Brian's 225g Monstrosity is Now 180 gallons of FUN!

[danthemanj]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Could I borrow him after he's done his job in your tank. I sure could use a Sea Hare in my tank right now

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Brian]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Well, I couldn't wait...I went to AO today and picked up one those. Now we'll see what happens!

 

[mikem]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Did they have a large one like this?

How's he doing so far?

 

[Brian]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Yeah, he's pretty big. Can't tell what he's doing yet...I can say he moved over a bunch of the macro without touching it...so i'm not sure he's going to eat any of that. Hopefully he can take care of the bryopsis that's been hanging around though.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Post a picture of your second child! ;D

What's his name?

 

[Brian]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

I'll take some pictures in the next few days...and I'll also name him later too...If he doesn't do a good job I may name him "Flushy" lol

 

[mikem]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

This one wanders a lot. He cleaned half a rock, got fat and fluffy, then went up to the corner of the tank to take a nap. I seen him on the power head today cleaning it. Got scared and turned it off. Got home and he was cleaning the other one next to it without getting stuck.
I think you'll still need the both of them anyway to get the job done quicker.

 

[Jcurry@wesketch]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Don't get discouraged Brian my tank looked just like that a few years ago only it was hair algae and aptaisia,then flat worms and back to aptaisia. Just stick with the manual removal. Pulling a little bit out every night is better than killing yourself for a whole Saturday.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Brian, how's the tank looking? Looky what I've found: http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=273

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacoglossa

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1000010&highlight=Sacoglossa

A Quote by someone else:

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: ELYSIOIDEA
Family: Elysiidae

DISTRIBUTION
East coast of Nth America from Nova Scotia to Florida.

PHOTO
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA, November, 1999. PHOTO: Dr. Mary Rumpho.

Typical elysiid shape with large lateral parapodia which fold over to enclose the body. Usually bright green in colour but can sometimes be reddish or greyish, apparently depending on the amount of chlorophyll in the branches of the digestive gland which ramify throughout the body. As well as the green pigmentation from the digestive gland showing through, there are also small white spots scattered over the body and numerous, but smaller, red spots. It can grow to 45 mm in length but is usually no more than 20-30 mm.

It feeds by sucking the cell contents from the intertidal algae Vaucheria. It is become an important study animal from plant physiologists because, like many sacoglossans, it keeps chloroplasts from its food, alive and functioning its own body. See solar powered slugs Fact Sheet. It is found commonly in salt marshes, tidal marshes, pools and shallow creeks.

 

[Brian]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

That's one heck of a find, Wendy!! I posted in that thread to see if I could get a few of them. They look like they could be the miracle cure.

Thanks!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

You're more than welcome. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you can get your hands on some. Looking at the origin of those slugs, I think that as soon as the waters warm up, we can have a meeting by the bay/ocean and catch you some. ;D

 

[Nickjr000]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Sea hares are awesome for getting rid of hair algae. I had an outbreak of hair algae in my 125 and 2 medium hares turned in spotless in less than a week! Sucked it up like a vacuum and they are very graceful didn't move or disrupt any of the rocks or coral. When they're done with their job you should find a new home for them cause they don't do so well without a ton of algae to eat

 

[Brian]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Well, I think the Sea Hare died, I haven't seen him in awhile, although there are a lot of hiding places...so who knows. I can see that it didn't touch any of the caulpera though.

 

[bconn]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Think about contacting the Marine Education Center @ Rutgers or even one of the biologists at the State Aquarium for additional info.

How is the control going?

 

[Brian]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Here is an updated picture of the tank. It still isn't great, but getting better!

1 - 03 - 2009

1 - 27 -2009

...and a couple of macro shots since I was playing with the new camera...lol

 

[JohnS_323]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Hey, there you go! That's starting to come around! Did you pick up a natural predator or something or are you just ripping it out?

 

[Phyl]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Huge improvement, Brian. Keep doing what you're doing. It's working. Thank goodness for the progress shots, huh?

 

[Brian]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Yeah, I was pretty shocked at the difference in the two pictures. I think the Sea Hare went to the great reef in the sky so I don't know if it gorged itself to death or what...lol...I have the Fox face and he seems to pick at it, but I don't know how much of it he is actually eating.

I'm dosing Vodka, and pruning. I've actually only pruned twice since the original picture.

 

[blange3]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

Way to go! Glad to see you're hanging in there!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Re: Brian's 225g Monstrosity!

BIG difference, Brian! I have to admit I chuckled when you said the sea hare may have gorged himself to death.