SRusso's 29 Gallon jump back into the hobby

[srusso]

Looks like you got plenty of slipper shells, and a red-beard sponge. Do keep an eye on these guys long-term. Long Island Sound's waters are significantly chillier than the temperatures your tang and firefish are used to, which may cause some stress for the new critters.

Will follow closely, 'cause this looks both fun and educational!

~Bruce

Thanks!! I will watch closely for sure! Is that what they are called? "Slipper snails?" I plan to feed them to the tank mostly, while they clean the tank. Swap shells out, crush them into small bits, start selling it as calcium reactor media! LOL :-D

 

[srusso]

Ha! "Culinary use"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_slipper_shell

 

[srusso]

Free coral and anemone food!!!

Doesn't get much fresher then that!!

Nom nom!!

 

[srusso]

The good the bad the ugly, found this little guy. I put him in figured there have to be others. Hope it's going to play nice or else he can become fish food! Ha!

 

[srusso]

The red-beard sponge resembles seaweed with its thick, finger-like branches.
Courtesy: University of Charleston, S.C.
Red-beard Sponge (Microciona prolifera)

http://www.edc.uri.edu/restoration/html/gallery/invert/red.htm

 

[srusso]

I feel like I went to the beach and got free coral, crabs, snails, and fish food... Soon I am going to buy a diatom filter Paul B uses and start getting water from the beach! lol

 

[Maritimer]

Slipper shells often grow in stacks. The one on the bottom (as in clownfish, the oldest and largest in the group) is female, the ones above male. That's what gave 'em their latin name. (Given that name, I suppose they could be marketed as an aphrodisiac . . . )

The crab looks like it might be a chocolate-fingered mud crab. They're the native crab for that size range, but we have an invasive that's been taking over - the Asian shore crab. The mud crab will look like he's been pinching a Hershey bar, while the Asian has paler claws and more distinct bands - and is faster and more aggressive.

~Bruce

 

[skip0211]

Fascinating... keep updating your adventure.. hope to see you at our meeting..
Skip

 

[srusso]

Slipper shells often grow in stacks. The one on the bottom (as in clownfish, the oldest and largest in the group) is female, the ones above male. That's what gave 'em their latin name. (Given that name, I suppose they could be marketed as an aphrodisiac . . . )

The crab looks like it might be a chocolate-fingered mud crab. They're the native crab for that size range, but we have an invasive that's been taking over - the Asian shore crab. The mud crab will look like he's been pinching a Hershey bar, while the Asian has paler claws and more distinct bands - and is faster and more aggressive.

~Bruce

Awesome, thank you for the IDs!

 

[srusso]

Fascinating... keep updating your adventure.. hope to see you at our meeting..
Skip

I will definitely be at the meeting, can't wait!

 

[srusso]

Ok some lights coming on, and at first it looked like every fish oh gone crazy. Closer look... There are hundreds of small things the fish are eating right now. Pods I assume...

I found I have 3 live barnacles! They seem like awesome filter feeders!

I put 3 of the live slipper snail stacks in the 29 yesterday. I have since fed one stack to the carpet anemone.

The fire fish seem very active

 

[srusso]

Phosphates up a little from yesterday, nothing crazy up 0.08. (Was 0.24 yesterday morning)

KH and pH both normal

 

[srusso]

More unknown creatures!

This snail and I think I see some encrusted coral?

 

[Maritimer]

The snail is a periwinkle, an import from Europe to our area. Feeds on algae and other plant-based material, and has a tendency to climb to the surface (or out of the tank) and wait for the tide to come in.

The "encrusted coral" may be bryozoans. We do have a NPS "star" coral in Long Island Sound, but its polyps are pretty big.

~Bruce

 

[Joshua2598]

Very interesting

 

[srusso]

Something honestly has changed today. Polyp extension is great. Have a look! The leather never has been so open!

 

[srusso]

Some type of social issues starting with the firefish. Looks like two paired up and this one is the third wheel.

Can't clean the glass for every update, you guys know how it is... :'P

 

[srusso]

Removed this wild macro, it seemed to be mostly desolving in my aquarium. Red in color. I have really started to like marco algae, want to create a planted shallow reef like environment.

 

[srusso]

The red bread sponge seems to be coloring up nicely in my tank.

 

[srusso]

Love doing g a small water change, b/c hey... Water is made... Forgets to turn heater back on... Tank temp dropped to 73 over night... [emoji20]