Scheduled tank destruction

[Sugar Magnolia]

Well, I've finally decided to do something about the unidentified coral relocating hitch-hiker in my tank. This nonsense has been going on for at least 6 months. Remember those beautiful orange rics that mysterously disappeared under the rocks? Those are now wedged up into the rockwork. At least four or five times a week this creature drags corals (tries to at least) under this rock...and it's really pissing me off! I think it may be a large Eunice worm. I honestly don't think the unidentified crab could be doing this, but who knows...I may snag him at the same time if he hides out in the rock I'm taking out.

Here's an example of what I find every other day. This zoo rock is about 3" x 5" and is usually placed about 3-4" out from the lowest rock there on the left. That rock is huge, and I know that whatever is doing this lives in that rock. Grrr....pulled part way under the rock. Can't go all the way under thankfully because it's too big. The orange/green zoos over on the right get pulled under periodically too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/stanton4/cube278.jpg

Problem #2. The GSP is taking over the left hand side of the tank and is coming dangeroulsy close to some sps and is only a few days away from swallowing up a tiny colony of deep blue zoos. Thankfully, the majority of it is on this rock that houses the moving company.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/stanton4/cube280.jpg

So, my plan is to pull out the top rocks and any in the middle that need to come out to get at this beast of a rock. Once I get it out, I'll whip out the hammer and chisel and take off the corals I want to keep, try to peel off some GSP to glue to my new overflow, and then dip that rock in some fresh water to see who bails out of it. If nothing comes out...that really loud scream you hear....that would be me. :D

I picked up a nice flat 11# piece of rock to replace that one, so hopefully I won't be spending hours rescaping the tank.

[gman0526]

Whoa Nelly!!! I have been dreading the same thing for months now and I just can't make myself do it. I have mysteriously lost 3 fish the last few weeks:
My YWG, a 6-line wrasse and a dispar anthias, this is got to stop!!!

Oh well...enough of my whining. Good luck and if you could make a photo journal that would be awesome...so we can share your pain.

BTW does this mean that the closed loop will be installed this WE?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Nope, the closed loop wasn't installed, but I rearranged the entire rock structure to make room for the gigantic Lifereef overflow box.

I broke apart two rocks looking for the culprit and never found it. I did however find where it had been holed up. I took out two of the rocks on top of the pile and found this mess. Apparently it likes to eat margarita snails.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/stanton4/cube289.jpg

I'm now 100% positive it's not a worm. For months now I've been hearing an occasional click, sometimes two or three in succesion. All this time I thought it was my heater turning on and off. It's NOT THE HEATER!!!

After I had taken out the rocks and smashed them open, finding nothing, I went back to the tank and starting moving things around and heard the clicking in the tank. Dangit!! I've been outsmarted by a stupid shrimp. It must have taken cover when I started yanking stuff out of the tank.

So, I'm stuck with either a pistol who wants nothing to do with my YWG or a small mantis that isn't big enough yet to catch my four fish.

I'm rather annoyed.

[gman0526]

Is there any holes on the shells? If there is, that would be your indication of a mantis in the tank. If not most likely is a pistol or maybe a crab..

[pilotrob]

this all is terrifyingly familiar - ive been hearing clicking noises for some time but havent lost anything. ive looked in vain to find it. i did find a HUGE crab in there with the flashlight that i havent been able to get but i cant recall them making clicking noises. if you continue your pursuit, i wish you well and am very curious to see what you find.

[tinyreef]

i vote crab. i think you would've seen shrimp moltings (faster grower) by now if it was a shrimp. crab blend in better too.

how about setting a trap for the little sob? jar with shrimp glued to the bottom or something similar. shrimp can easily swim about but the crab is screwed.

[cich1]

wow this is strange because i think i have a monster in my tank too,
when i go to bed at night all is well in the tank but when i get up it looks like a tidal wave went through with corals all knocked off the rockwork, i used to think it was my gbs on the prowl at night but he is long gone i know i have a pistol in there even though i haven't seen him in months i do still here him click now and then and my snail population has dewindled down to nothing. its time for a tank tear down.
i want to reaquascape anyway but i'm looking for a couple of nice rocks to add and i have a new overflow i want to put on and my sump is way overdue for a good cleaning after a year of running with no mechical filtration you can imagine what a mess it is

[Sugar Magnolia]

i vote crab.
You may be right tiny, I haven't seen any shrimp molts other than my cleaner and peppermint.

I have, however, found this on several occasions:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/stanton4/cube299.jpg

Found this one this portion of a molt this morning. Bad guy for sure, but I didn't think a crab with such small pinchers could be so darn destructive, plus the clicking is throwing me off - crabs click? Guess mine does.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Oh and btw...here's the godawful mess I made of my tank. I hate it, but got so disgusted with the whole situation on Saturday that I just tossed stuff back in. I need to work on it some more. Ignore the cups - holding frags for shipment until I get them bagged up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/stanton4/cube296.jpg