Nano Sapiens 12g - Ye Olde Mixed Reef

[Nano sapiens]

How big do those squat lobsters get? Will they eat fish?

These particular Squat Lobsters are known as 'Crinoid Squat Lobsters' (Allogalathea elegans). The body size is around 3/4" long and 1/2" wide, and with claws fully extended maybe 1-1/2" total. Being small and slow, I couldn't see them doing any harm to a healthy fish, even a small one (one of my Green Banded Gobies is only 3/4" long and he's been just fine). They tend to tuck away during the day, but get much more active at night.

There are many species of 'Squat Lobsters', though, and some get much bigger. One of my favorites is the Red Galathea Crab which gets to around 2-1/2" long with claws fully extended. I haven't heard of this one going after small fish (possible?), but it is much more active during the day. They are excellent at ridding the tank of Bristleworms.

 

[Nano sapiens]

8th Year Anniversary:

Simple, non-filtered tank is approaching a 'matured' state.

Left Side:

Right Side:

 

[Chrisfish]

Congratulations !! Really beautiful nano tank

 

[Nano sapiens]

Congratulations !! Really beautiful nano tank

Thank you and glad you like it

 

[revhtree]

8th Year Anniversary:

Simple, non-filtered tank is approaching a 'matured' state.

Left Side:

Right Side:

So happy to see this update!

 

[Nano sapiens]

Hi Rev - Can you change the thread title to '8 Years and Counting'

 

[revhtree]

Hi Rev - Can you change the thread title to '8 Years and Counting'

Done!

 

[Nano sapiens]

Done!

Thanks!

 

[Daniel@R2R]

8th Year Anniversary:

Simple, non-filtered tank is approaching a 'matured' state.

Left Side:

Right Side:

Love, love, LOVE these pics! How's the tank doing?

 

[Fishyj]

Love this tank. One of my favorites.

 

[NVTE]

Still amazing simple tank

 

[Nano sapiens]

Thanks for the comments/inquiries. Last time I saw it, it was doing fine. I had to leave it for a week at a time due to a prolonged family emergency and I have my fingers crossed that it is still in relatively good shape when I get back home tomorrow. Luckily, this simple little system has proved to be surprisingly robust when I've had to leave it for extended periods in the past.

 

[xellos88]

Your tank should be featured in more sites. It's the best example of what good husbandry and smart stocking can achieve.

 

[Nano sapiens]

Your tank should be featured in more sites. It's the best example of what good husbandry and smart stocking can achieve.

Thanks for the nice comments. The tank was featured a few years ago on one nano specific site and I'm more than happy with that

 

[Nano sapiens]

Thanks for the comments/inquiries. Last time I saw it, it was doing fine. I had to leave it for a week at a time due to a prolonged family emergency and I have my fingers crossed that it is still in relatively good shape when I get back home tomorrow. Luckily, this simple little system has proved to be surprisingly robust when I've had to leave it for extended periods in the past.

Happily, the tank survived the last 4 weeks with just one missing resident, a crinoid squat lobster. Feeding and maintenance one day out of each week was sufficient to keep it going. I did have some mighty hungry fish and shrimp, though!

 

[Nano sapiens]

Cruising along at 8-1/2 years:

A closeup of one of the little Pederson's Anemone Shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni):

Really enjoy these Anemone Shrimp (perfect for a small tank with peaceful inhabitants). My pair of Green Banded Gobies still spawn regularly, so that provides some extra live food for the system.

The tank is going along okay. Time will tell if it makes it to 9 years

 

[Nano sapiens]

A few things of interest:

Over the last two months or so I collected a number of small, 3/16 - 1/4" fluorescent disks from the sand bed. My best guess is that they are brooded Ricorida planulae as they can slowly move about by themselves. Unfortunately, after 5 weeks in this container there was no development, so they've been placed into the nooks-and-crannies of my live rock:

This little mushroom recently popped up on a small live rock that had a Blue/Grey Yuma I purchased around 2 years ago. It was so small that I didn't even know it was there until I looked at the spot with a hand magnifier. It's about 5/16" across, so it's slowly making progress (excuse the blurry/highly zoomed in pic). I'm still at a loss as to what exactly it is:

8+ year old Sunset Monti that started having localized bubbled tissue 3-4 year back. It's the only coral in the tank with this odd condition (even a SM frag I made a few years ago doesn't have this):

...really big Rhodactis cf. inchoata:

...and plate sized Ricodia florida

 

[Slickwill613]

Should I post the Lou ferrigno hulk gif. again?

 

[Nano sapiens]

Should I post the Lou ferrigno hulk gif. again?

Sure, why not

 

[Slickwill613]

That giant ric...