Live rock

[xrayman]

Just got some gulf life rock today it is great full of life and wierd critters.I think there may be a clam on it do they open or require anymaintance great hitch hikers to a snail brisstle star and who knows what else.I'm excited about this rock great colors.

 

[tracklighter]

Congratulations. I have at least 15 mussels/clams on the rocks. I haven't done anything special for them so far. They do spit out a streak of mucous looking stuff once in a while. You will see them open and close.
I hope you looked for the nasty crabs and mantis before putting the rocks in the tank. If you haven't done it already, I would think about pulling the rock out now and look in the crevices for the little jerks. See my post about having to pull the rocks out.
Be careful not to pull out the good guys...porcelain crabs. I have about 15 of these guys as hitch hikers. Very cool.

 

[xrayman]

What do mantis shrimp look like are they very noticeable?What are the little things on the rock that come in and out they look like littlle sweepers coming in and out?I didn't notice any mantis shrimp i hope.

 

[jonthefb]

the little sweeper things that open, sweep and close are barnacles. harmless filter feeders! good luck
jon

 

[tracklighter]

Do a search on mantis. I don't remember the link that has the pic of them, but it has been posted many times. They are actually beautiful creatures.

 

[thomas712]

Mantis shrimp pics coming up + a very helpful link
http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/
Thomas

 

[xrayman]

Does this rock do good in the long run?I mean as far as die off causing things to go wrong in tank.I never have seen alot posted on here about this type of rock.

 

[tracklighter]

There is some die off, but that is to be expected. Was the rock already cured? If so, there will be a lot less die off. The rock should do just fine in the long run if you are patient.

 

[xrayman]

Will die off effect the tank any as far as throwing things off?

 

[tracklighter]

You should test the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate to see if you have created a mini cycle.

 

[xrayman]

How long after the rock is put in do i need to test for that?

 

[tracklighter]

I recall you put it in a couple days ago. Also can you refresh my memory on what you have in your tank? If you just have live rock in there, I wouldn't worry about it. Just let the tank cycle through.

 

[chercik]

I'm about to add about 20 pounds of LR to a 44 gallon that has been established for a awhile. Should I put it all in at one time or over a couple of days?

 

[xrayman]

I have some mushrooms,button polyps a couple of tangs, tangs,colt coral and 2 damsels i put rock in saturday everything seems fine in tank.My tank is about 4 years old.I only put about 5 lbs in a small amount.I nave about 50lbs of fiji rock.

 

[xrayman]

Went ahead and checked amonia and nitrite and both are the big 0.

 

[dive1]

Been there done that....I suggest you place in another tank for a while... I started out doing that since I live on the coast and dive a lot...Ended up with a lot of unwanted hitchikers....Took long time to weed out and they did a lot of damage...Some crabs are very small and hide very well. You will be months untill they get big enough to find...by then I had to tear down the whole tank twice to get most of them out... Still have one crab I have not cought and it has been over a yr....Do what you want just beware and be carefull.....good luck ... terry

 

[tracklighter]

If the ammonia and nitrite are 0 looks like you are good. You may want to check the nitrate. If trates are high I would do a water change....how much of a change depends on the amount of nitrates. I am sure you know this already.