Glass anemone?

[Cookedsushi]

I recently made the jump to saltwater after keeping freshwater fish for 20 or so years. I have live rock cycling in my tank now. Before I run out and buy a peppermint shrimp, could someone confirm that this is a glass anemone? I found 3 of them (so far) in my tank. From pictures that I saw, the base seems to be longer. These things appear to be most tentacles. But the ones in my tank are very small right now.

 

[haleyf1024]

Looks like aiptasia to me

 

[Tahoe61]

Yes to Aiptasia, if you bought the rock from a LFS I would tell them to refund your money. Next I would buy dry rock and seed it. You really do not want to start out this hobby/SW with the major headache that are Aiptasia. Peppermint shrimp come with their own issues.

 

[Cookedsushi]

I did indeed buy it from a LFS. I'll have to have a chat with the owner on Monday. I did also happen to buy dry rock which I do have curing now in a separate tank. Thanks for the info.

 

[jautry77]

It's not really that huge of a deal. Aiptasia x is easy to kill them. I actually use kalkwasser and a little water make a paste And apply with a medicine dropper. Directly on them and they shrivel rt up. Everyone in saltwater has there opinions ab live rock. I love it for reef tanks cause all the hitchhikers are what you would have in real life. Best of luck with your new venture.

 

[haleyf1024]

It's not a big deal, get some Kalk powder and mix it with a bit of water to make a thick paste. Suck it up into a turkey baster and blast them with it. I always use that method and have killed some monsters (3") with it. Good luck! Not worth killing the entire rock and re-cycling just for a few tiny aiptasia

 

[haleyf1024]

IME, it's nearly impossible to get a ton of LR without also getting one or two aiptasia.

 

[cloak]

If you can remove the rock with ease just burn the sucker off with a cigarette lighter or something. In some cases, theres really no need to go out & buy kalkwasser & a syringe. Everybody has some matches in their house...

 

[Tahoe61]

IME, it's nearly impossible to get a ton of LR without also getting one or two aiptasia.

Actually you used to be able to get LR without a ton of pest, no Aiptasia or Majano, now hobbyist just accept it and retailers are able to sell it.

Live rock used to mean sponges, gorgonians, some lps or corallimorphs, coralline algae to name a few.

Getting LR with pest from the LFS should not become the new norm.

 

[cloak]

What about a Mantis shrimp and those Bobbit worms? Out of sight out of mind perhaps, or just the luck of the draw?

I'm definitely a big fan of LIVE rock btw.

 

[CoralClark]

Yes to Aiptasia, if you bought the rock from a LFS I would tell them to refund your money. Next I would buy dry rock and seed it. You really do not want to start out this hobby/SW with the major headache that are Aiptasia. Peppermint shrimp come with their own issues.

+1

 

[Tahoe61]

What about a Mantis shrimp and those Bobbit worms? Out of sight out of mind perhaps, or just the luck of the draw?

I'm definitely a big fan of LIVE rock btw.

Excellent point.

I have dealt with all of the above and Majano, Aiptasia. I will take a Mantis or predatory worm over having to deal with Aiptasia for months on end. I know all the remedies for Aiptasia, have used all resources.

Fully cured live rock is my preference if available.

Personally I do not believe one should have to pay the high price for live rock and then keep paying the price down the line to treat for pest that are avoidable. How convenient is that, sell you LR with pest, then sell you peppermint shrimp, Aiptasia X, traps.........Flatworm Exit.....

Just selling a product without pest seems too much to ask today.

 

[CoralClark]

Aiptasia multiply like crazy! If u don't stay on top of them u will have a bunch of those little ugly suckers all over the tank! I agree with everything Tahoe61 has said.

 

[haleyf1024]

I'm willing to deal with a few pests for the rock my LFS sells. It has clams, rose corals, sponges, tunicates, cup coral, macro algae, crabs and more. If it were just fiji rock, it would be different. IMO, it's easier to just deal with the few pests than completely take it out and try to find perfect rock. I do agree though that non-aquacultured rock quality need to go back up.