SandJ

I have some that are white with a small amount of red and brown on their backs. I have found them on my zoas and GSP numerous times, so now I have been removing them. I am usually all for keeping a tank natural, but these are no longer welcome :0/ If we set up a pest tank I would keep some in that, but not in my display. And they do multiply FAST. Started with 7-10 and have now removed dozens. On the same topic, how does everyone dispose of unwanted creatures like these? I want to be humane about it, but what does that consist of?

My brittle star is about 20" across. It lives under a rock, only seen it out once to spawn. I have seen peppermint shrimp and a diamond goby under the same rock, but the brittle star has never bothered them. I do target feed it a couple times a week with a 1/2" square of LRS.

The ammonia at the dollar tree does not have surfactants. I think they all carry the same brands, but double check it to be sure. Also, ACE Hardware ammonia is safe.

Very nice! Did you make the doors?

We will be there!

I am always blown away by the speakers and topics covered at the meetings. And I know the officers and members put a tremendous amount of work into this club. A big thank you to all of you :0) I was wondering if something could be added to the meetings... Maybe during social time before the speaker, we could have a short (30 mins to a hour) lecture on some of the basic topics of the hobby. Or if someone wanted to volunteer to do a small workshop on a topic one weekend (it could be recorded and made available on the site also). Topics could include: Skimmer setup coral identification sump setup using test kits setting up a quarantine tank Fish disease and treatment identifying common tank inhabitants-and are they good or bad lighting RODI units (changing filters, sanitizing, booster pumps) aquascaping how to cycle a tank Keeping an aquarium log Safety while working with your tank-what are the dangers and how to minimize them clean up crews-what is really needed Plumbing-basic tools, parts and do's and don'ts Even after being in the hobby for a year and a half, I know there is so much more for me to learn. And it would be awesome to learn how to do things the right way from the start lol And yes, there is lots of info here, online and videos on YouTube, but to actually get hands on experience or be able to ask questions would be a lot more fun :0) And I understand the meetings are already packed full and run great as they are set up so this may not be possible. But just though I would throw the idea out there just in case.

No, as long as there is no metal AFTER the RODI it will filter anything out.

You may be able to use a counter top rodi unit. It just screws onto the faucet. Technically you have to remove the faucet aerator, but it just screws off. But that may still be more than your land lady will allow. The rodi unit is small and could be stored in a plastic tote when not in use. I have used this one and it worked perfect (always had 0 tds): https://www.ebay.com/itm/251885707178 I'm sure there are other brands and maybe some one could recommend one. Sorry, I have no experience with using bottled water :0/

Is this considered mulm?

So, I have a used RKE for my daughters tank. We need help setting it up. I have watched lots of videos and read through the manual and numerous forums, but I still feel so lost. I want to do this right and for her to learn how to program and use it to its full potential (she is 14 so she may have an easier time learning about it than me lol). My daughter and I would be extremely grateful! Some of my initial questions would be: 1) Do I need to reset it since it is a used unit? 2) How do I make sure it is up to date? I have the device to hook it up to the computer, but I believe it may be an out of date one and I need to send off for a newer model-but I could be completely wrong. 3) Do I need to install software and program from the computer? 4) Can I rename the components to what device they control (EX: Heater...Light...Skimmer...)? These are the components we have: RKE head unit 2 X PC4 SL2 MLC NET SLX And the equipment that will be installed: Light-will be controlled by RKE (Solarmax HO2 T5 light) Skimmer Powerhead (Hydor Koralia) Jebao powerhead Heater ATO (Tunze-open to using the switches on the module though) Maybe a camera, we have a couple wifi cameras Also interested in some kind of water leak alarm Want alarms (if possible) for things like temp, pH, water level in tank too high (to know if ATO does not shut off), ATO water level low. She wants to be able to use the NET module for remote viewing. I know we will have to hook it up to the modem somehow, and can probably run a long cord for the time being. Have considered buying the device that plugs into a power outlet and allows you to plug into the internet-wow that probably made no sense but hopefully someone will know what I am talking about lol Just don't know what all my options are.

So, is this still just new tank cycling??? The tank looks pretty bad and don't even know where to start cleaning it up :0/

I have the same problem in my biocube. Made this out of a maxi jet. Pointed the outlet towards the overflow. Seems to be doing the job. Not the most beautiful in the tank, but thinking I can move it to the back chamber somehow. Eta: it is a maxi jet, plastic bottle, piece of needlework canvas to keep the filter media from being sucked into the pump. I am pretty sure a lot of my particulates are house dust (and the clowns fanning the sand ALL.THE.TIME. I made a lid out of coroplast (like signs are made out of) and put that on when I vacuum/dust/do house work. Also use it after lights out.

Did you ever identify what it is? Looks kinda like Cladophoropsis.

Sorry about your clown :0( How is he doing today?

I uploaded some images from the microscope to photo bucket. Here is a link to the album: http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/SandJ01/library/ Here are some of the images:

Followed the instructions on the dino test. I went to bed before the time was up. Checked this morning and there was no dinos in the cup, water was clear. So, looks like I may be wrong and it may not be dinos. Maybe bacteria? It is greenish brown, somewhat transparent. Stringy. It dissolved in the water when I shook it up. Some of it has bubbles in it. May pull out the microscope tomorrow and see if I can identify what it is. Added stuff to glass After shaking it up, I poured the water through a cloth. The water sat over night and nothing formed in it.

Will let you know something in about 30-120 minutes lol

That is what concerns me. Nothing has been added. And when she does add life to the tank, are the nutrients going to fuel the dinos? Luckily, she is a very patient 14 year old and wants to do things right :0) There have been no fish, CUC, corals or anything else added to this tank. Everything added was dry (though the rock was previously live, but dry). So how did they get in there?

Not a bad case of them....yet lol They just popped up one day. Since there is nothing in the tank I had rather take care of them now then later. It is actually my daughters tank. She has been very patient in setting everything up the right way and cycling it, I feel bad that she has an issue like this to deal with. I guess she is going to get experience in treating dinos now. Yes, that is the post I was referring to mr11! Thank you very much, you just saved me a lot of time! Seems simple enough so we will try it out. The tank is a homeschool project so might as well put the scientific method to good use lol

This is dinoflagellates, right? Tank just finished cycling Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 40 Started tank with dry sand and previously live rock (dried-out of tank for about a year, rinsed and put in tank). The ammonia spiked without adding anything (assume from the stuff in the rock). Had diatoms, then this tan, stringy stuff appeared. If I remember correctly, there is a test you can do to see if it is dinos. Take a sample, run through strainer, shake it up and see if it clumps back together. Need to try and find that info again (and make sure it was for dinos lol). Just making sure it looks like dinos first.

LOL I know :0) We were just out shopping and she found one she liked. Local to us is over an hour away so we do not get to go shopping as often as we would like. And it is always fun to bring home new additions to the tank home! The tank is her homeschool project so I am trying to teach her the right way to do things, but being a newbie to the saltwater world (about a year in the hobby) I am still learning the right way myself :0)

Thanks to everyone for their replies :0) Issac, I will be on the lookout for the WAMAS public service announcements lol It sounds I am being overly cautious lol My daughter wanted a hammer coral but we passed due to the amount of bryopsis in the tank (also had bubble algae and aiptasia, but I was not as concerned about them). In the back of my mind I was thinking, if a store that specializes in saltwater has a hard time controlling bryopsis then will I be able to control it in my tank

So, you go to you LFS and find a frag you like. You notice there are pest* in the tank. Do you... 1) buy the frag and dip when you get home? 2) buy the frag, dip and replace the rock/frag plug it is on? 3) pass it up? *pests being aiptasia, bubble algae and bryopsis (not just a random one here or there either) Asking because I am wondering if my expectations are too high about getting pest free frags. And what are the chances of any of these pests taking hold in the tank after a close inspection and dip? And for a follow up question- do you think the LFS should make people aware of the pest in the system and how to best keep it out of their tank and/or treat?

You can take a small, strong magnet that will stick to the razor blade, wrap it in Saran Wrap, and use a rubber band to attach it to a piece of rigid airline tubing. In my case, I lost the tiny glass cleaner from my Two Little Fishies nano tank cleaner (about 1" square). And it drifted under a rock in the diamond goby's home. So I put a piece of flexible airline tubing onto the end of the rigid. And put the magnet on the flexible section. I then started fishing around under the rock until I found it.

I'm not a worm expert, but could that be a fireworm and not a regular bristle worm?