saltwater newbie attempting a 55 gallon reef

[BIGgourami]

unless it's ridiculously coarse sand it should be fine

 

[mr.reef24]

I would like to put an anemone in the tank for the clownfish to hang out in, but from what I understand its not really a good idea to put anemones in reef tanks. Why is that? Anybody know of any anemones that might be an exception to the rule?

The reason being is anemone's move alot in the tank and will sting your corals as they pass by them and will stress them out and even kill them. Mangrove's look fine but you may want to run a search on the best way to keep them in a Fuge so you can protect your investment.

mr.reef24

 

[BTB0923]

I spotted a huge hitchhiker in the big piece of liverock on the left side of the tank last night. I was feeding the fish and I noticed a red crab whose body was probably about 3" in width hanging out in a crevice. I tried to get a pic but it was too dark. He was red with small dark spots, with long hairy legs, and his pincers were a dark maroon/brown/black color. Any guesses as to the species? I'm really hoping its reef safe cuz its gonna be a huge pain if I have to get him out of that rock.

 

[mr.reef24]

sound's like either a gorilla crab or a rock crab try and look them up online or get a pic so I can identify your hitchhiker.

mr.reef24

 

[BTB0923]

I think you are right on the gorilla crab. After doing a little research I'm almost positive its some type of xanthid (not reef safe). I guess I'm going to have to get him out of there somehow. I'll probably just move him into my sump.

Last night I left a piece of shrimp near where I saw him last and sure enough I came back about ten minutes later and there he was. This makes me think he shouldn't be that hard to lure into a trap. Any suggestions for what I could use to construct one? After I catch him I will take pics.

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

The reason being is anemone's move alot in the tank and will sting your corals as they pass by them and will stress them out and even kill them. Mangrove's look fine but you may want to run a search on the best way to keep them in a Fuge so you can protect your investment.

mr.reef24

My (new) anemone wouldn't hold when he got in the tank, and instead of sinking he just kinda... drifted through the water column. I tried to manually place him but he just stung me so I let him do it on his own. That's when I saw him ram right between by Brain and Acropora. He moved into a crevas near by and didn't seem to do any damage to the corals, they both look great. Still made me scared though.

Guess he only wanted to sting me!

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

I think you are right on the gorilla crab. After doing a little research I'm almost positive its some type of xanthid (not reef safe). I guess I'm going to have to get him out of there somehow. I'll probably just move him into my sump.

Last night I left a piece of shrimp near where I saw him last and sure enough I came back about ten minutes later and there he was. This makes me think he shouldn't be that hard to lure into a trap. Any suggestions for what I could use to construct one? After I catch him I will take pics.

You could use some peices of glass/acrylic and make a box with a one way ramp going in so he can't climb up the ramp. I guess any plastic will do.

 

[mr.reef24]

I think you are right on the gorilla crab. After doing a little research I'm almost positive its some type of xanthid (not reef safe). I guess I'm going to have to get him out of there somehow. I'll probably just move him into my sump.

Last night I left a piece of shrimp near where I saw him last and sure enough I came back about ten minutes later and there he was. This makes me think he shouldn't be that hard to lure into a trap. Any suggestions for what I could use to construct one? After I catch him I will take pics.

to catch him put the piece of live rock he is in, into your QT tank place it on pvc and put some krill on the bottom and wait with a light for him to leave the rock for the krill once he leave's take the LR out and you have him in QT.

mr.reef24

 

[mr.reef24]

My (new) anemone wouldn't hold when he got in the tank, and instead of sinking he just kinda... drifted through the water column. I tried to manually place him but he just stung me so I let him do it on his own. That's when I saw him ram right between by Brain and Acropora. He moved into a crevas near by and didn't seem to do any damage to the corals, they both look great. Still made me scared though.

Guess he only wanted to sting me!

you may or may not see the effect's right away some coral's can with stand it and also depending on the anemone species as well will also determine out come due to there power of the sting from there nematocysts.

mr.reef24

 

[BTB0923]

to catch him put the piece of live rock he is in, into your QT tank place it on pvc and put some krill on the bottom and wait with a light for him to leave the rock for the krill once he leave's take the LR out and you have him in QT.

mr.reef24

That sounds like it would work like a charm...however, I unfortunately do not have a SW quarantine tank. Beyond my 180 gallon freshwater tank, all I have is a 20 gallon sump that is way too small for the piece of liverock in question.

You could use some peices of glass/acrylic and make a box with a one way ramp going in so he can't climb up the ramp. I guess any plastic will do.

I think I'm going to construct something very similar to what you are suggesting. I've got a few ideas...