Identification Please

asp762

asp762

Member
I saved some livestock from being flushed down the toilet today. My friend wanted me to take his livestock today or else he was going to flush them. I told him I could take the little coral he had, turbo snails, and his damsels. Upon picking up these items, I went to my LFS to give away the five damsels as I cannot support them in my tank just yet, nor do I want to.
Please let me know if I should keep either of these creatures or give them back to the store. I don't know their names scientific or otherwise, so I am not sure how to look up information on their proper care.
Also, I have a question: Is fiberglass mesh (window screen) reef safe ? I am using that as a cover, so my fish won't jump out of the tank.
I have a 55 gallon acrylic aquarium with 3 green cromis and 35 lbs of live rock. I just installed a metal halide lighting system today. All my water parameters are excellent at the moment.
What I have added today:
2 turbo snails
&
A Mushroom
Mystery guests: What type of anemone is this? Should I keep it or get rid of it?

I'm aslo curious what that is to the right of the anemone.

Turbo Snails
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
In the first picture, that's actually not an anemone, that is a Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral that belongs to the family Euphillia. It's called a "Torch Coral" Be aware that it has stinging cells called "Nematocysts" that may sting nearby corals to death.
The second pic on the right looks like common button polyps... ... a species of zoanthid. They are closed up - once they get used to your water parameters, they will open up.
Since you already have corals in the tank, May I ask... what is your current lighting fixture? How many hours per day and what are you feeding the tank?
If you don't already have a quality test kit, I suggest you buy one... I prefer Salifert or Seachem, but I am guilty right now of using API for my calcium, alkalinity and pH tests.
If you are just new to the hobby, which I assume is true... ... you might need to start reading about reef tanks, water chemistry, water quality and water flow. At this point, do not buy any fish that are not reef safe.
Oh, and here's a link to a very helpful thread: https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/388776/guides-for-new-hobbyists
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
By the way, welcome to the forums man! I hope you enjoy your stay and I hope that you share many, many more pictures of your aquarium and hobby with us. Please, I invite you to become part of our little community here. I'd love to get to know you and your tank better. :D
If you would like, I encourage you to start a "Build thread" if you haven't already - that way we can get all the information about your tank in one place.
Your tank looks really pretty already, by the way. Could you give us a full tank shot? I would like to see your aquascape!
 
asp762

asp762

Member
Thank you so much. I am new indeed.
I have the Odyssea Metal Halide 2 250 watt, 2 T5HO, and 6 LEDs lighting system... currently I have the ballasts to run only the 250 watt lights. So, my 2 T5HO, 6 LEDS, and cooling fans are all OFF... My first order of business is to fix that.
I just upgraded the lighting system today because it was selling for $200. Although, I could have probably done better with the lighting. I hear Odyssea is poop. Keeping the temperature down is proving to be a mother trucker!
I feed brine shrimp, but I received a packet of frozen mysis, squid, algae, mussels, and brine combined in the cubes. I have been feeding 2-3 times a day, everyday. These green cromis are absolutely ravenous.
I am running a 305 fluval and two hydor koralia powerheads at 550 gph each.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
That's cool. Yeah, I'm not a big fan of Oddysea myself. Temperature is always a problem with metal halides. I'm glad you are feeding well... but be careful! Too much can cause high nutrient problems / algae issues!
By the way, ... I'm cool with cussing, but many other people aren't on this site. The mods like to keep it a "family friendly atmosphere" if you know what I mean. We have a lot of young and impressionable minds on this site. lol I personally don't care what you say... I just don't want you to get in trouble!
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
FYI u could just get a lil $8 clip on fan from hellmart if u wanted too for now.
Kool tank and +1 on the ID's
Welcome and love the chromis! Deff a regular fish in the hobby but one of my fav's!
 
asp762

asp762

Member
Roger. Fixed. Thanks for lookin' out.
Also, I have heard that fiberglass window screen is reef safe. Is this is true? I have it covering my tank so no fish superman out of my tank.
One last Q, for now... I have two 2x4s holding up my lighting system over the tank since I cannot hang it from the ceiling (fan is in the way). Will I wake up on fire one of these nights since the tank is right next to my bed? They are lengthwise facing the front of the tank and on either edge of the lighting structure. I was out sawing the 2x4s today in 102F weather, and sweat my testicles off doing it. Please tell me this was not in vain. BTW: You can see the 2x4 makeshift stand in the above pic!
I found a small fan.... I just need to figure out how to rig it so it blows over between the tank and the light fixture. 550 cord to the rescue. Luckily my tank maxed out at 83F before cooling down.
As far is feeding is concerned, I use a small metallic strainer and dump water on the food until it is thawed out before serving. It works awesome to get rid of that other crud in the food cube that is nasty.
More pics inbound.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yeah, window screening that is not metal will work. There's also the possibility of using Eggcrate as well.
I can't advise you on anything to have to do with possible fires or hazards. All I can say... to cover MY butt... is that you should mount your lighting system in a properly sized and built aquarium canopy. LOL.
If you would, could you post pictures of your lighting system/ what your talking about so that I can at least look at it?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Never mind, I kind of see what you are talking about in that pic.
... I dunno. I mean, if it were me - I'd try to find something better - and quick.
Do you have a GFCI Unit on your power outlet?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Well, my first step would be to get a GFCI on your tank.
Step two would be to find a hanging kit for your metal halide fixture.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
By the way, ... look at what I have been doing in the heat for the last few days....
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/392517/8x2-stand-and-canopy-re-finish
 
asp762

asp762

Member
I don't envy you. That is a project for sure.
As I was typing my zoanthid opened up! YAY!
I just read some of your guides, there is a goldmine of information in there. I need to find a turkey baiter... er baster for my corals.
Thanks for all the information. I will continue to make use of that search button.
I appreciate it, SnakeBlitz33.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Welcome to the forums!!!
Nice job taking all of the livestock in, its definitely a big task.
I have a feelin this thread is gonna look awe-some!
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Lol, not NEARLY as good (not even in the same galaxy) as Seth's articles... but.. here is my little attempt,

https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/a/easy-tips-for-new-hobbyists
 
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