As Usual - New To Marine And Need Some Guidance

[JimGilbert]

I have inherited / acquired a nano tank in the form of a DTS400 with water and about 6 kilos of live rock. I got it home and ran it for a month just to check all was OK then i introduced a Clown of about 1.5inch. We started to notice some small slug like creatures occassionally along with some small 'catapillar' like creates which are red and black with loads of leg type protrusions. We then introduced a second black and white Clown of a similar size, now after 4 months we have numerous slugs from an inch in length down to some really tiny ones and probably about 30 of them of all different sizes. Should i remove some of them all of them or none of them and at what point do they start becoming a pest. the catapilers issue now has one about 3 inches long then numerous smaller ones say about 20.
The main reason for the question is that we are now planning to upgrade to a bigger tank, but dont want to move the live rock if the 'critters' it has in it as i have discribed are undesirables.

Lots of questions i guess but the base line is

Slugs - Good or Bad - How Big and How Many
Catapillers - Good or Bad - How Big and How Many

Transfer to new larger tank or buy new 'Live Rock' for new tank.

Many thanks for any responses i received

 

[seffieuk]

Welcome to the salty side

Well, the caterpiller like things sound like bristle worms - some people remove them but most now think that unless they are huge they are beneficial as they eat left over food and dead things! However don't ever touch them, they can give you a nip or cause a rash

There are many different marine slugs, some are fine some are not, some eat soft corals post a picture and I'm sure some one will be able to ID them for you

Good luck with the new tank, how about starting a thread for the new tank - we love to watch a new project blossom

Seffie x



ps how about a nice ft shot of your current tank?
pps welcome to TFF

 

[SkiFletch]

Fire up google and have a look at pictures of "Stomatella" and "Reef Flatworms" and see if either of those resemble the slugs?