Fuzzy Wuzzy??? And a couple more questions.

[MikeDeL]

Anyone know what this is?
http://www.aquaticphotos.com/data/media/16/Mvc-029f.jpg
And this?
http://www.aquaticphotos.com/data/media/16/Mvc-030f.jpg

I was also wondering what would cause pH to go down.


Thanks,
Mike

[LironB]

First one looks like some sort of sponge.

Second one I'm not sure but my guess would be either flower-pot or pagoda cup (get a definite answer for this one because care for the two differ greatly).

[MikeDeL]

The first one is like a fuzzy snail without a shell, 2 antenna feelers, and an elephant trunk type nose. It crawls around the rock for awhile then goes in a hole, then comes back out a few minutes later. I saw 2 of them yesterday. Havent seen them before then.


Thanks,
Mike

[samiam_orami]

What you got there is a cap snail (stomatella Varia)
http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/stomatella_varia.htm

The other looks like it might be a bit of Montipora digitata starting to encrust

[LironB]

0 for 2. Sorry for the misidentifications.

I just looked at the first picture again, and I can't believe I missed seeing that it was some sort of snail. Slight oversight.

[matt]

Regarding ph, there is a natural tendancy for ph to drop in a closed system. You'll probably hear about this if you go to the meeting this week, but, simplified, when corals, coralline algae, anything photosynthetic, take calcium and carbonate ions from the water to use for their skeletons, there is less carbonate in solution to buffer the H+ ions, causing a drop in ph. Also, CO2 is produced by animals respiring, which further depresses the ph. This is why we have to constantly add calcium and carbonate to our systems.

But, you should be more specific about your ph drop. If you have bright lights and a lot of photsynthetic animals, during the day they will use more CO2 in photosynthesis than is typically being produced by the other animals. This means a net drop in CO2 in solution, pushing the ph up. At night, it drops back. This is a natural phenomenon; happens on reefs every day. Most people have tank ph that ranges from 8.0-8.3 depending on the time of day. If you want to have a better idea of what's going on with the ph in your tank, you should check it everyday in the morning, just before the lights come on, and in a evening before they go out. After a week or so you'll see if there is a steady drop and you can take action.

One other complication; it's not that easy to get an accurate ph reading. You need a decent probe, calibrated accurately, and it's probably best to take the reading from a beaker (I use a shot glass) a few feet away from the tank, where lights and running pumps seem to have an effect; I guess it's due to current in the water, or inductance, or something. Most of the color tests are not very accurate.

[MikeP]

First pic looks like a stomatella sp.

Second pic most likely a pocillopora coral - fairly common to find frags of it around tank as they reproduce readily in captivity.

[MikeDeL]

Thanks for all the info. I understand the natural tendency for the pH to drop over time, but we're talking TIIIIIME, not 3 days right? I was checking it everyday up until a few days ago when pH was staying steady. Checked it today and it was in the upper 7s. Checked it again, samething. Checked my top off water 8.3. The tank has been up for about a month now. Nothing but a few snails, a crab, a couple zoos that were on the LR, and the picture above. So I guess I should do a water change tomorrow and see where its at, then add some buffer if I need to.

So can anyone go to the meetings, or do you have to be a member? Ive been thinking about joining. I was wondering all you get to do as a member of MAAST.


Thanks,
Mike

[mharris7]

Mike - have you tested your alkalinity?

[ratboy]

The second pic looks like an encrusting porites to me. I use a reverse daylight photosynthesis setup on my refugium to counter the effects of CO2 respiration. When the tank lights go out in the display, the refugium lights have already been on for a while. This prevents a large net change in CO2 in the water from the effects Matt talked about. When I started reefs I checked my pH w/ the kits of the day, but never felt that they were acurate enough to mess with though.

-Erik

[MikeDeL]

I tested the alkalinaty a few days ago with an over priced piece of crap Red Sea test kit. It said it was in the "normal" range. I guess I will check it again when I get home.


Thanks,
Mike

[GaryP]

Another part of the downward trend in pH is the result of organic acids produced by biological activity, especially bacteria. Compounds such as acetic acid (vinegar) are produced by bacteria digesting excess nutrients. While not real strong acids they do add to other factors pushing the pH down. The organic acids are neutralized by the buffering action of the water and can actually add to the overall buffering capacity. Farley Holmes recently wrote am article recently where he showed the buffering capacity of sodium acetate (neutralized acetic acid).

Remember that buffer, in the form of carbonates, is constantly being removed by corals and other critters in your tank and needs to be replaced. Buffer can also drop drastically if your calcium is to high. Calcium and Buffer must be properly balanced. OK, enough for now. I think I just ruined my talk for this weekend.

Gary

[BA]

The first pic looks like a "seahair"

[ratboy]

Interesting news on the pH topic...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4286438/