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Here are some interesting things that grow in our tanks that aren't readily visible. You may even have wondered if they are okay or not. Unless I state differently, most items taken in my reef are fine or I would have eliminated them.

Asterina starfish. They self-propagate by ripping themselves apart and grow more arms from the center. For the most part, they are well-behaved. Sometimes you'll see them on zoanthids, and it might be good to rescue the polyps manually. If they appear ...

The most frequent question I get is "What type of macro algae is that in your refugium?" It's feather caulerpa (C. Sertulariodes), and I've been growing it for at least 8 years. I've used a few others, but this one has been the dominant one. From time to time I'll pull a few handfuls out, usually when someone needs some. I thought I'd clean it up but noticed the tiny pods, bugs and other items so instead I grabbed my camera.

Here's a close ...

Every three months, I refill the poly tank to the top with RO/DI water. This upright container is rated at 265g, and I have a small float installed to stop filling it at 250g. This provides enough room to add salt to the water.

For the past three years, I've used Sybon Reef Blend salt. It takes two cases of salt to mix up 250g at 1.026sg, so I got four cases of Fritz salt last year and am finally getting around to using it. Right before the cold front hit my area on Sunday, I ...

... but the refugium is still lit up, it's easy to grab my Nikon and get a few more pictures for the night.

Feather caulerpa fills the refugium from end to end.

These sponges are growing on the back wall, so I moved some plants out of the way to inspect them. I spy some red feather dusters, lots of spirorbid worms, and some amphipods scurrying around.

...

Before attending Fragniappe, I had the opportunity to visit this fish store. Coral Connection is a two-story business with a history. Years ago, it was a place to hang out, where you enjoyed a daiquiri and talked about the hobby. Over time, it morphed into a full business, but as you walk around you still feel like it used to be a bar.

As soon as I walked in, I was amused by the sign on the door.

The lower level has a number of ...