A pic or two of my Opae Ula

[Rob in Puyallup]

A white one. Some of these are nearly transparent: (Need to figure out how to sedate these guys sometimes!)

[Rob in Puyallup]

A more typically colored one:

[Harry]

The bookshelf tank geometry is awesome - a great showcase. And I'm hoping you fare well with your Opae. But I share Mustafa's concerns. Feeding, filtering, changing water may not have immediate effects. But most tanks, especially from my freshwater experience, do best when there's not too much going on. Feeding every other day or so may be great for the Opae's appetite and I'm sure they are drawn to the food. But in a limited size tank, I think that nitrates will build beyond the ability of macroalgae to control. That's when you will get the bacterial bloom and possible crash. Hopefully, you will get lazy and back off. In any event, good luck!

[KenCotigirl]

Rob do you have a hand lens? Say 7x-10x. What I would like to know is if you look at the white shrimp with a hand lens are there red flecks here and there or is the exoskeleton clear. I have a number of 'white' shrimp but when viewed with lens they are just very pale red shrimp. I may have one or two truly white but they are shy and never get close to the glass for viewing. Also nice yellow/orange shrimp. I have not seen them in my tanks.

[Rob in Puyallup]

Another short video, this one of the Bookshelf tank, after a bit of a clean-up. All is still well, all active, after last night's topping off and algae scrape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR0cYGH8SoM

(I never claimed to be an good commentator. )

[Rob in Puyallup]

No Hand lens, Ken, but can close-up pretty well with the camera. Now if only the shrimp would stop moving...

[Rob in Puyallup]

... and Harry.

I really do understand the concerns you and others have shared here. Believe me, I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to things... I promise to remain the good opae ula daddy and will make changes if things turn.

There is a lot of algae in this tank, I realize that. Not just chaeto, but also some odd types that have sprouted out of the live rock. I'm thinking it's natural for them to be there, absorbing nutrients that are in the water. They'd be there regardless, I'm thinking, even in a tank with nothing living in it.

There are also some mini inverts that appear to be cyclops (copepods) in the tank as well as the opae ula larvae, (though, unfortunately, they don't show themselves as often as the cyclops do!) I will try the flashlight in the corner when the lights go out this weekend, to see (and photograph) arrivals.

[AndyH]

In your opinion was it a good decision to use the live rock in your tank? I mean even if you have to do extra work to fix a problem, it's still exciting to see what kind of differences you get in your tank as opposed to using dry rock, right? Some of the "odd types of algae" that sprouted up in your tank definitely look interesting.

And speaking of pods, I was wondering how they did in Opae tanks (as far as the water conditions). I was thinking about getting some. But also, would you rather have a tank with or without them? Like, do they distract you and take away attention from the Opae? Or are they so small that it doesn't really matter either way?

EDIT: One more thing. Haha. You mentioned tiny hermit crabs in one of your posts? Do you have any pictures of them or any more information about them and how they're doing in your tank?

[Harry]

The live rock is interesting. I would think that live rock from an ocean environment would carry plant life that cannot be supported in brackish water. When that plant life dies, it will pollute the water. But I have a source that ships their Opae with live rock. So I would think that such live rock comes from a brackish tank and would therefore do well in an Opae tank. I have that rock in both my small Opae tanks and the Opae are constantly on it feeding. But I don't have anything sprouting off those rocks. I believe they are coated with biofilm and algae, although it is hard to see the algae. Perhaps you can post a closeup of your live rock with sprouts.

[Rob in Puyallup]

First the pic... Here's one of the two hermit crabs in the 10 gallon tank. I like this pic as it shows a size comparison between it and an opae ula. The hermits are very busy eating the goodies off the live rock (or live "rubble" as is seen in this photo.). The two species are living in total peace.

I am happy the the live rock, Andy. I like the algae and think that it, the limited cyanobacteria and other flora and fauna are fine representatives of a brackish environment. The rock and rubble were both devoid of obvious life when I put them in the tank, any that sprung up are, obvious to me, completely capable of living the brackish lifestyle.

There are a couple red colored algae and/or inverts that have found their way, springing forth from the rock as well, as well as a couple very small cowrie looking snails. The second pic shows some of red algae/inverts.

Note in the last photo with the pair of Opae Ula the pinkish-purple patch. That's a coraline algae that has grown after the rock was placed in this (the bookshelf) tank.

(The photos are not arranged as I uploaded them... I'm sure you'll figure which is which! )

[Rob in Puyallup]

Harry...

One of my sources from Hawaii sent lava rock seeded in her ponds. A bit of green on the rock itself, no real plant life. In the attached photo you'll see much of it, it's the smaller lava rock from the center to the left end of the photo... The rock has grown more green since settling in my tanks, I'll post pics of those later!

[Rob in Puyallup]

Many plants (algae) and inverts are adaptable to brackish environments. Many live in tidepools, or along coasts where the salinity fluctuates...

[Rob in Puyallup]

(PS... I've had experience with marine aquaria. What I'm doing may seem experimental, and it is, in a way. I had live rock in tanks long before the fancy filtration systems used in reef tanks these days. Back in the '80's I had a pet octopus. "King Tut" and I were buddies. He was extremely interactive. A REAL pet, not just something pretty in a tank.)

[AndyH]

Thanks for sharing! Those are great pics. I like the size and the looks of the hermit crab; he seems to fit in well.

[Harry]

The "algae" you show sprouting actually looks like live coral! The little crab is outstanding - what do you feed him?