14 gal bio cube...Hidden predator?

star27624

star27624

Member
Ok so I took all of my live rock out earlier today and put it into buckets of hyperSW. Found some funky pieces of algae that I picked off, but didn't get any critters out. I let it soak in the hyperSW for a while and held each piece out of the water ~30sec or so then dunking it back in for a few sec and holding it out again multiple times. I am definitely missing hermits and snails in addition to the cleaner shrimp. So I am at a total loss as to what to do now.

I put the pieces back in that I had prior to this and left the pieces of the rock that I think it came in on in my bucket with a heater. I did lower the spg back to normal, so that I won't kill it if it is in there still. I'm gonna put a piece of krill in there later and one in my tank wedged up against a rock to see if it will appear tonight. Elsewise, ???????
I did get something cool at the LFS today. I got a two small pieces of green star polyp for just a couple of bucks. These pieces have between 5 and 7 polyps each.
I think I will keep the larger of the 2 in this tank and take the smaller one to work Monday to put in my little tank there. I think that the light I have for it (work) is strong is enough for it.
I also added a korilia 1 that I had gotten on sale earlier in the week. I like the added flow to the tank, but it seems really big in my tank. I had wanted the nano, but it was sold out and the price for the 1 was less than the nano would have been.
 
star27624

star27624

Member
Originally Posted by rtspeed
http:///forum/post/2840274
If I had to guess where he was in your rocks I think i would start here as it looks like door way to his burrow.
Also don't be afarid of getting hit by one that you can;t see as it will hurt like a be sting or less its just the shock that gets you at first. As for a Hemisquilla californiensis which I have been hit by which is a pretty big species about a foot and this is what happened

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You picked out the rock that I think he came in on. That is one half of it anyway.
Considering I just took a pretty good burn (all of index finger and about half of middle finger, pretty blister today) from something deciding to superboil in the microwave yesterday, not really worried about getting speared by this thing. Doubt it will hurt more than the burn does.
The one that got you though, OUCH!!
Oh, and the chemistry teacher is going to come out
... Sorry... high is hyper and low is hypo. FYI...
 
gmann1139

gmann1139

Active Member
Originally Posted by star27624
http:///forum/post/2840771
Doubt it will hurt more than the burn does.
Burn + Saltwater =
already.
I never thought of getting a mantis in a nano. I've only seen peacocks for sale that were several inches long, so I couldn't imagine them hiding in a piece of rock small enough to get into a nano.
Good luck man.
 
star27624

star27624

Member
Originally Posted by gmann1139
http:///forum/post/2840794
Burn + Saltwater =
already.
I never thought of getting a mantis in a nano. I've only seen peacocks for sale that were several inches long, so I couldn't imagine them hiding in a piece of rock small enough to get into a nano.
Good luck man.
Saltwater actually pretty good for helping burns and other boo boos heal.
I never thought of all the potential hitch hikers out there that I'd end up with this problem from a 1lb piece of rock that was bought to stabilize another piece.
 
star27624

star27624

Member
I still haven't found this critter, and my damsel is major stressed out today. Was hiding in the rock until I turned off the Korilia 1, way to much for this size tank IMO. Damsel was acting kind of like he couldn't get enough O2.

Good news is that one of the MIA narssarius snails reappeared. Did see an odd critter scurrying in my rock earlier. Not sure if it is a type of pod or what, and of course the camera wasn't at hand and it went back into hiding. If it is a pod, pretty big, close to a half of an inch long with tiger stripes and quite a few legs. (I half expect some to reply that this thing is what I have been trying to find)
I haven't had anything show up in the bucket where I left the one piece of rock that I think it came in on, nor have I heard it since the cleaner shrimp went MIA.
Anyone have any other ideas on how to find this thing? I can't believe that I am having more trouble with this tank than I am with my little repurposed tank at work.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Don't look specifically at the color match, just the shape of the critter and the pattern. This is a tiger banded mantis shrimp by the way, yours if you indeed have one may have the colors different but the overall shape is that of a mantis.
 
star27624

star27624

Member
I have not seen the little critter again. I had thought the first time I saw it (prior to things going wonky as I have decided this little misadventure will be termed) that it was one of those tiger/tigger pods. However, I am unable to find the same picture that had led me to that conclusion. All of the recent pictures I have seen of the tiger/tigger pods do not resemble this guy at all. So not sure if it is the culprit. Of course, can't get a picture of it since I never have the camera at hand when it does come out.
Not sure what keeps knocking the my green star polyps down. Every day they seem to be somewhere other than where I put them. Funny thing is even if they are half upside down they still come out. Oh went to LFS the other day to get food for the corals, and decided that there was way too many options. Recommendations?
Good news is that the Damsel is acting more normal tonight. Been 2 days since I unplugged the korila 1. I am wondering if it was maybe putting out an electrical pulse? I am going to check into getting a better pump and splitting the ???? (part that comes out in the tank) in 2.
Oceanic emailed yesterday and is supposed to be sending me the new fan at least. I hope they do and it comes in soon.
 
rtspeed

rtspeed

Member
Okay lets start by saying he is still in there, just give him time they can go for some time with out making noise and or eating. Especially if he is molting right now as it takes them longer to heal up then normal inverts.
The green star polys I am going to say if you have any snail of hermits they are doing it, use some reef epoxy or super glue the gel type to scure them.
Well food choice goes by what your tanks stocking list is, I used rods food and mysis shrimp, formula 1, speriulun brine. It all up to you but remember fish are like humans! there is a great abundence of food in the ocean and its always different so mix and match your foods at feeding time. As you don't want to eat the same thing everyday, either do they. Coral food I use phyto fest, phyto2,marine snow and as a treat i hatch fresh baby brine shrimp.
Okay just a suggistion but buy the hydro ratoting thing for the pump outlet then you get flow in every direction as it turns, also its cheap from Dr.f

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website. And i highly doubt that you are getting current from the korila as the motors are completely epoxyed in place and sealed. But a easy way to tell is to take a volt meter stick the positive in the water and the negitve to the ground or netural of a outlet and set the meter on the lowest setting and see if there is a spike in power as you turn on different pieces of equipment. Also i run 2 korila 1 in my 29 with a wavemaker and the tank loves it. But with you having a 14 and a flow of well over 450gph thst might be a bit much for such a small tank. Look into the AZOO powerheads nice little compact power heads with a good amount of flow, I would say the step up from the smallest with the hydro and your set.
And finally oceanic has very good customer service and then fan will come just give it alittle time.
 
star27624

star27624

Member
So I had picked up a little rock with yellow polyps, a couple of zoas (I think) and some brown polyps at the LFS today.
I was arranging this and another new rock (which I discovered has tiny pinkish purple polyps that I have no idea as to what these maybe) in my tank, and knocked a piece of LR onto my feather duster
. So I got it off and was checking the feather duster out, to my surprise, all I had was an empty tube! I am so not happy.
So I share pictures of the new stuff here and post it to corals as well to ID the ones I am not sure of.


 
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