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FAQs about Live Rock Hitchhiker/Creature Identification 14

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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 12 LR ID 13, LR ID 15, LR ID 16, LR ID17 LRID 18, LRID 19, LRID 20, LRID 21, LRID 22, LRID 23, LRID 24, LRID 25, LRID 27, LRID 28, LRID 29, LRID 30, LRID 31, LRID 32, LRID 33, LRID 34, LRID 35, LRID 36, LRID 37, LRID 38, & Non-Vert IDs 1, Tubeworm ID, Polychaete Identification, Live Rock 1, LR 2LR 3, LR 4, LR 5, Curing Live Rock, Live Rock Selection, Shipping/Moving, Placement, Lighting, Water Quality, Live Rock Studies in Fiji Collaboration & ChartsCopper UseMarine Landscaping, Marine BiotopeSumps, RefugiumsFaux Rock,

Creature ID/FAQ Direction... Oculinid Resurrection! -11/25/07 Top of the morning WWM Crew, I have browsed the site looking for some assistance with an ID. I originally purchased 2 pieces of Live Rock that were barren at the time, and since they have literally sprouted with some interesting anemone looking creatures. The first two attached are of the darker rock, upon which 15-20 tiny purple based with greenish tip organisms have appeared. They do not appear to have mouths like an anemone would, but they seem to be of the same consistency based on how they move with the water flow in the tank. The second set of pictures of are the lighter rock. I was unable to snap a picture of the backside of this rock, but many completely clear more pointed organisms are starting to emerge out of these 'chambers'. Any assistance would be appreciated, I would like to read more about these organisms, get up to speed on whats in the tank! <Haha, that's not just live rock my friend, that's coral! Apparently, whoever sold it to you thought the coral was dead and so sold it to you as "rock." But the coral (a Galaxea sp. from the looks of it) is now coming back (and spectacularly so). Congratulations! :)> Happy Holidays, -j <Gracias, y tu tambien, Sara M.>

Re: Creature ID/FAQ Direction -11/25/07 Ahhh Excellent! Thanks so much for your assistance I will read up ASAP. I did not think my 2-t8 32 watt bulbs would be sufficient to foster coral growth (55 gal tank) <Well, actually, Galaxea sp. don't need much light.> But they seem to be multiplying rapidly! <It's pleasantly surprising to me too. Especially since, if it was sold as live rock, there must not have been much more than a few bits of live tissue left. We know that, theoretically, corals can come back from even just a tiny "drop" of live tissue. But it's exciting to see it actually happen (especially when you're not even trying or don't even know it's there! lol). May I ask, what do you feed the tank? It might be helpful for people attempting to revive such dying corals to know more about your system. And please don't be shy... if your nitrates are through the roof or something, please share anyway. It's always interesting, when someone has this kind of great, unexpected success, to know all about the conditions under which it happened. :)> Diligent research incoming, thanks again! -j <Very good, but before you think about changing anything, please keep in mind that whatever you've been doing, it's been working for this coral. Best, Sara M.>

Re: Creature ID/FAQ Direction  11/26/07 Haha! Yes, I found both pieces in a live rock bin at a LFS, walked out with both for under $20. The darker rock has propagated quite a bit in the short amount of time it has been in the tank (1 week). The lighter rock is beginning to sprout the clear organisms I spoke about. Is the lighter rock a Galaxea Coral as well? <Well, it was at one time. It's hard to say if there's anything living left on it. I'm sorry I was unable to see the "clear organisms" you were referring too. It *could* be bleached out coral tissue. But I honestly don't know without a better picture (and preferably with the unknown thing circled).> Nothing to be ashamed about, I'll post the stats. I also attached a picture of the tank. I don't see anything out of the ordinary with my setup, is it normally difficult to "revive" these type of corals? <In my experience, it can be a difficult thing to do when you're deliberately trying to do it. But, as you can see (and as has happened to me too), sometimes they just come back without much aquarist effort at all. Corals are just weird that way sometimes (or they seem so because of how little we really understand about them).> 55 gal 2 t8 32 watt bulbs (actinic and full spectrum) Fluval canister filter with activated carbon. 3 Maxi-Jet 1200 Powerheads Inhabitants - O. Niger Trigger, Maroon Clown, Longnose Butterfly. Assorted Hermits and Snails. Cleaner Shrimp. Tank parameters Gravity - 1.023 PH - 8.3 Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 0 Temp - 78 <Your salinity and temp are a little low (1.025 and 80-82F would be better). But like I said, whatever you're doing is working so I wouldn't change anything too quickly.> I feed defrosted Mysis shrimp once daily soaked in Selcon. <Hmmm... maybe the Selcon is helping? The strong water flow certainly doesn't hurt.> I was not planning on changing anything (if its not broke....) but I was curious if I needed to supplement feedings/care requirements of the coral. Will research the FAQs. -j <Here are some links to help you out: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/oculinidae.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/galaxycfaqs.htm http://wetwebfotos.com/Home?actionRequest=articleView&articleID=299 http://www.asira.org/galaxea They're actually not considered "easy" corals to keep. They feed on small particle food and, when healthy, can be extremely aggressive. If/as this coral continues to grow/thrive, it will probably need to be feed more and maybe given some space. But as they say in AA... best to take it "one day at a time." :-) Good luck and thank you for sharing about your coral/system, Sara M.>

Live rock, White Squiggles... Possibly Spiral Tube Feather Dusters (Spirorbis spp.) 11/17/2007 Hey there, <Hi there, Mich here.> I noticed some white "worms" imbedded in my live rock when setting up salt water tank and now, 5 months later, they have what looks like very faint, very tiny, light pink "flowers" coming out of each "worm". These white "worms" are hair-like and 1/4 inch long. The worms don't seem to move and are still imbedded on the rock. The "flowers" seem to retract when a fish touches them. They are mostly on one or two rocks. What are these? Are they baby feather duster worms? <Likely so. Sounds like spiral tube feather dusters (Spirorbis spp.) You can see one not terribly clear image here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailid12.htm > And a better pic here: http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_fauna_sci-Invertebrate&enlarge=0000+0000+0805+0709 > I have a polyp growing on the same rock, I hope they are friendly to each other. <Should be if this ID is correct.> I am looking forward to watching these grow!!! <Yay!> Thanks! Tara <Welcome! Mich>

Help With Identification of Something Growing on Rock... A Sponge 11/9/07 Hi, <Hi Carlos, Mich here.> Thanks for the great web site... <On behalf of Bob and the crew, you're welcome!> it has been a great source over the last year with my reef thank. <Glad to hear!> My tank is doing quite well and appears healthy, but I have had this rock with mushrooms on it for about 9 months. I have noticed over the last few months a yellowish green substance filling some of the crevices. It is semi-transparent almost gel like in appearance. I tried to scrape it off a couple of weeks ago while cleaning the tank but it is actually quite hard to the touch. I have enclosed a photo and outlined it in blue. As you can see there is a tubeworm that is being covered by this substance. Any ideas on what it might be? <Yes, is a sponge. Impossible to identify much beyond this without microscopic analysis.> My tank is about a year old. 36-gallon corner tank. 65 pounds of live rock 30 pounds of live sand refugium with Chaeto and two small rocks with zillions of Mysis shrimp and pods. <Yay!> 2 Montipora 1 Acropora 1 small hammer coral 1 frogspawn pearl bubble coral xenia sp open brain plate coral 3 Ricordea mushrooms tube worm...going on a year 2 small percula clowns 1 Royal Gramma 1 Randall goby with pistol shrimp <Lots of potential for allelopathy in such a small system! Hope you're doing frequent water changes!> pH 8.1-8.2, temp 79-80, ammonia, nitrite at 0, nitrate fluctuates 0-15, Calcium at 390-420, Alk at 4.0, sp grav approx 1.027 <A bit high> Thanks for your help.
Carlos

White powder on live rock  10/2/07 Hi, <Hello there> I have a 55 gallon tank with sump and remora skimmer, 50 lbs LR, newer tank with only 6 snails, two percula clowns, and a banner cardinal. Water parameters are Amm-0, Nitrite-0, Nitrate-2ppm, phosphate-0, calcium-460, dKH-7, sp. gravity 1.024, ph 7.8. I have been using oceanic salt with I think explains the high calcium and low dKH. <Not unlikely> I perform 20% H20 changes per week. I recently had a diatom bloom, which began to subside. <Will in time> I noticed that green micro algae and even small amounts of pink coralline algae started to grow on rocks previously covered in brown diatom. However, today I noticed white powdery substances covering portions of live rock where algae growth was previously noted. Could this be die-off occurring on the live rock. <Yes... and growth of other organisms... that are whitish> The live rock was fully cycled when initially placed in the tank. <Mmmm, okay> The tank instantly cycled without ever having any measureable ammonia or nitrite, so I didn't think this would happen. The white material easily blows off the rock when a powerhead is aimed at it. Any ideas what this could be? Photos are attached. Thank You, Sean <Is largely a mix of biological and physical "settling" of materials from processes to be expected in a new system... I would increase circulation, "blast" the bulk of it off with your pumping device/s... and not sweat its presence for now... It too will pass. Bob Fenner>

Live rock... life IDs    8/18/07 I am just interested what might burrow into live rock. Recently I have found several holes in my live rock that all have a pile of sugar fine rock particles below the hole. Thanks. <Mmm, all sorts/phyla of organisms... likely crustaceans, worms or bivalves of some sort here. Bob Fenner>

LR hitchhiker ID... Pseudocorynactis sp. -- 07/23/07 Hi! <Hello again to the (fermented?) Jedi Master! Mich here.> Can't seem to find an id for this guy. It looks like an anemone, with a white center, pink around the center, translucent tentacles, and white tips. Please help! <The force is with you small green wise one! You have a Pseudocorynactis sp., likely an orange ball Corallimorph (Pseudocorynactis caribbeorum). They are generally nocturnal (like me) and not much is known about their care requirements. But they are quite pretty and I have been fortunate enough to have several survive in my tanks for a number of years. I wish you the same!> Thank you very much!
<You are quite welcome! Mich>

 

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