Help identifying

[RyUxWiLL]

I'm in the second week of my new cycle and bought rock and sand from two established systems so they came with lots of life I need help identifying(as well as a blue legged hermit and some random coral). The eggs weren't there a day ago and I'm pretty sure crabs carry their eggs so what else could it be? The worms I haven't seen in days but tehy seem to hate light. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eggsls8.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wormzf8.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/my.php?image=coralgn8.jpg

 

[ULTAQUARIUMSVCS]

Hi ryuxwill

tell us bout you livestock, maybe we can figure it out.
Coral are green center zoo. Let us know

 

[RyUxWiLL]

Nothing. Only the blue legged hermit that hitched on the rocks and the others in the pics. Can't wait to start throwing stuff in though ^^

Hi ryuxwill

tell us bout you livestock, maybe we can figure it out.
Coral are green center zoo. Let us know

 

[returnofsid]

The "eggs" look to be a commonly seen Sponge.

The worm is a Peanut Worm (Sipunculans). Completely harmless and pretty cool.

The Zoanthids are a great hitchhiker!!

 

[RyUxWiLL]

Will the zoanthids die? I've got no idea how to care for them and my lighting is pretty basic. coralife fixture 2x39w 15000 T5 lighting made from aqua science I believe.

 

[returnofsid]

That will depend on how they cycle in your tank is going. Adding rock from a well established tank will normally help with the cycle, as long as you didn't add it to a tank with already high ammonia levels. Have you been testing for Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? These tests will help you follow your cycle. You should notice an increase in Ammonia, then a spike. After that, an increase and spike in nitrites, and finally an increase in nitrates. Removal of the nitrates will require water changes and skimming. Also a refugium with Macro algae will help remove nitrates. The nitrates aren't toxic, like Ammonia and nitrites are, but will feed nuisance algaes.

What's the depth of your tank? Where in the tank are the Zoanthids located? This information will help in figuring out if your Zoanthids are getting enough light.

Normally Zoanthids are pretty hardy. I'd give you good odds that they'll survive.

 

[RyUxWiLL]

My nitrates are at 5-10ppm, nitrite -.3, ammonia 0. I added some CC from an exisiting setup a few days before I added the rocks and noticed the ammonia was really high. did a partial water change (1/3ish) and added live rock after at which point the Ammonia levels dropped. Nitrite didn't spike much to my knowledge and Nitrate levels have been 5-10 for about 3 days straight. Also LFS advised me to use carbon in my sump as I didn't start with r/o water so I added some. Hermit hitchhiker seems to be doing well, roaming all over the place munching on stuff from the rocks. He owns the place.

I'm running a 65g+35g sump with about 75lb of rock. The Zoas are about 8" off the ground and my tank is 2' high.

That will depend on how they cycle in your tank is going. Adding rock from a well established tank will normally help with the cycle, as long as you didn't add it to a tank with already high ammonia levels. Have you been testing for Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? These tests will help you follow your cycle. You should notice an increase in Ammonia, then a spike. After that, an increase and spike in nitrites, and finally an increase in nitrates. Removal of the nitrates will require water changes and skimming. Also a refugium with Macro algae will help remove nitrates. The nitrates aren't toxic, like Ammonia and nitrites are, but will feed nuisance algaes.

What's the depth of your tank? Where in the tank are the Zoanthids located? This information will help in figuring out if your Zoanthids are getting enough light.

Normally Zoanthids are pretty hardy. I'd give you good odds that they'll survive.

 

[returnofsid]

So the Zoanthids are 16" from top of tank...plus the amount of space between water and lights. You've got 78 watts of T5 lighting. Are both bulbs 15K or is one of them Actinic? Actinic lighting is purely for our viewing pleasure and does nothing to benefit our tank inhabitants. Even if both are 15k, that's really not much light at all. I'd suggest moving them higher in the tank, to get them more light. They also like moderate to high flow...but not being blasted with flow.

I'd seriously consider upgrading your lighting if you're planning a reef tank.

 

[RyUxWiLL]

I'll try to move them but they're on a fairly large rock. Also I've read somewhere online they could be poisonous. Are these something I should be worried about?

Both are the same bulb no actinic. I'm looking into lighting but I want to see how the fish do before I shell out 300-500$ on lights. My wife isn't too happy of my new hobby.

So the Zoanthids are 16" from top of tank...plus the amount of space between water and lights. You've got 78 watts of T5 lighting. Are both bulbs 15K or is one of them Actinic? Actinic lighting is purely for our viewing pleasure and does nothing to benefit our tank inhabitants. Even if both are 15k, that's really not much light at all. I'd suggest moving them higher in the tank, to get them more light. They also like moderate to high flow...but not being blasted with flow.

I'd seriously consider upgrading your lighting if you're planning a reef tank.

 

[returnofsid]

Zoanthids are toxic, yes. It's best to always handle them while wearing rubber gloves. Also, when out of water, they can "spit." Always keep them aimed away from you...no, not towards the wife either!! Some even wear goggles or face shields while fragging them. I'm guilty of not always wearing gloves when handling them...I know, I should. Also, always wash your hands well after handling them, or even having your hands in your tank. There have been some very severe instances of people becoming very ill just from having an open sore on their hand and having their hands in the tank. There's all kinds of toxins floating around in that water. However, don't let that scare you out of the hobby. Just be informed, take precautions and you'll be just fine!!

As for your wife, I've found that involving my girlfriend in the hobby has helped a lot. It went from being My hobby, to being Our hobby. Now, she's the one bugging me to upgrade from out 75 to a 120!! A year ago, I had to bug her to buy a single coral...lol. Now she's got her own username here on RF and other forums. She's even learned to do tank maintenance while I'm working out of town. If you have a local club, join it...take her with you. She'll meet other "significant others" who are in the same boat she is in. Hopefully she'll learn to enjoy this wonderful hobby as much as you do!!

 

[RyUxWiLL]

Thanks for the advice I'm sure she'll come along. She's from the philippines where this stuff is in their backyard. So it's almost incomprehensible to her as to why I'm so intrigued by all of it. Anyhow thanks again for all the help.

Also still wondering what that yellow stuff is it really doesn't look like spongue. Looks just like egg. Will be a mystery.