00W's AIO Smorgasbord

[Imrahilwjz]

Just back this morning from Glacier National Park and Hungry Horse Reservoir. I'll post pictures of the trip later. My brother, Jake, and family took care of the tank. Livestock looking good. New heads on Duncan and Frogspawn

 

[luis angel]

Letssssss go @smitten with ocean life
Congratsssss
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/jul-2025-potm-winner-smitten-with-ocean-life.1125894/unread

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Perfect!

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Third pic is more jungle than forest. The 4th Pic shows the extras that will become crab food. I may thin out the jungle for that purpose as well.

 

[tbrown]

Gotcha. Sounds like a last resort.

It's something I use when I'm done fighting and need a slight reboot. In the 10ish years I've been running tanks I've done it 4 times. Not my favorite, definitely a last resort.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Google id'ed this as a predatory snail, so it's now gone. @tbrown had suggested I might have some earlier

 

[tbrown]

My pincushion wipes the rock clean wherever he goes

Urchins are great, the only CuC I know of that can leave a chunk of rock like it was just quarried. I don't use them in my 100 though because if they decide to panel surf they really mess up the acrylic panels. In a glass tank they are one of my first go-tos.

Same with my tux. He eats the coraline off the live rock.

I have watched my Pincushion make "black" rock turn bright white. I have seen my Pencil eat half of a Galaxea from the skeleton side all the way up to the live coral and almost kill it and I've watched it turn rock rubble into sand. Very effective.

 

[tbrown]

I was actually going to ask this question before we all started talking about cuc's this morning. What are everyone's thoughts on hermits? I started my tank with a bunch of dwarf hermits and 2 Mexican turbos. But as my tank has aged, I prefer snails. I feel like nassarius and bumblebee can handle a lot of the "crab work". Does anyone run both? Is anyone snail only? Id like to optimize my cuc as im running out of living quarters for them.

I have both. I have a rather large Grey Stripe and 2 Halloweens. I also have a few blue leg and red leg hermits. I'd love to add 2 of the Scarlet Hermits again as well.

Snails - I have Nassarius, Ceriths, Conch, Trochus, Nerites, Astreas, Bumble Bees, and Dwarf Ceriths.

 

[kevgib67]

Google id'ed this as a predatory snail, so it's now gone. @tbrown had suggested I might have some earlier

Whelk! Although not all whelks are predatory, nassarius snails, the ones with the mottled siphons are. I was missing snails until I caught this one eating a bumblebee snail. Looks very similar.

 

[tbrown]

Hey Kevin, I feel like we need to make a few introductions:

@Calmwaters - Amanda, please introduce yourself to Kev.

@smitten with ocean life - Jill, please introduce yourself to Kev.

 

[tbrown]

 

[kevgib67]

Hey Kevin, I feel like we need to make a few introductions:

@Calmwaters - Amanda, please introduce yourself to Kev.

@smitten with ocean life - Jill, please introduce yourself to Kev.

 

[00W]

 

[Calmwaters]

Hey Kevin, I feel like we need to make a few introductions:

@Calmwaters - Amanda, please introduce yourself to Kev.

@smitten with ocean life - Jill, please introduce yourself to Kev.

Trying to catch up but hi Kevin I'm Amanda and I am an aquarium addict...

 

[kevgib67]

Hi Amanda, welcome to AAA ( that’s aquarium addicts anonymous for you older reefers)!

 

[Calmwaters]

I think this is a regional thing, I think Youngstown. Fried or grilled bolognese is a popular sandwich here. A staple at Youngstown State University tailgating. Found on the menu’s of local diners. Typically the slices for grilling or frying are about a half inch thick covered with provolone. My wife uses mayonnaise and I use mustard.

Not sure what bolognese is but it looks like bologna and if it's the same its a southern thing here for sure! Love a good fried bologna sandwich!

 

[kingranch2003]

I have watched my Pincushion make "black" rock turn bright white. I have seen my Pencil eat half of a Galaxea from the skeleton side all the way up to the live coral and almost kill it and I've watched it turn rock rubble into sand. Very effective.

Once I cleared the aiptasia out of the GHA my tiny little urchin wiped it out and doubled in size lol

 

[Calmwaters]

My pincushion wipes the rock clean wherever he goes

Mine does as well!

 

[kingranch2003]

I have both. I have a rather large Grey Stripe and 2 Halloweens. I also have a few blue leg and red leg hermits. I'd love to add 2 of the Scarlet Hermits again as well.

Snails - I have Nassarius, Ceriths, Conch, Trochus, Nerites, Astreas, Bumble Bees, and Dwarf Ceriths.

Lucky! This is why I always say every tank and every specimen is different. I dropped in some nassarius in my tank when it was newer. My Halloween had to be removed bc she kept eating them lol. Then my wrasses never touched a stomatella.

I talked to my lfs buddy today and he's getting in a bunch of snails Tuesday, trochus for sure. Im going to try what you and Tom said, and grab some and hopefully a couple nerites.
I wanted ceriths too, but I dont think he'll have any.
Rn I have 2 mex turbos 8ish nassarius 10 or 12 tiny dwarf hermits, fighting conch, urchin, and emerald crab in my 40 gallon.
Do you think 5 or 6 trochus and 3 or 4 nerites would be a good addition or would that be too much.

 

[kingranch2003]

Letssssss go @smitten with ocean life
Congratsssss
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/jul-2025-potm-winner-smitten-with-ocean-life.1125894/unread

Congrats @smitten with ocean life !

You're always so positive about how everyone else's tanks look. Im so glad you won this one my dear!