Newbie needs ID help.

[flightjunkie]

Hello,

First let me say that I've been reading the forum for about a week now and I can't tell you folks enough how helpful this site has been to me! My only regret is that I didn't find it sooner.

Living in Miami, Florida, I've been scuba diving since the late 90's and I've been a long time saltwater tank admirer. However, it wasn't till recently that I decided to get into the hobby. As it turns out, my buddy was selling this AIO tank that in my inexperienced self thought it was the perfect starter tank. Already an addict, I now wish I would have started with something a little bigger. I'm sure a 75g+ tank is in my near future.

Anyhow, here's a little background information on my tank. It's a JBJ 28g LED Professional. I have around 35 lbs of live rock and about 7 lbs of what they claimed to be live rock but I've since learned it's that tinted or painted rock (not sure if it classifies as LR). There's also about a less than a pound of decorative dead rock. It has 20 lbs of CaribSea Caribbean live sand and it was started with purchased sea water and RO water to top off as needed.

It's still in the cycling period, only 10 days old (okay, bring on the flames) but I already have a CUC which I purchased after getting some premature advice. The CUC consists of 2 small Blue Knuckled Hermits, 1 small Emerald Crab and 2 small Turbo Snails. Some of the LR also came with a few feather dusters (which I thought were cool) and a whole bunch of other little critters which I'm hoping to ID.

1st picture show's something that looks like a baby Sea Erchin of some kind. Today was the first time I noticed it and it has moved quite a bit. The red circle has something that started really small, but has quadrupled in the past week.


2nd picture same as above


3rd picture is of some wormy looking thing which I've only noticed on that particular LR.


4th picture shows what seems like a clam and something similar to that of the 1st picture but this one is more orange in color apposed to the greenish\black in the first picture.


5th picture is the same as in 1st picture but a bit more clear. Again, this thing has grown quite a bit.


6th picture is of a hitchhiker crab which I need to know if it's reef safe or not.


7th picture is just a reference picture which I would like to know if I have too much LR.


Additional tank and water information:
Remora Nano Skimmer (silenced per youtube instructions)
Artica 1/15 Chiller
Koralia 425 gph circulation pump
2 Accela Pumps: (2) x 266 gph
Filter mechanical sponge, 2 bags of biological ceramic rings (thinking of removing this all together)
LED Daylight, Dusk to Dawn and Moonlight are on timer. I tried to mimic our current sunrise\sunset times.

Currently have but not installed:
Heather
PR Reactor
UV Sterilizer

Future wish list additions:
ATO
Apex mini

Water has been steady at:
PH 8-8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Salinity 1.024
Temp 77.8

Okay, sorry for the long 1st post but I seriously do appreciate the assistance and any other advice you may have.

PS. my goal is to have a reef tank with 3 or 4 small fish (2 of which would be Picasso Clowns).

Thanks,
Frank

Forgot to mention that I've started to see Cyano growth on the sand and throughout the LR but am not too concerned right now.

[t11t5]

As for the critters I never keep up on whats what. There is way to many for me to remember. If you think it looks good with that amount of LR leave it alone. It will help actually.

[dRockReefer]

3rd picture looks like a bristle worm and 4th picture looks like a scallop. I'm still pretty new to this as well, but that's what I think.

There's a sticky that has pictures to ID live rock hitch hikers.

[Jpruitt546]

The 3rd pic is a small brittle star fish. The other looks like a serpant star. Looks to me like you gotsome really healthy live rock with a bunch of good critters. The last pic looks like an emerald crab but it to red from the pics. Might do a google search on him just to double check me.