possible brittle worm issues?????
- Thread starter bbanks-bryant
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bbanks-bryant
New Member
My lighting is a Current "satellite" system. 2x65w Dual Daylight and 2x65w Dual Actinic
Been trying to figure out what kind of filtration I need. I know I need to upgrade. Any suggestions?
Been trying to figure out what kind of filtration I need. I know I need to upgrade. Any suggestions?
bbanks-bryant
New Member
Originally Posted by alix2.0
oh, i missed the other one. well i dont know much about them but if you keep different species of anemone in the same tank they will release chemicals "chemical warfare" into the water until one of them dies. also most anemones need really strong lighting like strong T5s or metal halides. plus in such a small tank with such a heavy bioload, water conditions are likely not good enough to keep them happy for long.
Both anemones have been in the tank for a while...a few months anyway.
oh, i missed the other one. well i dont know much about them but if you keep different species of anemone in the same tank they will release chemicals "chemical warfare" into the water until one of them dies. also most anemones need really strong lighting like strong T5s or metal halides. plus in such a small tank with such a heavy bioload, water conditions are likely not good enough to keep them happy for long.
Both anemones have been in the tank for a while...a few months anyway.
alix2.0
Active Member
you have the same amount of lighting i have. it is called power compact, and sadly it is not enough to support your anemones or definately your clam for long. i realize they have been in your tank for a while, but in this hobby, it is generally agreed that success is decided after 18-24 months. you inverts could be suffering, starving, or bleaching very slowly, but there is little to no doubt it is happening.
are you running a protein skimmer?
are you running a protein skimmer?
peef
Active Member
Do you test for nitrates, ammonia, or nitrites? I am just curious what they are if you have been feeding up to two times a day. Don't worry though your tank will be fine! Everything that Alix and Mie have said to you is correct as far as I know and good advice. Your LFS is just like mine, too bad to, it makes me sad. Good Luck!
bbanks-bryant
New Member
Originally Posted by peef
Do you test for nitrates, ammonia, or nitrites? I am just curious what they are if you have been feeding up to two times a day. Don't worry though your tank will be fine! Everything that Alix and Mie have said to you is correct as far as I know and good advice. Your LFS is just like mine, too bad to, it makes me sad. Good Luck!
My levels have been consistantly fine....even without a protein skimmer and only 1 small filter. I haven't had any issues with the levels going crazy at all (which is why I wasn't worried about feeding too much).
I've been feeding every morning and evening like clockwork and whenever I want to during the days I am home. I do stay on top of water changes though. Perhaps that has something to do with it...I obviously have no idea.
I am planning on adding more filtration real soon. Don't really know much about protein skimmers though.
ophiura
Active Member
That looks like detritus to me - basically waste. Possibly several things - lack of circulation, clean up crew, overfeeding, etc.
It is unlikely, IMO, your rocks are being "eaten." In fact, an increase in bristleworms would be correlated with increase in detritus...most bristleworms are scavengers so if you have excess food/waste around you will likely get more worms as a result (they have more food).
How much and how often do you feed?
(EDIT - I see sometimes twice a day? That is a lot, IMO, and could explain the detritus).
It is unlikely, IMO, your rocks are being "eaten." In fact, an increase in bristleworms would be correlated with increase in detritus...most bristleworms are scavengers so if you have excess food/waste around you will likely get more worms as a result (they have more food).
How much and how often do you feed?
(EDIT - I see sometimes twice a day? That is a lot, IMO, and could explain the detritus).
bbanks-bryant
New Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
That looks like detritus to me - basically waste. Possibly several things - lack of circulation, clean up crew, overfeeding, etc.
It is unlikely, IMO, your rocks are being "eaten." In fact, an increase in bristleworms would be correlated with increase in detritus...most bristleworms are scavengers so if you have excess food/waste around you will likely get more worms as a result (they have more food).
How much and how often do you feed?
(EDIT - I see sometimes twice a day? That is a lot, IMO, and could explain the detritus).
I'm now cutting back on the food in hopes that will help. Obviously they aren't eatting it all anyway. It does seem to be happening only in the corner of the tank where there is a lack of circulation (directly underneath the powerhead).
I am concerned about aggression with cutting back on food though.
That looks like detritus to me - basically waste. Possibly several things - lack of circulation, clean up crew, overfeeding, etc.
It is unlikely, IMO, your rocks are being "eaten." In fact, an increase in bristleworms would be correlated with increase in detritus...most bristleworms are scavengers so if you have excess food/waste around you will likely get more worms as a result (they have more food).
How much and how often do you feed?
(EDIT - I see sometimes twice a day? That is a lot, IMO, and could explain the detritus).
I'm now cutting back on the food in hopes that will help. Obviously they aren't eatting it all anyway. It does seem to be happening only in the corner of the tank where there is a lack of circulation (directly underneath the powerhead).
I am concerned about aggression with cutting back on food though.
t316
Active Member
Originally Posted by bbanks-bryant
So what do I do then? The LFS just aren't helping me much on this. I guess that's the price you pay for being in a small town
Maggie Valley might be small but I love that place
Is that the worm(s) there in the last pic behind the clam? If so, that's a big one.
So what do I do then? The LFS just aren't helping me much on this. I guess that's the price you pay for being in a small town
Maggie Valley might be small but I love that place
Is that the worm(s) there in the last pic behind the clam? If so, that's a big one.
ophiura
Active Member
It is not to say you need to cut back so you are not feeding every day, but don't feed more than you need to. The overwhelming majority of people overfeed, I think it is safe to say. It is also not good to feed too "abnormally" if you will based on the behavior of the type of fish you are keeping. If you have certain fish - seahorses are the obvious example - that are nearly constantly eating, then you try and provide something similar.
bbanks-bryant
New Member
Originally Posted by T316
Maggie Valley might be small but I love that place
Is that the worm(s) there in the last pic behind the clam? If so, that's a big one.
no, that purple and white is part of a spiney serpent starfish
Maggie Valley might be small but I love that place
Is that the worm(s) there in the last pic behind the clam? If so, that's a big one.
no, that purple and white is part of a spiney serpent starfish
t316
Active Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
It is not to say you need to cut back so you are not feeding every day, but don't feed more than you need to. The overwhelming majority of people overfeed, I think it is safe to say. It is also not good to feed too "abnormally" if you will based on the behavior of the type of fish you are keeping. If you have certain fish - seahorses are the obvious example - that are nearly constantly eating, then you try and provide something similar.
Ophiura...please elaborate further on knowing when enough is enough. My fish beg each time I pass the tank as well, but I have restrained and not given in. But, as mentioned prior, when I noticed the aggression and hyperness after cutting back on the feedings, I bumped it back up to once a day. I still go by the "no more than can be consumed in 5 minute rule", but this usually means very little (or none) of the food is making it to the bottom for the inverts, which causes them to become more active and thus causing the inverts to be more aggressive towards one another. All of this, while trying not to over do it which causes a nasty skimmer, bristle worm overpopulation, dirty substrate, etc.
It is not to say you need to cut back so you are not feeding every day, but don't feed more than you need to. The overwhelming majority of people overfeed, I think it is safe to say. It is also not good to feed too "abnormally" if you will based on the behavior of the type of fish you are keeping. If you have certain fish - seahorses are the obvious example - that are nearly constantly eating, then you try and provide something similar.
Ophiura...please elaborate further on knowing when enough is enough. My fish beg each time I pass the tank as well, but I have restrained and not given in. But, as mentioned prior, when I noticed the aggression and hyperness after cutting back on the feedings, I bumped it back up to once a day. I still go by the "no more than can be consumed in 5 minute rule", but this usually means very little (or none) of the food is making it to the bottom for the inverts, which causes them to become more active and thus causing the inverts to be more aggressive towards one another. All of this, while trying not to over do it which causes a nasty skimmer, bristle worm overpopulation, dirty substrate, etc.
bbanks-bryant
New Member
don't know much about skimmers....but I guess I need to learn. Perhaps that would help too.
paintballer768
Active Member
Ok I just skimmed the thread for a bit, and heres my 2 cents. It seems highly unlikely that bristle worms would be linked to crumbing live rock. I can see if theres alot and they move around frequently, they may chip off some pieces, but not as much as the debris on the sand in the pictures.
I would think the crap on the bottom is either detritus or die-off from the rock. Die-off should have happened in the first few months of introducing the rocks, or during the curing process. Detritus is rotting organic matter. If youve been overfeeding, Im willing to put all my chips on it being detritus.
The rule that I first read when I was learning was dont feed more than what your fish can eat in 2 minutes. Usually thats about 2 small feedings for mine. Small is your choice, but adding it in small increments helps assure you arent overfeeding, because at the worst youve only added a tiny bit too much. Over time you will get used to how much they eat.
Bristle worms feed off of detritus and dead/dying organisms. Stop overfeeding = less detritus = bristle worm die off. Your starfish should do a good job of taking care of their corpses with minimal ammonia, since they might die in the rocks and that would be inaccessible for you.
I would think the crap on the bottom is either detritus or die-off from the rock. Die-off should have happened in the first few months of introducing the rocks, or during the curing process. Detritus is rotting organic matter. If youve been overfeeding, Im willing to put all my chips on it being detritus.
The rule that I first read when I was learning was dont feed more than what your fish can eat in 2 minutes. Usually thats about 2 small feedings for mine. Small is your choice, but adding it in small increments helps assure you arent overfeeding, because at the worst youve only added a tiny bit too much. Over time you will get used to how much they eat.
Bristle worms feed off of detritus and dead/dying organisms. Stop overfeeding = less detritus = bristle worm die off. Your starfish should do a good job of taking care of their corpses with minimal ammonia, since they might die in the rocks and that would be inaccessible for you.
bbanks-bryant
New Member
Originally Posted by paintballer768
Ok I just skimmed the thread for a bit, and heres my 2 cents. It seems highly unlikely that bristle worms would be linked to crumbing live rock. I can see if theres alot and they move around frequently, they may chip off some pieces, but not as much as the debris on the sand in the pictures.
I would think the crap on the bottom is either detritus or die-off from the rock. Die-off should have happened in the first few months of introducing the rocks, or during the curing process. Detritus is rotting organic matter. If youve been overfeeding, Im willing to put all my chips on it being detritus.
The rule that I first read when I was learning was dont feed more than what your fish can eat in 2 minutes. Usually thats about 2 small feedings for mine. Small is your choice, but adding it in small increments helps assure you arent overfeeding, because at the worst youve only added a tiny bit too much. Over time you will get used to how much they eat.
Bristle worms feed off of detritus and dead/dying organisms. Stop overfeeding = less detritus = bristle worm die off. Your starfish should do a good job of taking care of their corpses with minimal ammonia, since they might die in the rocks and that would be inaccessible for you.
So if I pay more attention to the amount I'm feeding then in time the bristle worms will die off from lack of detritus and my starfish will eat the dying/dead bristle worms?
Ok I just skimmed the thread for a bit, and heres my 2 cents. It seems highly unlikely that bristle worms would be linked to crumbing live rock. I can see if theres alot and they move around frequently, they may chip off some pieces, but not as much as the debris on the sand in the pictures.
I would think the crap on the bottom is either detritus or die-off from the rock. Die-off should have happened in the first few months of introducing the rocks, or during the curing process. Detritus is rotting organic matter. If youve been overfeeding, Im willing to put all my chips on it being detritus.
The rule that I first read when I was learning was dont feed more than what your fish can eat in 2 minutes. Usually thats about 2 small feedings for mine. Small is your choice, but adding it in small increments helps assure you arent overfeeding, because at the worst youve only added a tiny bit too much. Over time you will get used to how much they eat.
Bristle worms feed off of detritus and dead/dying organisms. Stop overfeeding = less detritus = bristle worm die off. Your starfish should do a good job of taking care of their corpses with minimal ammonia, since they might die in the rocks and that would be inaccessible for you.
So if I pay more attention to the amount I'm feeding then in time the bristle worms will die off from lack of detritus and my starfish will eat the dying/dead bristle worms?