Who Picks Through Their Chaeto?

ca1ore · 12/17/2017, 06:46 PM

I wonder if I am alone in being OCD enough to pick through my chaeto discard for brittle stars and worms? I pull a loose packed 5 gallon bucket out of my refugium about every month. I'll give it away if there are any takers, but more often than not it goes into the garden compost heap. Before doing that I sift though to rescue any animals that have called it home. Here the 'haul' this month

top shelf · 12/17/2017, 06:54 PM

I always just gave away the chaeto with whatever was in it. Figured add some diversity to someone else's refugium. If your offering next time you trim chaeto I'll pay shipping if your looking to get rid of it.

Xxero · 12/17/2017, 07:30 PM

I do the same thing, Simon.

mcgyvr · 12/18/2017, 06:23 AM

You should sell the "haul".. Always seems to be people looking for brittle stars/worms..
Not too many vendors selling a um.. "detrivore recharge kit" like that..

I will give a quick glance to the algae and if I see anything just begging for forgiveness I will rescue it but I don't go out of my way at all..

ktownhero · 12/18/2017, 07:47 AM

One time I put some chaeto suspended in a 5 gallon bucket thinking as it dried out the critters would fall to the bottom trying to find water. Then I forgot about the bucket...

About a week later I looked at at the bottom there was maybe 1/4" of freezing cold water with pods that were ALIVE. Amazing. I dumped them in the tank.

It was absolutely not worth it though. 99% of whatever was alive simply stayed in the chaeto and died. It was cool seeing how adaptable pods are though.

JammyBirch · 12/18/2017, 07:52 AM

My chaeto doesn't really get huge enough to divide and discard, although it does grow it's pretty slow. I just give it a good shake just before a water change. I figure any worms, stars or pods that come out can start working at the bottom of the fuge.

NS Mike D · 12/18/2017, 02:41 PM

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Dmorty217 · 12/18/2017, 05:59 PM

If I was closer to you Simon I would definitely buy the haul you get. I'm missing these organisms from starting my tank up with dryrock and need to source some.

ca1ore · 12/18/2017, 07:02 PM

When the weather gets better I'll send you some.

ReefMaster48 · 12/18/2017, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

I wonder if I am alone in being OCD enough to pick through my chaeto discard for brittle stars and worms? I pull a loose packed 5 gallon bucket out of my refugium about every month. I'll give it away if there are any takers, but more often than not it goes into the garden compost heap. Before doing that I sift though to rescue any animals that have called it home. Here the 'haul' this month

Im sorry, but that pic kinda freaked me out.

rvareef · 12/18/2017, 08:00 PM

one man's trash is another man's treasure

Daddi0 · 12/18/2017, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefMaster48

Im sorry, but that pic kinda freaked me out.

Probably wouldn't like our cryptic tank

jda · 12/19/2017, 02:42 AM

I don't pick through it if they are going to a reef home. If I am just going to trash it, then I get the good stuff out.

I have mysid in mine from time to time along with the starfish.

ReefMaster48 · 12/19/2017, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddi0

Probably wouldn't like our cryptic tank

See, I've been thinking about a brittle or serpent star, but a very small one. That size defiantly gives me the creeps!

homer1475 · 12/19/2017, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

If I was closer to you Simon I would definitely buy the haul you get. I'm missing these organisms from starting my tank up with dryrock and need to source some.

+1

I'm closeish to you.

Daddi0 · 12/19/2017, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefMaster48

See, I've been thinking about a brittle or serpent star, but a very small one. That size defiantly gives me the creeps!

They are actually very cool, we have 2 large ones.
Cheers! Mark

ca1ore · 12/19/2017, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefMaster48

Im sorry, but that pic kinda freaked me out.

Why, because they're in a cereal bowl? I imagine if you add milk and sugar it would be rather like shredded wheat

Reefpuck · 12/19/2017, 10:15 AM

Sounds like you should start up a side business here!

jayball · 12/19/2017, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Why, because they're in a cereal bowl? I imagine if you add milk and sugar it would be rather like shredded wheat

LOL, plenty of protein. Might want to do something with those bristle worms before you break out the spoon.

You dump those straight into the display after you harvest?

ReefMaster48 · 12/19/2017, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Why, because they're in a cereal bowl? I imagine if you add milk and sugar it would be rather like shredded wheat

Haha!

If my LFS can get one, then I might pick one up eventually. However, I will have to give it away if it gets to big. They are neat until they start getting really big. IMO anyway. lol

FoxFace Fish · 12/19/2017, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddi0

Probably wouldn't like our cryptic tank

This actually made my brain hurt.....

jacksonpt · 12/19/2017, 01:49 PM

Wow, that's some great life! The most I find is a couple asterina stars... but yes, I do pick through it before tossing.

Daddi0 · 12/19/2017, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoxFace Fish

This actually made my brain hurt.....

Well then here is a pic. of the underside - Happy Holidays

HBtank · 12/19/2017, 01:54 PM

I feel guilty throwing out anything that could contain critters, but just not possible to save every little pod.

ca1ore · 12/19/2017, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayball

You dump those straight into the display after you harvest?

Typically, when I cull the cheato I remove about half of it. I just dump the rescued stars and worms back on top of the remaining chaeto.

12/17/2017, 06:54 PM	#2
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	I always just gave away the chaeto with whatever was in it. Figured add some diversity to someone else's refugium. If your offering next time you trim chaeto I'll pay shipping if your looking to get rid of it. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

12/17/2017, 07:30 PM	#3
Xxero Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,054	I do the same thing, Simon. __________________ "You Can Lead A Gift Horse To Water... But You Can't Make Him Look In Your Mouth." Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef Display - 15g Macro Algae/Refugium - 40b Sump

12/18/2017, 06:23 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	You should sell the "haul".. Always seems to be people looking for brittle stars/worms.. Not too many vendors selling a um.. "detrivore recharge kit" like that.. I will give a quick glance to the algae and if I see anything just begging for forgiveness I will rescue it but I don't go out of my way at all.. __________________ Who me?

12/18/2017, 07:52 AM	#6
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	My chaeto doesn't really get huge enough to divide and discard, although it does grow it's pretty slow. I just give it a good shake just before a water change. I figure any worms, stars or pods that come out can start working at the bottom of the fuge. __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

12/18/2017, 05:59 PM	#8
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	If I was closer to you Simon I would definitely buy the haul you get. I'm missing these organisms from starting my tank up with dryrock and need to source some. __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

12/18/2017, 07:47 AM	#5
ktownhero Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,426	One time I put some chaeto suspended in a 5 gallon bucket thinking as it dried out the critters would fall to the bottom trying to find water. Then I forgot about the bucket... About a week later I looked at at the bottom there was maybe 1/4" of freezing cold water with pods that were ALIVE. Amazing. I dumped them in the tank. It was absolutely not worth it though. 99% of whatever was alive simply stayed in the chaeto and died. It was cool seeing how adaptable pods are though.

12/18/2017, 02:41 PM	#7
NS Mike D Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 391	Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12/18/2017, 07:02 PM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	When the weather gets better I'll send you some. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

12/18/2017, 08:00 PM	#11
rvareef In Memoriam Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 664	one man's trash is another man's treasure

12/19/2017, 02:42 AM	#13
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I don't pick through it if they are going to a reef home. If I am just going to trash it, then I get the good stuff out. I have mysid in mine from time to time along with the starfish.

12/19/2017, 10:15 AM	#18
Reefpuck Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Georgetown, TX Posts: 1,122	Sounds like you should start up a side business here! __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ 55g sump/fuge.

12/19/2017, 01:49 PM	#22
jacksonpt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 3,679	Wow, that's some great life! The most I find is a couple asterina stars... but yes, I do pick through it before tossing. __________________ Jackson - All advice I give is based on my first hand experience. YMMV. Current Tank Info: 38g (mostly LPS) with a 20g sump/fuge and all the other standard goodies

12/19/2017, 01:54 PM	#24
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	I feel guilty throwing out anything that could contain critters, but just not possible to save every little pod. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA