what he says. I might plan for the next batch of rock for next Friday.
