Have I screwed up already?

[sherbertdipuk]

I filled my tank this afternoon and added live sand and rock. I've seen conflicting advice about if I should use live or not. As you do I'm sat staring at the water and have spotted some critters, they look like a combination of a wood louse and slug. Anyone know what they are and if I need to remove them?

Sorry for the hazy picture, I'm using my iPhone.

 

[CarolinaReefs]

Hard to tell in the pics but it looks like a stomatella snail on the bottom one. Those are good guys if that's what it is. Maybe the first pic is an Amphipod. Really hard to tell.

 

[sherbertdipuk]

Thanks for the reply, I'll try get a better picture, they actually look like the same creatures just the top one is bigger. The top picture is probably the clearer view.

 

[RMS18]

I used live rock once... never again. Only live sand.

 

[rayn]

Live rock will allow all kinds of hitch hikers to come into your tank. Good pics will help out a lot with identification

 

[sherbertdipuk]

They haven't come close enough to the glass to get a decent picture. From looking at the hitchhikers guide I'm pretty sure it's an amphipod.

I'll keep trying to get a pic. Does everyone here have amazing cameras for the images posted?

 

[sherbertdipuk]

This is my tank so far

 

[Darrick Dutcher]

You are at a great time to remove anything in question right now. It will just get harder as time goes on to remove items. We have all been there trying to remove a fish or crab and knocking/breaking at least 3 corals in the process. The snails are relatively cheap in the big picture. My advice is to remove anything in question or you are not feeling so well about at this time. I'm sure a lot of people will disagree (as you will find there will be many ways to go about methods in this hobby). I enjoyed working through my live rock. I actually found a brittle star and some other great hitchhikers in mine.

Just remember what works for one tank doesn't always work for another. Even if they are both managed by the same owner. Take your time on adjustments and remember patience is the hardest thing about the hobby all together.

 

[sherbertdipuk]

Got a better pic of one of the beasties, what do you think it is?

 

[twilliard]

stomatella snail

 

[sherbertdipuk]

Thank you for the id. I'll get the hang of this eventually [emoji23][emoji23]

 

[twilliard]

Thank you for the id. I'll get the hang of this eventually [emoji23][emoji23]

You will it just takes time. You will find where your strengths are in aquaria

 

[Maritimer]

Stomatellas (which this one clearly is!) are small snails that dine on algae, reproduce well in aquariums, and make a great member of your cleanup crew.

They also seem to make great snacks for wrasses, or somebody - I have them in my sump, but not in my display.

~Bruce