Aiptasia?

[Gobyraider]

New 29 gallons tank, still cycling, mostly dry rock with some live rock. I'm new to reef, long time with planted freshwater tanks. Is this Aiptasia?

Any idea about this? Is more yellow than is looks here maybe 1/4 inch:

Thanks!

 

[andrewey]

First picture is aiptasia.

 

[BighohoReef]

+1 @andrewey

The second picture looks like a sponge. Do you have a closer shot of it though?

Does it look like this guy?

 

[Gobyraider]

Not sure...I will try another pic. It looks smother.

 

[Gobyraider]

better pic, looks a lot like your picture!

 

[evolved]

Yeah, that's a ball sponge. Harmless.

 

[Gobyraider]

Thanks for your help, guys!

 

[Gobyraider]

Here is another angle of the bugger...
Second pic is pointing the rock where it lives....Do you think it will be safer just to pull he small rock and treat it in separate container?

 

[reefwiser]

Best to remove the rock or if you want use reef epoxy to to Smother the aiptasia

 

[Fishbird]

If you’re able, I would pull the rock out, treat the Aiptasia, and keep the rock in a separate container for a few weeks to make sure that treatment was successful. (Treatment = squirt with lemon juice, boiling water, any of the commercially available anti-Aiptasia Products, etc.)

 

[Gobyraider]

If you’re able, I would pull the rock out, treat the Aiptasia, and keep the rock in a separate container for a few weeks to make sure that treatment was successful. (Treatment = squirt with lemon juice, boiling water, any of the commercially available anti-Aiptasia Products, etc.)

Sounds like a plan, Thanks!

 

[Fishbird]

Also since this came up in another thread today, Aiptasia reproduce sexually and asexually. There are several species of Aiptasia where a phenomenon called trioecy can occur. Typically an Aiptasia will produce either eggs or sperm but at least some species can have males, females, and individuals that produce both eggs and sperm all living together. It seems to be pretty well documented that in the aquarium most reproduction is asexual where the parent anemone moves, leaving behind a very small piece of its foot, and then that tissue grows into a new anemone. Individuals can also regrow from microscopic amounts of tissue which is why manual removal is hard. You have to remove a layer of the rock that was under the foot, to make sure you removed all of the tissue.

All of this is why I suggested treating the rock in a separate container. That way, if whatever you try at first doesn’t work, you at least can relax knowing that the rock isn’t in your DT potentially increasing the Aiptasia population in there.

Good luck! They have the potential to be really annoying but I also kind of admire how adaptive they are.

 

[Gobyraider]

I moved the rock to a plastic tub, treated with lemon juice. Its a small rock, I will keep it there for a couple of weeks. I can plug the hole with epoxy, scrape of the whole section. If it keeps coming back I will just let it dry out.
Just checked all the other rock, didn't found any, I will keep an eye on it.

Thanks for the info!

 

[sixline]

I agree that removing and treating is the best option.

Just make sure to carefully check the rest of the tank including the top corners of the glass. They like to hide up there sometimes.

 

[Gobyraider]

Just an update, the Aiptasia removal was a success...
So far I have added a pair of clowns, CUC and yesterday a Royal gramma!
I keep finding stuff growing on the rocks.

Any idea what are these?

Thanks!