Name that thing on my TBS Rock

[greenbean36191]

Sierra, were you talking about the two red things in this pic?

If so, they are sponges.

[patsan]

Originally posted by greenbean36191
Most of the life in those pics is sponges. The corals in the 3rd and 4th pictures of the fourth post are Cladocora arbuscula. The single polyp in the 5th picture of the fourth post is Phyllangia americana.

Thanks so much for the ID!!

[patsan]

Got him before he got into the tank.

[skippy2]

A lot of people might want it. Don't flush it. Good looking out. From what I read on here they are quite nasty little things.

[patsan]

I'll be shipping him to Landon tomorrow.

[patsan]

These were heavy rocks. Four of them weighed 90lbs.

[derrikd]

looks nice, keep them comming

[Sierra]

looking at your sand depth in those tank shots...

looks like you've got a nice depth - kinda what I was hoping for on mine - about how many inches you got there? and is that just with the lb per gallon formula??

[patsan]

Originally posted by Sierra
looking at your sand depth in those tank shots...

looks like you've got a nice depth - kinda what I was hoping for on mine - about how many inches you got there? and is that just with the lb per gallon formula??

It's a 90g tank. I ordered the 90g pkg. But I had put 20lbs of figi pink in one corner of the tank....so this 90lbs of sand went in about 75% of the tank. If you look at the full tank shots, you can see where the figi pink sand is and where the TBS sand starts. I would say it has to be about 4" deep or so.

[patsan]

Originally posted by dwculp
I just noticed the nameof the thread.....LOL
I can name that, a porcelain crab!!!

You JUST noticed the name of the thread? You teased me 2 days ago when I told you about making a thread like this...you said it sounds like a game show....name that thing on my TBS rock!!!

[krajacich]

Pat your rock looks great! Congratulations. Keep the pictures coming! Good luck. I'll be following your post and looking forward to getting my rock from TBS soon.

Danielle

[dwculp]

Originally posted by patsan
Is this a hermit crab? If it is, I have seen 2 of them so far.

Yep, thats a hermit.

[patsan]

I didn't see them when we were putting the rock in, but by the time we finished and I started taking pictures, I saw 2 of them.

[patsan]

I noticed there is a lot of fuzzy stuff all over the rock. Is this normal?

[chrismunn]

WOW thats great lookin' rock! looks awsome. i wish i got that many cool hitch hikers when i got my rock...

[dwculp]

Originally posted by patsan
I noticed there is a lot of fuzzy stuff all over the rock. Is this normal?

Yes, the rock is "dirty" when it first comes out of the box. Probably silt settling from being in the stagnant water of the boxes. During your first water change use a siphon hose to clean the stuff off the rock.

[patsan]

These are the things that look like they are opening their mouths and sticking their tongue out. What they are sticking out is a fuzzy looking thing.

[patsan]

Originally posted by dwculp
Yes, the rock is "dirty" when it first comes out of the box. Probably silt settling from being in the stagnant water of the boxes. During your first water change use a siphon hose to clean the stuff off the rock.

Will it clear up some before the first water change?
I should be able to turn the skimmer on now. The bacteria has been circulating for about 4 hours or more.

[dwculp]

Those things sticking their tongues out are barnacles. Tough animals to keep, but many of mine are still kicking.

[patsan]

Okay, so I've heard many of the sponges die, barnacles are tough to keep....I guess we'll have to wait to see what I really have on this rock to see how much life will remain?

I don't see any crabs or mystery fish or octopus.

[Northtampatang]

The colral that looks like a brain is really a Manacina, close relative, but not a true brain, it you want it to survive, give it some lighting. I live in tampa, and I'll tell you, the decorator and coral rock is absolutly fabulous when you have full pick of the store! check out this thread for some close ups of what the Manacina can look like when healthy.


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=500341

[patsan]

Very interesting Northtampa...thanks!

[jdieck]

Originally posted by patsan
Okay, so I've heard many of the sponges die, barnacles are tough to keep....I guess we'll have to wait to see what I really have on this rock to see how much life will remain?

Just keep in mind that there got to be a curing period and that curing live rock is not only a waiting time. You need to do what's possible to keep the quality of the water. Initial decomposition acids will consume alkalinity and tend to drop PH. High Ammonia and Nitrite spikes are more likely and will stress even more the critters that you want surviving.

Some strategies for increase survivability.

a) Keep on with water changes To keep Ammonia levels under control. It is not true that you need high Ammonia for the bacteria to thrive. You might have a high spike, then lots of bacteria then the Ammonia is gone and lots of the Bacteria die off to the new balance so it is better to achieve a balance and keep the bacteria at par since the beginning than having a big bloom.

b) Keep your skimmer running and clean it often, this is the best way to export the large amount of nutrients being released.

c) As inevitably some sponge will die off and as their releases are toxic I would recommend also to run activated carbon and change it often.

d) Test your PH and Alkalinity, try to keep your alkalinity above 7.5 or 8 dKh use a buffer as necessary. Calcium is not important at this point, what you look for is a stable PH.

e) Lighting or not during this period is controversial. While it is certain that strong lighting will encourage algae blooms no lighting at all will also be stressful for some critters or some macro in the rock. As most of the critters in the rock are not light dependant room lighting shall be enough at this stage.

f) To accelerate the cleaning process try using a powerhead to direct the blast at the rocks to clean the pores and surface of slime (decaying matter) and silt. If you attach a shortened tip of a turkey baster to the powerhead you will have a reduced tip that will act as a nozzle, try the nozzle against the Large holes and pores of the rock and you will see a lot of silt come out from inside. This will keep the matter in suspension for the skimmer to remove it more effectively and will clean the pores of the rock while oxygenating the water and the inner workings of it.

Good Luck and congratulations.

[patsan]

Wow...thank you so much for all this info. We'll do our first water tests the first thing in the morning.

[dood68]

just tagging along Pat congrat's on your rock, as i said b4 i'm jelous.
hopefully i'm next....... hint hint TBS