Recent content by themartins

Here's what came out of the rock during FW dip - about 20 came off the rock, different sizes.

Can you please explain how to do a freshwater dip? Also, will this harm the brittle stars in the rock? Also, there are other corals on this rock - porites and xenia ... would the dip harm them in any way? We did get a melanurus wrasse, so that should help things as well.

The pods look like the typical amphipods in shape and size, but when I shine a flashlight on them their eyes kind of glow yellow and they look somewhat greenish. I posted a picture of the rock above - this is what the zoa colony looked like 2 months ago, this picture is what it looks like now -...

Alk is 9 dKh. These pods look slightly different, glowing eyes when light is shined on them, also greenish - they're definitely not nudibranchs. I talked with someone who said it's rare, but there is a parasitic pod that will destroy zoa colonies.

I blast all rocks once per week with a turkey baster or power head to remove any detrius that settles. There were also 2 small sea squirts on this rock that are now gone.

Here is a picture of the rock when it was first added to our aquarium. The zoas are all but gone at this point.

I've never done a fresh water dip. Is just tap water ok? How long should the rock be dipped? Will this harm the brittle stars also in the rock? Also, there are other corals on this rock - porites and xenia ... would the dip harm them at all?

I don't think detrius is the problem, because there is really good flow in the tank. This rock is a fairly new addition to the tank, the colony looked pretty healthy, though a few polyps were closed - now the colony is just about gone. I'm afraid that whatever has been snacking on these zoas...

The tank is only 38 gal.

I have seen pods snacking on one of our zoa cololnies. Is there a peaceful wrasse that wouldn't harm cleaner shrimp, snails, etc.?

Here's a link to their store Easy Aquariums | Home

No worries. I'm just not sure that I want to risk a nem stinging/eating inhabitants. Maybe we'll just get a nice Duncan or Torch to see if we can get them to host using the method in the video above. Maybe we'll plan a nem/clownfish tank in a future build. :)

Tank has been set up for over 6 years, and chemistry has been stable since nitrogen cycle was complete.

Not sure we're ready for an anemone at this point.

They have unique displays. Amazon stigrays in a corner tank - bench seat all around for children to see in, waterfall & branches on wall sides with Anoles climbing on the branches. 2' Amazon Red tail catfish that they let children feed frozen fish. It's a very unique experience and all...