G&D's Foray Into a 90G Tank (Take One)

[daplatapus]

Check out a couple of these links. Might be isopods:
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/hitchhiker.shtml
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchpods.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/

[gregzz4]

If the bugs are super tiny, they're probably copepods. They'll almost look like a dot in size and are almost impossible to see on rocks
If they have a dozen legs, they are probably isopods. These I've had everywhere - rock, sand, glass. My fish have all but decimated them
Both are great fish snacks
The bigger ones you may see will look like small shrimp and are amphipods. These you'll see crawling around the rocks at night and you'll get molts floating around the water. Some fish will eat these too

The bryopsis I had was easy to pick off and my CUC kept it in check. I also run GFO and feed very lightly
Now that I have fish in the tank, I don't have anymore of it
I have an urchin, hermits, 4 kinds of snails, and 3 kinds of fish that graze on algae, although I don't know if anyone is eating it, or if it was just part of the cycle

[subman]

Yes it does look like Bryopsis to me as well, nothing to worry about at this point but keep your eye on it. Sounds like copepods as well, its amazing what just starts growing isn't it, that was my favorite part of starting a new tank!

[spit.fire]

I've read that there's a sea slug kind of thing that will eat bryopsis

Also I've heard raising your mag will kill it off

[gridley]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

Check out a couple of these links. Might be isopods:
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/hitchhiker.shtml
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchpods.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/

Thanks for these links - I found them helpful - especially the first one. I have bookmarked them for future reference.

Originally Posted by gregzz4

If the bugs are super tiny, they're probably copepods. They'll almost look like a dot in size and are almost impossible to see on rocks
If they have a dozen legs, they are probably isopods. These I've had everywhere - rock, sand, glass. My fish have all but decimated them
Both are great fish snacks
The bigger ones you may see will look like small shrimp and are amphipods. These you'll see crawling around the rocks at night and you'll get molts floating around the water. Some fish will eat these too

The bryopsis I had was easy to pick off and my CUC kept it in check. I also run GFO and feed very lightly
Now that I have fish in the tank, I don't have anymore of it
I have an urchin, hermits, 4 kinds of snails, and 3 kinds of fish that graze on algae, although I don't know if anyone is eating it, or if it was just part of the cycle

Yes, the bugs are "super tiny" - almost a dot. It's nice to know now what they are - I had done some reading but wasn't sure. I also have had one larger one that was more like a tiny shrimp - but haven't seen another one for a few days.

Regarding your bryopsis - did you pick it off by hand? And this will really show that I'm new at this "CUC"? what is that?

I have been running GFO from the start to keep the phosphate down. The phosphate levels have been at near zero.

Originally Posted by subman

Yes it does look like Bryopsis to me as well, nothing to worry about at this point but keep your eye on it. Sounds like copepods as well, its amazing what just starts growing isn't it, that was my favorite part of starting a new tank!

It has been amazing to watch new things develop - though I'm really looking forward to actually getting a fish into the tank!

Thank you to everyone for your comments and help. It has been encouraging.

[gridley]

Originally Posted by spit.fire

I've read that there's a sea slug kind of thing that will eat bryopsis

Also I've heard raising your mag will kill it off

In my reading this week I had also read about increasing the mag - I'll keep a watch on this for a bit and if it is growing/spreading I'll start looking into the best way for me to increase the mag levels. Thanks.

[gregzz4]

The bryopsis just picks off

CUC is clean up crew, as in snails, crabs, etc

I wouldn't raise your magnesium right away. Give your tank time to settle in on it's own and go through some of the initial cycling
You'll add some critters, then some fish, then worry about the algae

[gridley]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

The bryopsis just picks off

CUC is clean up crew, as in snails, crabs, etc

I wouldn't raise your magnesium right away. Give your tank time to settle in on it's own and go through some of the initial cycling
You'll add some critters, then some fish, then worry about the algae

Thanks - regarding the CUC I should have figured that one out . . . Thanks.

Well, off to "that northen AB city" for the weekend.

[gridley]

We returned from Edmonton last night to a nice surprise - the Bryopsis - if that is what it was - is completly gone! The snails that had seemded to be ignoring it for the past week cleaned it up over the two days we were gone. From the reading I had done I understood that few if any animals would touch Bryopsis - so maybe it was something different. Regradless, it was a nice surprise.

While in Edmonton we stopped in at Red Coral just to take a look - it was nice to see you again Doug - thanks for the conversation and advice.

[gridley]

A few new developments:
1. We continue to be amazed at the life that develops. Since the disappearance of the one algae last week another has developed. Having no idea what it is we have simply been calling it "the fuzzy stuff". The snails don't seem to be in a hurry to eat it, but they are munching on it some.



2. We have also seem some new animal life - a very small centipede like creature - I'm guessing that it is some kind of bristleworm? But I have not been able to get a picture.

3. The best news is that we moved the Royal Gramma from the QT to the DT! Our first spot of color in the tank!