Need Help, New to Saltwater

[spcwlkr]

The Basics: I have a 20 gal tank and so far have 12 pounds of live rock in it, with the live sand, using an AquaClear 50 filter, Been up and running about 3 weeks now. Anyhow my question is I have just noticed this morning I have all these little white specs moving around on the back of the tank rather quickly in the bit of alge that has already built up. Any clues what they might be, if they are good or bad in there, if bad how do I get rid of them? I do have other natural things in the rock aswell. The other thing im not sure what it is, I keep seeing these like tenticles pop out from the cracks in the rock, they seem to have very light colored stripes on them. Same thing, good or bad?
Thanks alot, I hope to learn some good stuff from people on here

 

[novahobbies]

The "little white specks" on the back of your tank are copepods and other harmless lil' critters. They're beneficial detrivores in the best of times, mild observational nuisances at the worst of times. IOW, they're good guys. Don't worry about 'em.
The mystery striped tentacles could be a number of things, probably harmless. Small serpent starfish often hide in the cracks and crevices of live rock, only extending an arm or two now and again when they sense food. Could be that, could be a worm of some kind (99% are harmless), could be a small sea cucumber in the rock. Does the tentacle have feathery appendages on it, or is it a smooth, wormlike thing?
Welcome to saltwater keeping, the hobby where a person can stare for an hour at a simple rock...and still be entertained.

It's really amazing how much life you're gonna find on your LR!

 

[spcwlkr]

At the most I only see 2 of them pop out, looks like I migh thave 2 in there. They are really small right now and hard to tell what they look like. I also see to have 3 small corals on the rock aswell, I was able to locate them on the website. Pretty cool, I am excited. I'm gonna have it setup more as a reef type idea.

 

[ashleigh234]

Originally Posted by novahobbies
http:///forum/post/3162326
Welcome to saltwater keeping, the hobby where a person can stare for an hour at a simple rock...and still be entertained.

It's really amazing how much life you're gonna find on your LR!
I would have to agree with this

When i set up my first tank and it was in the cycle stage, i would even stare at the tank ... and all that was in it was rock

 

[spcwlkr]

I know what my mystery tenticles are. It looks like a Serpent Starfish from what I can tell. I had to do some digging in my tank because I found a BAD crab in some of the live rock, so I had to get rid of that and in the process I disturbed this starfish. Now I am currious, i will have to redo my rocks in the morning, if I happen to touch the starfish by mistake its not gonna hurt me will it?