WoW Thanks everyone!!!

[mjslaugh]

Nitrates at 0.

I took some pics of my setup now as it is, and I checked the Nitrates just now and they read zero, so I think I am getting close to cycled. The other neat thing I noticed is that the diatom bloom is like half the size it was last night, you can still see the areas of it(I circled them in pic 2), but it is much better. You can also see what I think is Aptasia in pic 3, I was going to let it grow a bit just to make sure I know what it is before I kill it(if it is Aptasia).

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Hardly a bloom, just a tank cycling very nicely. Take your time, it is a reefkeepers best friend

 

[sandollar]

Nice tank. Try getting a closer shot at the aiptasia for a positive ID. You don't want that thing to grow and spread in your tank. Better dealt with sooner than later.

 

[mjslaugh]

Thanks, I like it, I stacked the rock in the tank when the sand blinded it and it turned out really nice so I haven't touched it other than a couple little adjustments for lighting for my mushroom and razor clam hitchichickers. The cool thing is it created a little cave in the center not huge but about a 5" cube. Here is the best pic I can get of the little critter, my camera is great for detail far away, but it sucks at focusing up close, I think I may have to get a manual focus for it, but anyhow here it is.

 

[mjslaugh]

:idea:OMG, okay so after about 20 shots that last one was the best and then after the post I decided to try something different and guess what.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Ya, aptasia. Get our your turkey baster or a syringe and fill with boiling hot water. Squirt it directly and it will disintegrate (basted cooked anemone)

The "razor clam" is most likely a reef mussel

 

[mjslaugh]

Really a lfs told me it was a razor clam, here is a pic also you can see the shroom next to it.

 

[mjslaugh]

oh and thanks for the info on the aptasia I will kill it.

 

[lizardarm]

Looks like you're off to a good start here. Congrats!
It might be nothing, but in the pic with the "razor clam" it looks like there might be a spot of bubble algae on the rock- down in the bottomish right side of the pic. If it is bubble algae, now is a good time to take care of it before you've got livestock and whatnot in there.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Really a lfs told me it was a razor clam, here is a pic also you can see the shroom next to it.

Sure is a clam!

Not razor clam though, which lives in NW cold nutrient rich mud.

 

[mjslaugh]

What should I look for the bubble algae?? if I have it how do I get ride of it?? So any guesses as to what kinda clam I got??

 

[lizardarm]

I have a handful of mussels on my live rock (which surprisingly have lived for a while now) and I would guess that that is what it is, although it's shell halves seem really flat. Bubble algae is a bit tricky because you have to be careful not to pop it when pulling it off as that will release spores and cause a greater outbreak. Your best bet is to remove that rock, then try a pulling/wiggling kind of deal either with your fingers or a pair of tweasers. Then rinse the rock off with either RO/DI water or water removed during a water change. Don't risk doing this while it's in the tank. You're at a good point now where there's not much in the way to hinder taking the rock out. All this is of course assuming that it was bubble algae.