Oh man!

[CastAway]

I know that had I started with mature live rock, I'd have hundreds of life forms in my tank, most of which I may never realized were even there. But I didn't start with live rock.

I also realize that it is inevitable that pests get introduced, even with the best efforts to avoid it.

But, I did not expect a pest so early. I was just reading another thread on R2R about these, in someone else's new set up - looks like a tiny hydroid. They're are dozens on my front pane of glass, less then a millimeter across.

I really hope they turn out to be harmless, and/or go away.

 

[TJ's Reef]

Hey Jeff, pretty common in new systems and seem to go away just as mysteriously as they appear. It's been many years since I started a system from scratch but remember well how exciting it was to come home from work and 'see what had magically appeared today' in my Reeftank. I have only used real Live Rock good or bad but have no regrets and will/would certainly use it again if/when the time comes for a new and much larger system. The diversity of Life on a single piece can be mind boggling.


Cheers, Todd

 

[CastAway]

Part of the process. I know.

I saw a video on YouTube once, a "live rock unboxing", and this guy held up a piece for the camera and a foot long worm fell out. He was like "oh, wonder what that is". That sealed the deal for me. I knew I didn't want it. I may have some killer worm eventually, and am sure to have pests, but not willfully. LOL

I do regret all the "good" life I miss out on with dry rock, the sponges, a variety of coralline, tiny inverts and mollusks, pods, etc.. In time...

You may be interested in this Todd. My lfs has an under-ten-dollars frag rack. About a month ago I bought a small green monti cap frag. I'd heard they were tough, and I wanted to see how I'd do with that as a starter piece. Well, this pic stinks, but it was growing when I bought it, then for a while, in my system, the green tissue seemed to catch up with the expanding white edge. Now though, the edge is bright white and expanding again. I'm stoked about it. Here's kind of a then and now comparison.

Granted, might not be too exciting to most, but it is to me.

 

[TJ's Reef]

That's a great sign Jeff and it looks very healthy. Weather is looking good for next week in being able to ship with little worry, will let you know.

Cheers, Todd

 

[trido]

New growth is always exciting. Even for long time reefers. I've had hydroids too. They did go away and never caused harm.