Compare growth progress of SPS

The picture on top is as it was purchased back on 9/7/05, and the bottom one is current as of 1/7/06:





You can notice significant growth and change:

• The SPS has recovered from those two patches and has covered all previous bare areas.
• The green polyps down the middle between the previous two SPS patches have been overrun, and SPS is gaining ground against the green polyps at the middle top.
• The green polyps have spread significantly around the back and right side (this isn't obvious in the original picture), and have migrated to the base rock at the back, front middle, and front right sides.
• The SPS is touching the base rock and may be spreading onto it at the front left (this isn't obvious in the new picture).
• The white sponge on the right side in the original picture is still there somewhat, but overrun by green polyps (this isn't obvious in the new picture).
• The sponge obvious in the back middle in the old picture has died out; a new sponge is growing out from the lower middle.
• The blue sponge under the front middle in the old picture is no longer evident.

Updated December 05's postings with pictures, and enhanced comments

Feeding

• 5 drops of LiquidLife's MarinePlankton (made with cyclop-eeze)
• 1 tsp of DT'S LIVE Marine Phytoplankton
• 1 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods

Harvested 4 stalks of Xenia on 2 rocks

Removed 2 of the 3 Live Rock frags that had been positioned abutting stalks of the Xenia. Each LV frag had two stalks of Xenia on it. They were brought to Jim's Exotic Fish for credit.

See the original post on the placement of the Live Rock frags just 9 days ago.

The dislodged and trapped Xenia appears to be no more

Back on 11/15/05 during the first Xenia transplant, one stalk was dislodged and trapped in a cave. I haven't seen it for over a week and I suspect it must have disintegrated. Here's how it looked on 11/16/05:

Consolidated list of Equipment, etc.

I've consolidated my list of equipment, supplies, suppliments, foods, etc here. I've also placed a link in the sidebar.

Maintenance

Performed a 2.5g water change.

Used the Kent Pro ScraperM (Stainless Steel) to clear output nozzel, as it was about 50% clogged and resulted in water getting sprayed around when I did the water change.

Relocated last Xenia (Xeniid) stalk from brown kelp to the top rock.

Culled about 1 cup of brown kelp, and a large "sheet" of green algea from the output nozzel

Feed the fish a pinch of Aquatrol Spirulina 20 flakes.

New feeding

Bought from Marks Tropical Fish:

• 1oz squirt bottle of LiquidLife's MarinePlankton (made with cyclop-eeze)

Put 5 drops in the tank. The small PJ Cardinal eat some of the larger clumps. Two of the Blastomussa wellsi polyps reacted as if they had caught some.

Feed the tank 1 tsp of DT'S LIVE Marine Phytoplankton.

Food purchases, and feeding

Bought from Mark's Tropical Fish:

• DT'S LIVE Marine Phytoplankton (7.5 oz)

Was also going to get, but they were out:

• DT's Natural Reef Diet Oyster Eggs
• Argent Cyclop-eeze Deep Frozen

Fed the tank 1 tsp of the Phyto.

Feeding, with observations

Fed 1/2 cube of Mysis shrimp.

I noticed two Blastomussa wellsi polyps "caught" and somehow managed to move a piece of shrimp to their mouths; I'll have pictures posted. Also three of green hairy mushrooms (Corallimorphs) had "balled" up presumably around some food; this "balled" up form looks different than the fully contracted form.

Pulsing xenia (Xeniid):


Pulsing xenia (Xeniid) and colony of some globe-ish SPS (possibly Porites?) with colony of green polyps (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids):


Green hairy mushrooms (Order Corallimorpharia) shown closed around food:


Narsarious Snail (Family: Nassariidae):


Blastomussa wellsi colony, side view:


Blastomussa wellsi colony, right polyp shown closing around food:

New coral, and prep for fragging

Picked up the following from Jim's Exotic Fish:

• 1/2# of live rock fragments
• Blastomussa wellsi - 5 polyps, bright red with green center. One polyp has a partial damaged corallite, the largest is approx 3 cm. (Faviid species, Family Mussidae "Mussids")

According to WetWebMedia.com, Blastomussa wellsi need low light and water circulation, are slow growers, and "most are voracious feeders of meaty foods". "The real key to success with these (and most) corals is feeding. 3-5 times weekly ideally (or more). Use meats of marine origin/zooplankton substitutes. [Argent's] Cyclop-eeze is a great choice. "

Used Aquarium Systems/Marineland HoldFast to place 3 LR frags on the top rock abutting various Xenia stalks. I'm sure the stalks will migrate with a week or so onto the frags which I will then sell back to the LFS. Placed 1 LR frag by my lower star polyp colony so it will grow over, and I can (this will take a while) cut and sell back to the LFS.

Updated November 05's postings with pictures, and enhanced comments.

Performed a 2.5gal water change (and the water had "warmed" in the house for a few hours).

Glass cleaning

Used the Kent Pro ScraperM (Stainless Steel) to clear the glass front and sides of all the pink coralline algae (that I could reach).

Fed the tank 1 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods.

Feed the fish a pinch of Aquatrol Spirulina 20 flakes.

Performed a 2.5gal water change (and the water had "warmed" in the house for a few hours).

Three Bristle worms?

There were 3 ends - perhaps two ends belonged to the same worm. I was able to take some pictures which I'll post later. I tried to grab it while wearing my extra thick rubber gloves by it quickly returned into the rock.

Reef related book for my child

My son is nuts for the Finding Nemo DVD.

The other day I noticed a Nemo's Birthday book, it's a bit old for him (being a read-aloud counting book w/a CD), but when I saw that the fish for the number "10" are "exotic" but what's pictured are basically PJ Cardinals - I had to get it for him. We're saving it for his upcomming birthday.

Second to last Xenia stalk has attached

But the last one is still somewhat distant from the rock and stuck to the brown macro algea.

Fed the tank 1 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods.

Water change... and hint for next time.

Performed a 2.5gal water change.

I realized afterwards that since the water's stored in garage, it's temperature was in the low 50's (F). I didn't check the temperature immediately before adding the water but during I glanced over - I'm guessing that it dropped about 3 (F) in the tank.

If I assume the tank was 77 (F), and do the math, it comes out to about 74.2 (F), although that doesn't take into account the heat capacity of the rock, glass, etc.

I'll have to remember for next time to allow the water to come to room temperature.

I also removed some of the brown algea, and moved a branch that has the last two stalks of Xenia on it against a rock. I think at least one piece will move over to the rock.

Interesting video links

Crab vs. Pipe

"This is a video taken in 6000 feet of water. An undersea robot is sawing a
3mm wide slit (1/10th of an inch ... remember that width) in a pipeline. The
pressure inside the pipeline is 0 psig, while the pressure outside is 2700 psi,
or 1.3 tons per square inch. Then a crab comes along.... "

Octopus Eats Shark

Incident at the Seattle Aquarium...

Return of the Bristle worm

It's at least 3" long. I was able to take some pictures:


I tried to grab it while wearing my extra thick rubber gloves by it quickly returned into the rock.

Fed the tank 1 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods.

Feeding, and pictures

Feed the fish a pinch of Aquatrol Spirulina 20 flakes.

Un-relocated Xenia stalk and Star Polyp colony (Zoanthids):


Close-up of the polyps (Zoanthids) on the SPS rock:


Side view of tank - Xenia, SPS, polyps (Zoanthids), hermit crabs, and algea:


This picture shows the Star Polyp colony (Zoanthids) growing over some brown Kelp, plus hundreds of tiny serpulids (Spirorbidae):

Fish names, feeding, and two lone Xenia

My wife and son have named the two Pajama (PJ) Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera): Polka, and Dot.

Fed them a dash of flake food.

Found two lone Xenia polyps:

• One on the rock that was below the algea, that was home to most of the Xenia prior to being moved - not sure how it got down past the algea. See it in the picture below between the the snail and hermit crab:

• One on the rock way out in front and much lower than the algea, that was home to most of the Xenia prior to being moved - not sure how it got down so low - I can't think of any way any peice of Xenia could have touched it.

An unidentified macro red algea:

The dislodged piece of trapped Xenia (from 11/16/05 Xenia Reoganization):

The transplated Xenia on the top rock:

Hitchhiker stripped Brittle/Serpent Star, perhaps 2" wide; and a Peanut Worm (Sipunculid) :

Colony of some "globe"-ish SPS (possibly Porites?), along with colony of polyps (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids):

Water change, and Xenia re-org

Performed a 2.5gal water change.

I was able to relocate two stalks by stuffing the attached algea into a hole in the top rock; hopefully this last until the stalks have a chance to attach to the rock.

Removed another pint of algea, mostly the brown kelp, mostly the remains of the clump that was the former home of the Xenia.

The last stalk still on the algea I moved to its now pinned against the top rock - hopefully it'll move onto the rock itself.

The Electric Blue Hermit crab lives!

The Electric Blue Hermit crab (calcinus elegans) is alive and well! The picture also has a good shot of my Ricordea mushrooms (Corallimorpharia Ricordea):



The current state of the Xenia transplants:

Fed them a pinch of flake food.

Cleaning, observations, feeding.

Feed the tank 1/2 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods.

Saw 2 bristle worms, small and of unknown length.

Removed the brown algea that I had used to migrate the pulsing xenia (Xeniid) from the large brown algea to the rocks, as the stalks had attached to the rocks.

Also trimmed back some of the large brown algea clump that was starting to get two close to some of the other xenia.

Electric Blue Hermit crab dead?

I see some parts of the Electric Blue Hermit crab (calcinus elegans) - is it dead or just molted?

Results of algea culling and Xenia transplant, etc.

Here's the tank post culling of brown Kelp algea:


The transplanted Xenia seems to be doing well:


Except for this piece of Xenia which was dislodged and is now trapped (no way to get in there) in a cave:


A Tunicate/Sea Squirt/Ascidian Zooid (Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Urochordata):


Here's a Hair worm (Spionids Polychaete Worm) with two tentacles - it's tube seems to be assembled from debris. Amazingly the tentacles "grow" from 1" to about 4" and can be articulated in almost any position. Sorry about the blury phot.:

Water change, and weeding, and reorganizing the Xenia.

Performed a 2.5gal water change.

Removed another pint of algea, mostly the brown kelp. Removed a lot on the stalk that housed a few Xenia stalks. One had already moved to the rock, and another was on its way. I was able to relocate two stalks by stuffing the attached algea into holes in the top rock; hopefully this last until the stalks have a chance to attach to the rock.

Brown kelp algea pre-culling:


Brown kelp algea culled in 5gal bucket.



Bought a Sav-on/Osco Simply Clean "premium heavy duty latex gloves" to help remove the much of the small sections of "bristle" algea (presumed pest). This is where the bristle worm had been seen so the gloves would also be protective.

Fed 1/2 cube of Mysis shrimp.

Saw a 2+" bristle worm!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to the camera in time.

Fed the tank 1/2 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods.

Water change, and weeding.

Performed a 2.5gal water change.

Removed another pint of algea, mostly the brown kelp and a couple large clumps of the "bristle" algea (presumed pest). I tried to shake out as many of the small serpent starfish as possible (about 5) but was somewhat disheartened by the appearance of a 1/2" bristle worm.

Fed the tank 1/2 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods.

Water change, and feeding.

Fed the tank 1/2 cube of Mysis shrimp.

Performed a 2.5gal water change.

The old "stump" of pulsing xenia (Xeniid) is starting to resemble a stalk:



Hitch hiker stripped Brittle/Serpent Star, perhaps 1" wide:



A large clump of the brown Kelp:



Stalks of pulsing xenia (Xeniid) on another clump of brown Kelp:

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Feeding, and pictures

Fed the tank 1/4 "feeder fish" (brine shrimp variety) by California All Natural Pet Foods .

Hitch hiker stripped Brittle/Serpent Star, perhaps 1" wide:



Old "stump" of a stalk of pulsing xenia (Xeniid), starting to grow (sorry about the blury photo):

Maintenance

Removed another pt. of the brown kelp. Will bring it to Josh at work (what I bring to Jim's never seems to survive).

Did a 2.5gal water change.

The Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus) is dead!

Found this morning being cleaned up by my "clean-up" crew.

Feed the fish a pinch of Aquatrol Spirulina 20 flakes - they seemed to like it.

"sick tank" Supplies and Prep

Bought from Ralphs:

• Vinegar (to clean hard water stains from tank)

Bought from Jim's:

• Hagen Marina 15w "Aquarium Light Bulb"
• MarineLand Penguin size "A" Filter Cartridge
• Seachem Reef Buffer (to increase pH of FW dip)
• Aquarium Products Organi Cure (Copper 1.25%, Formaldehyde 17% in a tri-chelated form)
• 5gal of NSW

Started cleaning the 3gal hex with Vinegar and water - I'm going to let it soak for a few hours. It cleaned up real well - the tank, hood (not light fixture), HOB filter, and misc parts. I made sure to rinse it very very well. Now it's drying.

I was hoping to do a FW dip on the Clown but I don't think I'll get to it tonight.

The clownfish doesn't look the best, so found a sick tank

The Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus) looks like he has a small bit of "cotton" on each of his sides (see pictures below), and his fins are somewhat clamped. I'll have to stop at Jim's at lunch and see what I can do about this - I don't want to lose another fish.

I found in the garage an old freshwater 3gal hex glass tank I had for a short period of time a few years back; it will make a good quarentine/sick tank. It has:

• undergravel filter (not going to use)
• air pump
• ProFile 10 HOB filter
• glass top
• light fixture with a CC-15 bulb
• heater
• stick-on thermometer

It's filthy, and has bad lime/hard water stains.

      

Feed tank, and water tests, and picture

Fed the tank 1/4 "feeder fish" (bloodworm variety) by California All Natural Pet Foods.

Tested Ammonia: (most likely) 0.00 ppm. At this point I don't think I'll be doing any more Ammonia tests.

Small (perhaps 1") bristle worm, among brown algea, Star Polyp colony (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids), and snail:

Porcelain Anemone crab appears to be dead, and pictures

While investigating my tank by flashlight, I found what appear to be the remains of the Porcelain Anemone crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai). Specifically, I can see the claws, hollowed out. I still wonder if I have an aggresor in my tank.

Removed the bag of the carbon rods (that come with the Nano Cube) from the filter area.

Bumble-bee Snail (Family: Pusiostoma) and a hitch-hiker snail (top right, stripped):

I know its difficult to see, but this a two-tentacled Hair worm (Spionids), its tube is made of debris "glued" together.



Orangeclaw Hermit Crab (Calcinus tibicen) and a hitch-hiker snail (bottom left, stripped):



Small (perhaps 1") bristle worm:



The "remains" of some of the pulsing xenia (Xeniid) as it "moved" over some of this brown kelp, has now grown into a small stalk of its own right.



Star Polyp colony (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids):



Sponge (from Josh):



Orangeclaw Hermit Crab (Calcinus tibicen):