Ever had something new turn up in an 8 year old tank?

Sk8r · 06/04/2021, 01:54 PM

Could be a chiton, a super-limpet, no knowing unless I catch it in the act, (sometimes a flashlight can surprise midnight raiders in a tank) ---but it is cleaning rocks down to white limestone where it's been, and I've had nothing capable of that show itself in years. Still, there's plenty of rockwork back there it could have been noshing on.

It's a gift, whatever it is. Urchins can do that sort of thing, but I haven't had rocks cast asunder as urchins will.

Tis a puzzlement.

Timfish · 06/05/2021, 07:00 AM

Just one of the things I love about keeping reefs.

Haven't had anything that long but I did move a system once where we found a ~4" Majestic Angle the owner hadn't seen in over 3 years. He had bought it as a juvinile and also had roughly 2 lbs of live rock per gallon. I suspect he never really sat and wathced his tank but the Majestic had tons of space to swim around without being seen.

billdogg · 06/05/2021, 08:22 AM

Sounds like an urchin to me. I know in my tank it's easier to follow the sparkly white trail where it's been than it is to just find it hiding in the rocks someplace. Mine came in at least 20 years ago as a tiny speck of a thing and has now grown to the size of a large baseball/small softball.

And FWIW - one of the things that has always fascinated me about my systems is the sudden appearance of whatever, knowing full well that it is something I've never put in there knowingly. Although sometimes bad, the vast majority of the time it turns out to be a wonderful new creature.

Sugar Magnolia · 06/05/2021, 08:23 PM

Yep, in my case it was a crab.

Anemone · 06/05/2021, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

Sounds like an urchin to me. I know in my tank it's easier to follow the sparkly white trail where it's been than it is to just find it hiding in the rocks someplace. Mine came in at least 20 years ago as a tiny speck of a thing and has now grown to the size of a large baseball/small softball.

That was my first thought as well. A rock-boring urchin that finally got big enough to come out to play.

Kevin

Sk8r · 06/06/2021, 12:54 PM

Hmmmmm......

Oldreeferman · 06/06/2021, 08:04 PM

I had a Chiton appear 3 yrs after setup, had to be from the live rock in the DT. Now i have tube worms under the rocks so cool. I agree the things that occasionally pop up do keep things interesting for sure.

Timfish · 06/07/2021, 06:30 AM

After 8 years my vote is also a chiton or limpet. Both have species that can reproduce in aquaria, which would be cool if that's why they're starting to show up now.

Sk8r · 06/07/2021, 08:42 AM

I had a bloom of little limpets. But nothing bigger than a pencil eraser. Maybe there's a survivor.

06/04/2021, 01:54 PM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Ever had something new turn up in an 8 year old tank? Could be a chiton, a super-limpet, no knowing unless I catch it in the act, (sometimes a flashlight can surprise midnight raiders in a tank) ---but it is cleaning rocks down to white limestone where it's been, and I've had nothing capable of that show itself in years. Still, there's plenty of rockwork back there it could have been noshing on. It's a gift, whatever it is. Urchins can do that sort of thing, but I haven't had rocks cast asunder as urchins will. Tis a puzzlement. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/05/2021, 07:00 AM	#2
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	Just one of the things I love about keeping reefs. Haven't had anything that long but I did move a system once where we found a ~4" Majestic Angle the owner hadn't seen in over 3 years. He had bought it as a juvinile and also had roughly 2 lbs of live rock per gallon. I suspect he never really sat and wathced his tank but the Majestic had tons of space to swim around without being seen. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

06/05/2021, 08:22 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Sounds like an urchin to me. I know in my tank it's easier to follow the sparkly white trail where it's been than it is to just find it hiding in the rocks someplace. Mine came in at least 20 years ago as a tiny speck of a thing and has now grown to the size of a large baseball/small softball. And FWIW - one of the things that has always fascinated me about my systems is the sudden appearance of whatever, knowing full well that it is something I've never put in there knowingly. Although sometimes bad, the vast majority of the time it turns out to be a wonderful new creature. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

06/05/2021, 08:23 PM	#4
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yep, in my case it was a crab. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/06/2021, 12:54 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Hmmmmm...... __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/06/2021, 08:04 PM	#7
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	I had a Chiton appear 3 yrs after setup, had to be from the live rock in the DT. Now i have tube worms under the rocks so cool. I agree the things that occasionally pop up do keep things interesting for sure. __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank

06/07/2021, 06:30 AM	#8
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	After 8 years my vote is also a chiton or limpet. Both have species that can reproduce in aquaria, which would be cool if that's why they're starting to show up now. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

06/07/2021, 08:42 AM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I had a bloom of little limpets. But nothing bigger than a pencil eraser. Maybe there's a survivor. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.