10gal Nano

[Limi310]

There be life!

OK, you might have to bear with me - since this is my first time, I am a little excited. But there is a worm thing living in one of the pieces of live rock! Sweet!

 

[lordroad]

Cool, does the worm kind of look like an aquatic centipede? Is it orange at the front and back?

There are many worms, but probably the most common is the bristle worm. Very few are harmful, and the most common kind are good dentrivores.

 

[Limi310]

No, it's not like that. It's like a pale grey (almost earthwormish) and one half of it is in the rock and the other half comes out and pokes around and stretches. It's so small I doubt I could get a picture of it. Hopefully it isn't anything bad

 

[tubbs24]

cool lookin tank!

 

[1979camaro]

may be a peanut worm

 

[aresgod]

spaghetti worm maybe? or there are some other ones that kind of look like the thing from star wars in the trash compactor...hehe, most are fine.

 

[Limi310]

I looked at a few pictures and I think it might be a tentacle (sp?) of a spaghetti worm.

I am going to the lfs tomorrow to look around at snails and crabs and such. Don't worry, I won't buy anything...lol. I just want to see what they have. I haven't had any algea or anything show up yet. Monday will only be the close of week 1. However my params do seem to be looking good so far...no ammonia or nitrite.

 

[Zman16]

Nice Tank! Looks better than mine!

 

[Limi310]

Well I went to the lfs today to return a light bulb and while I was there I picked up about 1 more lb of cured LR, so that brings me to 11lbs. Actually one piece looks like a coral skeleton?

One piece looks like it has a little mushroom colony and nice coraline algea:

Another piece has a small polyp (it was extended up on it's 'stalk' earlier, but seems to have retreated a little:

Here is a whole tank shot:

Now here comes the problem..........I inspected each piece in the store, but unfortunatly a piece of aiptasia seems to have gotten by. When I placed all the rock in the tank, I sat starting at it for a bit and the thing rose out of a hole in the rock. AARRRGGGHHH!!! So what should I do? There is nothing living in the tank....if I don't add anything, will it just starve and die?......should I take the rock out and let it sit and dry out? I've read about Joe's Juice....but with nothing else in the tank yet is there another easier way. I read another thread by lordroad, I think, where the offending piece was just boiled. Obviously this will kill what's on/in the rock....there is some nice coraline algea......what would YOU do?? Is this a sign that the rock was in poor quality water at the lfs?

 

[aresgod]

I would get some joe's juice...they will multiply quickly, I am not sure but i think you can use vinegar as well...check with someone else on that...., joe's juice is probably the easiest thing at this point however.

 

[Limi310]

dang it......Joe's Juice is now on order...hope it gets here soon......stupid 'premium' LR at the lfs. Should have just stuck to the regular stuff.

 

[Mushroomman]

aiptasia can come on any type of rock, I got some on a few pounds of carribean rubble I picked up, fiji, tonga, etc

 

[Limi310]

lol...I know, I'm just mad because I bought it yesterday. Today it seems to be all over this piece of coral skeleton. Oh well, Joe's Juice is on the way.

GUESS WHAT? I have a Feather Duster Worm!!! Cool!! *thumbsups

Edit: Nice new avatar btw MMan

 

[Limi310]

Lighting

YAY! I received my light today (too bad I am at work and can't go play with it)
So I have a few questions:

I've been lighting in the evening with the standard 15watt bulb that the tank came with from probably around 6pm until 10 or 11pm.

Now that I have my 96watt light can I start lighting 10 hours a day, or do I have to increase the lighting time in increments? I read somewhere that you should start 2 hours, then 4 hours, then 6. I don't really know why you would have to do that, so I was just wondering. Also with more powerful lighting should I now start to see some algea form (diatom) I haven't had any so far. And I am assuming I have to wait for that before I get a clean up crew? Or do you think it would be too early to get some snails this weekend?
If there is no algea I can just feed them right?

I haven't checked my water params in a few days - but last time everything was 0 except for nitrate.
(Monday will be exactly 2 weeks)

Thanks Everyone!

 

[wayne]

Because if you have any photosynthetic organisms the hop from 15 to 96 watts will give some pretty hard metabolic problems.

And yes, expect an algae bloom if you aren't on top of waste control

 

[Limi310]

Thanks Wayne...that makes sense. Since there isn't anything in there though, I shouldn't have a problem right? Well, there are those mushrooms......

Well I got the Joe's Juice today and nuked all the aiptasia....that stuff is awesome.
Also got my light - man this thing is bright!!! It lights up my whole living room. Here is an updated picture of the tank with light. (Not that exciting I know)
So anyone think it's too early to get a couple snails?? Maybe Sunday after a water change?

Oh yeah....now there are 2 feather duster worms!

 

[Limi310]

Hitchhiker Update

I was looking in my tank today with a flashlight and there are amphipods!!!

Hitchhikers so far are:
2 spaghetti worms (I think)
2 small feather duster worms
Small coral mushroom colony
Amphipods
and 1 itty bitty snail that I saw on the glass just a few minutes ago.

SW is great - you never know what you are going to find

 

[Lorna]

I am setting up a 10g nano and am following your progress, I think I will look into that light.......sounds good.....So far all I have are 10lbs of live rock, sand and added 3 hermits, 5 nassarius, 1 turbo and 1 cerith from my 75g to clean up any algae. Just thinking what kind of fish I want to put in it.

 

[stagger19]

Your tank looks awesome. Im doing a 12 gallon. Same footprint size just a tad higher.

I have the same light but with out the leg kit.
Do u have a problem with the light over heating the water? Ive had mine sitting right ontop on my glass canopy and it drives the water temp up to 82 after a few hours. I think I will have to get a leg kit.

-Rich

 

[Limi310]

Thanks
I only just got the light yesterday, but haven't really noticed it affecting the temp...it's stayed stable while I've had the light on. I do have it up on those legs too though.