Great spider crab
Just after molting.
I was lucky enough to get some pictures of my great spider crab (Hyas araneus)
just after it had molted. Now I could see it clearly. After a few days it was covbered with algae from around its
favourite hideout.
Water quality
Now that the light input is practically nothing there is very little uptake of inorganic nutrients. I just got
a nitrate reading of 50 mg/l! What worries me the most is the phosphate concentration that
is up to 0.5 mg/l. At this level it is inhibiting to calcification. This can cause harm to many of my animals.
I will do some water changes, but they will not have a great effect. I guess I'll just have to hope that
things improve rapidly when light returns in February. The two pictures below illustrate water quality improvements
after I started using ozone.
Before ozone. Tank water on the left. Tap water on the right.
After ozone. I don't know which one is tap water.
Beadled anemone (Actinia equina)
Chameleon prawn (Hippolyte varians). About 2 cm long.
This sea squirt may be Ascidiella aspersa.
This too is probably Ascidiella aspersa.
Spider crab (Macropodia rostrata).
The orange thing to the right is a small type of colony forming sea squirts are spreading everywhere
in the tank's shaded areas.
One of my three juvenile corckwing wrasses (Symphodus melops).
Dahlia anemone (Urticina eques).
Some hydroid.
Dahlia anemone (Urticina felina). Hiding in crevice.
Beadled anemone (Actinia equina).
Plumose anemones (Metridium senile) in the background.
Dahlia anemone (Urticina felina). And a second generation sea squirt
(Ciona intestinalis) that has grown into a distinct shape below the large
moving kelp specimens.
There are still many species of red algae that I would like to have. Some of the nicest species don't seem
to thrive in the tank. But I see some evidence of reproduction at least.
Black brittle star (Ophiocomina nigra). Filtering the water. Always hiding
in the shadows. So I had to use a flash to get a photo.
Squat lobster (Galathea squamifera). Also a flash photo.
Some new, beautiful reds. Hope they make it.