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FAQs about Live Rock Hitchhiker/Creature Identification 12
Related Articles: Live Rock, Reef
Systems, Refugiums,
Related FAQs:
Live Rock, Answering Some LR FAQs by James Fatherree,
LR Hitchhiker ID 1, LR Hitchhiker ID 2,
LR Hitchhiker ID 3, LR Hitchhiker
ID 4,
LR Hitchhiker ID 5,
LR ID 6, LR
ID 7, LR ID 8,
LR ID 9, LR ID 10,
LR ID 11,
LR ID 13, LR ID 14,
LR ID 15, LR ID 16,
LR ID17 &
Non-Vert IDs 1, Tubeworm ID,
Polychaete Identification, Live Rock 1,
LR 2, LR 3, LR 4,
LR 5, Curing Live Rock,
Live Rock Selection,
Shipping/Moving, Placement,
Lighting, Water Quality,
Live Rock Studies in Fiji Collaboration &
Charts, Copper Use, Marine
Landscaping, Marine Biotope, Sumps,
Refugiums, Faux
Rock,
Chromodoris kuniei | .JPG)
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Live Rock, white Spots, and Brown Colors 3/10/07
Hello,
<Hi Kyle, Mich with you tonight.>
I've recently purchased some cured
live rock for my 110 gallon aquarium. It's been in my tank roughly two
weeks and the water conditions are perfect.
<Vague.>
Over the past few days I've had a white substance appear on a little
over half of my rocks... 40 lbs of rock, and some of it appears like a
spider web, and some of the white growths appear to be something similar
to salt you would see in the street after the snow dried up. The areas
affected are about half of an inch to an inch in diameter... Is this
good or bad?
<Most likely not a problem. Difficult to
identify anything with out a photo.>
Also, when I purchased a large
live rock, it was completely white, and now has turned brown.. is this
normal, good or bad?
<Again, a picture is worth a thousand words.>
I also have had little lime green spots appearing on the rock, it
appears to be algae growing on certain rocks... good or bad?
<Depends on the type of algae. Is time for you to start reading my
friend. Lots here and the related links in blue:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/liverock1.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i3/Live_Rock/live_rock.htm
Sorry for all the good or bad questions, I'm a little new to Live Rocks.
Yes, time to educate yourself. Please do some research on the site,
there is plenty of excellent info available. I would also recommend a
book by Robert M. Fenner titled "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. It
is an excellent book, especially for a beginner, but belongs on the
shelf of every saltwater hobbyist, in my opinion.>
Thanks for the
help, Kyle P.
<Welcome! -Mich>
Martian Pictures, Ascidians at least 02/17/07
Hello Crew!
<Marti>
I have learned an amazing amount of information by
reading and searching through your site - thanks for such a great
resource. I noticed that people often have questions about
"hitchhikers" on LR, and wanted to send you two good pics of
tunicates that may be found attached to them.
<Very nice images>
Based on information in your site, the translucent ones seem to be
Rhopalaea species (?R. crassa), but I am still not sure what species
the "green" Martians are. Can you help ID?
<Mmm, no... other
than that they are tunicates... Both indicative of your good care.>
Thanks again for a great resource!
Marti D.
<Thank you for
your kind words and sharing your images! Bob Fenner> |  .jpg)
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Live rock hitchhiker ID number one million... Zoanthid 2/12/07
<Hi Gino! Mich with you today.>
Like you don’t get enough of these
already.
<No problem! I am rather fond of them.>
I’ve very
excited to be a new FOWLR hobbyist.
<Welcome to the salty world my
friend!>
I’ve had my tank for several months now and my live rock
has sprung life from ugly worms to amazing feather dusters.
<Like
a swan!>
There are also colonies of tiny filter feeders that
resemble hairs with split ends.
<Cool!>
I do have something
rather interesting that I need some help
identifying so I can figure
out how to care for it. There is nothing on your site resembling the
characteristics of this thing that I could find. I’ve actually spent
months looking at pictures to no avail.
<Months!!! You are patient.>
It is about 5 millimeters long protruding nearly horizontally from the
edge of my live rock curving slightly upward while the lights are on and
it is fully blooming. Once the lights go out it takes several hours to
transform back into its fleshy stem leaving nothing but a puckered tube
half its potential size with no dish at the end. The dish at the end
appears to have thin, short radials and the center has a lightly-hued
bump. It doesn’t emit anything. It doesn’t move much with the
current. I don’t have spectacular lights. Just a 55gal with two hood
lights.
<Wow! You have managed to grow a zoanthid under Very low
light conditions. Lucky you!>
My emerald crab grabbed it by the stem
one day flattening it out and squeezing something delicious from the
tube and the expanded dish disappeared for a few days while it
reconstructed itself.
<Yes, emerald crabs are not strictly
herbivorous as many mistakenly think.>
Bubbles happen to pass right
through it and it seems to hug up closer to the side of the rock. I
mostly see it open as it appears in the photo, but sometimes at night I
see it all buttoned up as mentioned before. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.
<Sure please start read here and look at the linked
pages highlighted in blue at the top of this page:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zoanthid.htm >
Thank you,
<You're welcome! -Mich>
Gino | 
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Tube Worms 2/11/07
Hi,
<Hi Adrian, Pufferpunk here.>
I've a 55 gal tropical saltwater reef and fish tank. In the past couple
months, I noticed a lot of tiny, 0.5 cm, white tubes protruding from the
live rocks. What are they? Do I need to worry?
<Those are tiny
tube/feather duster worms. Beneficial filter feeders.
See:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/feather.htm~PP>
Thx, Adrian
Live Rock sprays out a mystery cloud. 2/5/07
<Hi
Jeff! Mich here.>
Thank you for your time.
<Welcome.>
My tank has been up and running for about 4 to 5 months
now and I have seen the most craziest thing today. I have a 46 gallon
tank with about 50 pounds of live rock. Only a few big rocks
though. The one with the mystery cloud is the heaviest, most solid rock
in there. My list of species is 1 Sand-Sifting Starfish,2 Clarkii
Clownfish, 2 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 3 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab, 3
Random Snails, 3 Random Feather Dusters, and plenty of life coming off
of the live rock. I have 2 Maxi-jet 600, a Penguin Powerfilter, and a
protein skimmer w/maxi-jet 1200 so I would say i got plenty of
circulation. Now this mystery cloud only happened for about 30 seconds
but it was enough to startle me. A cyclone started to come out of a
crevice of my big solid rock. It was enough to make the whole tank
cloud up. Like I stirred up the gravel or something. It was some kind
of cyclone of white dust or powder or something. It kind or looked
stringy or something. I just happened to see it start and I don't know
if its happened before. I have all my pumps hooked up to one power
switch so I was able to turn all my pumps off quickly and it still
continued. I am sure that this did not come from any of the currents
but from something else. What could be inside this rock? I immediately
did a 10% water change just incase there was some kind of poison and
everything seems to be fine but this really seemed out of the
ordinary. I went through many WetWebMedia.com articles but I didn't
even know where to start with this. Thank you for any help.
<I believe you witnessed a spawning event of some sort. I'm really not
sure what, as the possibilities are numerous. Not a bad thing. -Mich>
Jeff... P.S. Great Website
<Thanks!> Unknown
Possible Sponge on New Live Rock 1/30/07
Hi Bob or whoever
is in today.
<Hi Dave! You have Mich today.>
I have
purchased 100lbs. of Fiji live rock to start cycling my 135 gal. tank.
<Welcome to the salty world!>
It has been in the tank for 5 days now
and I noticed a white mushy looking thing on the rock.
<Oh! Lot of cool stuff come on/in/with the live rock! This was one of
my favorite parts of setting up a tank! Just seeing what kind of cool
creatures emerge! Hours of enjoyment staring at rocks... not everyone
understands this...be careful who you tell it to...they might question
your mental status... Hehee!>
It doesn't seem to be decaying or
rotting should it be removed or left in the tank.
<If it
doesn't seem like it's dying, I would let it be.>
The tank has been
running for 2 weeks with no rock in it. I presently have just a trace
of ammonia, there is a pic attached and the white thing is the highest
in the tank. <<Mich... gots to move the answered queries with pix to the
folder labeled... RMF>>
<Looks like it might be a sponge.>
Thank you in advance.
<You're welcome! Enjoy the process! -Mich>
Dave
UFO's on Live Rock 1/30/07
Hey guys love your site, it's
helped me so much.
<Glad to hear it!>
Here's the problem I
bought some live rock & of course it had passengers. In the picture
I've circled in red the 2 species that I cannot find anywhere. I
realize that one is a species of urchin, & the other is some kind of
anemone. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
<Search WWM re:
Aiptasia/pest anemones for the left and pencil urchin for the
right....Adam_J.> | 
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Red tree-like growth on LR 1/27/07
Hi. My 55 gallon
Saltwater tank has been set up for just over a year. I ordered 50#s
of live, uncured rock that was touted as "Caribbean table rock". It
was beautiful when it came in, but during the curing process lost
all of the "stuff" that was on it. I cured it by placing in a 60
gallon plastic tote for 3 weeks, with 2 powerheads and a thermometer
running constantly. Then moved it into my tank, added aragonite and
saltwater, then waited a month before adding cleaner crew. Now I'm
operational with about 90 #s of LR (a few more pieces from the LFS),
and I've built a sump. I'm really getting into it!
<Good>
Just before Thanksgiving I let the tank go for about 1 & 1/2 months;
lights went out, no water changes, etc. I had a massive hair algae
bloom which covered 1/2 of the tank, and grew to half a foot long in
some places (yuck!). However, along with the hair algae, some
beautiful bubbly Caulerpa grew, so when I built my sump, I moved the
Caulerpa down to the sump. The most curious thing is this red,
tree-like growth that was found underneath the clumps of hair
algae. It seemed to be shaded fully by the hair algae. It is very
"stiff" and "twig-like", and is attached to the Caribbean rock by a
single trunk. It is about 1 & 1/2 inches tall, by about the same
width at the widest part of the branches. A second one was also
found, but in the process of removing the hair algae I damaged the
second one and it didn't survive.
I have searched your sight to
exhaustion and can't find another picture of this item. Can you
please identify it? 2 pictures attached. Also, now that the hair
algae is removed, should I move this little guy down out of the
direct light?
<Mmm, not likely useful>
Running two 150W MH
(15K spectrum), two 96W power compacts (10K actinic) and two 36W
power compact 50/50s. Red tree is about 1 & 1/2 feet away from one
of the MH.
Thanks,
Barbara
<Very blurry... this is
likely either a red algae or a Bryozoan. Bob Fenner> | 
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What's this? (Or: Where's my macro-button on this camera?) 1/16/07
Hi guys,
<Hello, Carlos.>
I've been working on identifying this
item I have found on my LR. My guess is that it's tubiculous polychaete.
<I'm with you on this one. I only wish I could see it in the pic!>
Best description of it is a tube-like worm that is coiled at its base
and shoots out from the center. From the head, very fine string like
tentacles come out and then retract. It seems like recently numerous
ones have appeared on my LR.
<Sounds good to me.>
Should I be
concern<ed> that this is a nuisance critter or is this a benefit to the
tank. Thanks.
<Should not give cause to worry, Carlos. This just
means your LR is maturing. Enjoy!
-Graham T.> Strange
growth on live rock... 12/31/06
Hello,
<Hi
Jennifer, Mich with you tonight.>
We are saltwater tank novices, but
even the expert who helps us isn't sure what's growing on our live rock.
<Can be challenging.>
The best way to describe the new additions
is... little inverted
tear-drops... that are maroon/ dark purple in
color. The largest ones are about a centimeter tall. They are cropping
up all over the rock... individually... not clumped together.
<OK>
At first we thought it might be some kind of coral because it
was only on one piece of rock, but today I noticed some similar buds on
a second rock.
<This doesn't rule out coral.>
I've searched the
web for hours looking for something similar. Any ideas?
<I'm afraid
I can't help you with only the written info provided. You know the
saying a pictures worth a thousand words...this would help. Do you have
access to a digital camera with a macro feature (usually a little symbol
that looks like a flower for close up photos)? If so try to get a clear
macro shot and send it in. Someone should be able to assist you.>
Thank you,
<Welcome. -Mich>
Jennifer
LR Hitchhiker ID Question. 12/26/06
Hi Guys.
<Hi there! Mich with you tonight!>
To steal a line from The
Simpsons. Best... Site... EVER.
<Gee! Thanks Bart!>
I have
spent many, many, many hours over the past year or so reading on
your site and I can't even begin to tell you how much my corals
thank you.
<Please tell you corals they are quite welcome! But
I'm sure they are thanking you too, for learning about their care.>
After noticing a snapping sound coming from a tank which has lately
had a number of unexplained hermit crab deaths, I managed to catch
this pistol shrimp (I think that's what he is at least).
<Yep,
that's him. Family Alpheidae.>
It's approximately 1/4 inch in
length, which makes me wonder if it is even possible this little guy
could be my killer or if there is some other reason my cleanup crew
is dying.
<Really, that small? Looks bigger in the
photo. Seems awful tiny to be creating problems, though possible if
hungry enough/defending it's borrow.>
The tank is a 20g cube, 30
lbs LS, 35 lbs LR, 96 watts PC lighting. Livestock <and livestock
too, I'm guessing> is approx 20 hermits, 10 snails, 2 perculas
(babies, which will
graduate to my bigger tank as the grow)
and 3 bubble tip anemones (used to be 2, but one split).
<Careful with these, can cause problems and your water volume is
quite small it one decides to relocate into the filter intake.>
Water levels is <are> within normal limits and he <the> tank has
been up and running for approximately 6 months.
Any chance of
getting me an ID on this guy? I can't seem to find any photo that
matches him in the FAQ's and on associated sites.
<Family
Alpheidae. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pistolshrimps.htm Very
similar to the first photo, don't you think?>
Apologies for the
photo quality. It's the best I could do.
<No apologies! Decent
photo.>
Thanks and keep up the awesome work,
<Welcome! Thank you for these kind words. -Mich>
Dave Ploessel | 
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Re: LR Hitchhiker ID Question. 12/26/06
Thank you
for the quick reply Mitch!
<You are quite welcome. Hehehe,
Michelle with you today!>
Merry X-mas too.
<Season's best
to you also!>
I'd already seen the WWM page you directed me to
and noted the similarities, but was hoping to find the exact
specie. By doing photo searches using google on the web for every
specie in family Alpheidae I think I did finally find the exact
match though. He appears to be an Alpheus leviusculus - The only
photos I found on the web are at
http://www.meerwasser-lexikon.de/eng/59/1566
Alpheus/leviusculus.htm Looks to be it!
<I would agree!>
Unfortunately it's not a goby pairing shrimp, but I'm excited to
have him in my tank anyways, and he has been returned to his home.
<Very good!>
The size was correct too - he's less than 1/2 the
width of my smallest fingernail. That photo was just really blown
up!
<Yes.>
Apparently this particular flavor doesn't get
bigger than 0.79 inches.
<Just a tiny taste!>
Thanks for the
help and keep up the good work!
<I'm not sure how much help it
was, but you are most welcome. -Mich> |
Live rock "critters" question - 12/18/06
Hi folks,
and thanks for all the wonderful information.
<Hi Kevin, Mich
with you. You are very welcome, thank you for your kind
words. Glad you like the site.>
I have a 75 gallon LR tank
which I have had for 12 months (and previous owner had running for 2
years). From your site, I have identified most of the critters I
see at night, but still had a couple of questions:
<OK.>
Can
you have too many calcareous tubeworms? At night, their little red
feather dusters pop up all over the liverock (drawing attached)
<Would be a personal preference, can you be too rich or too
thin? Should not be a problem unless you view it as a problem.>
I'm also noticing more Chitons (pic attached). I initially noticed
them in the sump with my small, extra pieces of LR, but now see a
handful on the glass and more on the main tank LR. Can you have too
many of these?
<See above comment.>
I also have a myriad of
tubeworms, with most being pinkish, an inch or two long, and very
thin (diameter of the small, thin rubber bands). However, I also
have larger "worms". They are brown with a lighter underside,
segmented, about 1/2 the diameter of a pencil and up to 3-4 inches
long. They come out at night, stretch across the LR, and appear to
use a mouth to attach/ feed along the LR. They always retract back
into the LR when light hits them. They look almost like a dark
brown mealworm (b/c of segmentation) on steroids. I know these
aren't a problem but was wondering if they sounded like tubeworms,
or something else? Probably a dumb question...but there are so many
LR critters at night it's a little overwhelming for a relative
newbie.
<Kind of hard to tell from your description without a
photo. But peanut worms (Sipunculid) come to mind. Do they look
like this?
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/img/sipunculid.jpg
If so, they
are a harmless scavengers who feed on detritus.>
Sorry, no
pics...digital camera died. I promise not to ask any more critter
ID questions until my digital is fixed :)
<Get the camera
working! You know the saying... A picture is worth...>
Gracias!
<De Nada! -Mich>
-Kevin |  
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White sponge? Dead Coralline?? please help 12/16/06
Hey
Bob, Hope all is well. I have a three week old reef tank going.
Recently I have obtained some white buildup on my liverock, it is
somewhat hard but smooth... not too slimy like algae. I've done some
research (your website and LFS) and come to the conclusion that its one
of two things. Sponge which is spreading throughout my tank. Or
coralline algae which has died off.
<Mmm... likely a combo. of a bit
of these and "just" a warping population of decomposers... doing what
they do in such circumstances... Shades of Leeuwenhoek... (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Leeuwenhoek&spell=1),
I should be encouraging you to purchase a "cheap scope"... a plug here
for the QX series by Intel-Mattel... fabulous... and take a look/see at
this world>
At first I thought it the later. Reasoning that I DID
have a sudden decrease in salinity from about 1.0285 to about 1.026ish
in the matter of two days (now remedied with top-off unit). I am
interested in what you think it is and how best to fix it.
<... the
spg change? Is toward where you want to go/be... I'd stay with this...
adjust/make new water outside the system... close/match it...>
I've
been told to buy some "rock cleaner" and use a toothbrush to clean the
rock.
<Ohh! You mean fix the "crud" on the rock... Please read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lrcurefaqs.htm
"and the linked files
at top">
But I'm concerned that this will only make the sponge
spread (if indeed it is sponge)...
<A bit of this... but a whole
host of fungi, protozoans, worms...>
and I'd hate to remove the rock
from the tank in order to clean, but will do what is necessary. Here is
a couple more details about the tank just in case...and two links to
pictures of this nasty stuff.
ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate remain
0, KH steady @ 10, Ca steady @440,
<Mmm, I'd let the calcium drift
below 400 ppm...>
Ph 8.2-3, Phosphate .25, temp 78, two clown, one
blenny, two Chromis
<Already?>
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/nchher/aquarium/DSC03367.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/nchher/aquarium/DSC03364.jpg
Please help me get rid of this stuff!! Thanks so much!!
Scott Davis
<Keep monitoring water quality, do the occasional change out of some
water if deemed necessary, but mostly read where you've been referred...
and enjoy the process. BobF> | 
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