ID needed

[CGY_Betta_Guy]

After starting my cycle a few weeks ago I have been slowly been finding lots of little creatures that I have no clue what they are... can anyone help me ID them so I can research them? Also if anyone notices anything in the pics that would be cause for concern please let me know since I am a newbie and still learning.

1) Unidentified growth which is slowly getting longer. The purple portion in center of shot that is in focus.
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3119.jpg

2) Looking down into my Edge tank I saw these growing... looks good but no idea what it might be
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3153.jpg

3) this appears to be a red coraline algae but I havent tried to scratch it yet to confirm.. just wanted to make sure its not the bad red slime
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3155.jpg

4) some clammy looking thing sticking outta my rock. The picture is out of focus as I had to shoot at an angle
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3163.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3164.jpg

5) Hair algae or a soft coral?
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3162.jpg

6) wormy looking dude with a head that moves when light shines on it.
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3171.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3172.jpg

[CGY_Betta_Guy]

7) and I still havent been able to get a good view of this guy! I have tried luring it out further but its very timid.
I still think its a pistol shrimp but I really have no clue... anyone able to confirm based on these pics?
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3129.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3130.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3131.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3133.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3134.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3135.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3136.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3139.jpg

[Myka]

1) Hydroids (not good)

2) Some sort of macroalgae that you prob won't get an ID on. Most macroalgae are great in a refugium, but can become quite the nuisance in the display tank due to their often rapid growth.

3) Coralline

4) Bi-valve of some sort. I have a few of those, and haven't bothered to find a specie or genus name for them. If it is still alive it is a beneficial filter feeder.

5) Bryopsis starting. Not good.

6) Vermetid snail. Particulate feeder. Not usually a pest, but may bother some corals they contact.

7) Can't really tell from the pics, but you might be on the right track with your Pistol ID.

[CGY_Betta_Guy]

thanks for the quick IDs,
Hydroids and bryopsis eh. great. What would be the safe way that could be used to get rid of either of these? Read that raising magnesium levels would help with bryopsis and growing macro algae such as chaeto would assist in dropping phosphates etc from the water. I am sure my using tap water probably has a contributing factor too. I assume I will probably need to find a control for these before I start adding corals of any sort?

[Aquaria]

i would. i learned a valubale lesseon from my last tank and thats dont rush it. im wating to put coral in my tank till i get my nutrients delt with

[monocus]

#4 is a spiny oyster-helps filter water

[Myka]

Click on the link in my signature for help with the bryopsis.

Hydroids are a pain in the butt. Sometimes they spread quickly and really cause problems by stinging their neighbours. Ime, they don't spread very fast at all though. I have a few patches in my reef, and I just use boiling water in a syringe they I slowly release onto the hydroids to get them real good. That's about all I know of to control them. Some people say Butterflyfish will eat them, but I have yet to see that myself.

#4 is a spiny oyster-helps filter water

Sorry, but that is not a spiny oyster.

[CGY_Betta_Guy]

something else I need an ID on...

8) Found this little circular shaped guy with the greenish specs in the center moving around the tank. Not moving around mobile like a snail would but yesterday it was in one spot on the glass and the next it moved a couple cm over onto the rock. It is roughly 3-4mm across and doesnt seem to have any snail appendages or even a shell but was attached to the glass and looked flat and circular with no color (other than the pinkish body) and now I can see a bit of color on it and it looks to be a different shape.. The part touching the glass did look like a snail foot would on the glass. Any ideas as to what it is?
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3238.jpg

[Cranky When Wet]

Oooops, sorry Beta Guy.... and thanks Myka... my bad... yes they are hydroids... of which there are copious types....

Here's some good reading for Beta guy >:-) or anyone else who may be interested: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hyzoanidfaq.htm

The site's search engine allows for confining the search to the site. I find it best that way... there is soh much to learn; one can spend weeks reading >:-)

This site is written/hosted/monitored by the likes of Bob Fenner and Anthony Calfo... there's plenty of info regarding water preparation and tank cycling as well anything SW one can imagine.

Personally, I'd wait until after the cycle to see the whole playing ground rather than treating anything at this time. I have a little cluster of hydroids that have remained the same size for over a year, and localized in an unobtrusive manner; so there was no need to do anything. If they really bother you, I suppose you could lop off the piece of rock they are on (outside the tank), and hope they don't have siblings elsewhere....

Some of these guys sting so don't do the bare finger pokey thing....

Most algae are controlled by levels of nutrients in water... or Turbo snails... read the site... info is power >:-)

That being said, aiptasia are another matter. I had a peppermint shrimp who was a proven aiptasia killer. He could handle them as long as they were juveniles. Once he cleaned that particular tank, I moved him on to a larger tank because they don't do well with water parameters that change too much. I got mine from a LFS that actually demo'd my guy before selling him to me LOL!

Gotta run and get to work.... Love your tank build and the mature rock is wonderful and giving you lots of goodies to enjoy!

Have fun!

Bunny >:-)



After starting my cycle a few weeks ago I have been slowly been finding lots of little creatures that I have no clue what they are... can anyone help me ID them so I can research them? Also if anyone notices anything in the pics that would be cause for concern please let me know since I am a newbie and still learning.

1) Unidentified growth which is slowly getting longer. The purple portion in center of shot that is in focus.
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3119.jpg

2) Looking down into my Edge tank I saw these growing... looks good but no idea what it might be
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3153.jpg

3) this appears to be a red coraline algae but I havent tried to scratch it yet to confirm.. just wanted to make sure its not the bad red slime
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3155.jpg

4) some clammy looking thing sticking outta my rock. The picture is out of focus as I had to shoot at an angle
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3163.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3164.jpg

5) Hair algae or a soft coral?
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3162.jpg

6) wormy looking dude with a head that moves when light shines on it.
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3171.jpg
http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad249/CGY_Betta_Guy/Fluval%20Edge%206G%20SW%20FOWLR%20Tank/IMG_3172.jpg