Help Request: Please Identifying Species Prior to Removal

bensonw · Sep 11, 2012

Howdy everyone! Since last couple weeks, I noticed there are 3 species in the tank that I know for sure are not purchased. Since I haven't added anything to the tank for the last 3+ months, I kind of tag them as hostiles. Before I remove them, I really hope you guys can help me to ID them...so I don't kill off anything friendly/beneficial? Only own the tank for about a year...so a novice still. Thanks a million, guys, for helping out!!!

So far, they look like 1)Aiptasia (Specie with tentacle around center of photo), 2)Green Bubble Algae (on snail and a few on a tiny live rock), 3)Hair Algae (looks like moss).

-Alan

Loki · Sep 11, 2012

You are correct. Take the snail out and pull the buble off trying very hard not to pop it. I would also get a bowl of tank water setup to dip the snail in a few times just to rinse it off before putting it back into the tank.

Aptasia: can you remove the piece that its on? Do you have some sort of tool that can chip that part of the rock off? If so do that. If not then get some kalk and feed it a paste made of kalk and tank water. Or you could always get a high power laser and cook that sucker!

Algae. Not sure what it is exacly but lowering nitrates should help eliminate it. If you have a sump I would put some chaeto in there to help consume the nitrates and fight this algae off. Feed less would be a big help as well.

Rob.D · Sep 11, 2012

You have ID'd all correctly, there areseveral ways to rid aptaisia...kalwasser paste, Joe's Juice, aptasiaX, and peppermint shrimp.

My method of removing bubble algaeis by placing rigid airline inside soft tubing and siphoning out thebubbles.

Hair algae grows from nutrients, the only way to getrid of it it through manual removal, water changes, and GFO
.

bensonw · Sep 11, 2012

First of all, thank you everyone for the information! Unlike some other sites, this site is so awesome since when you need assistance, you actually get it!

Once I return home from work, I will pull that snail out to flick off (gently) that GBA. The problems lie with that sever small GBAs on the tiny live rock; the mushroom (think that's what it is) is attached to it (as shown on the 1st picture). I can take it out since it's a small rock, but dipping it can be dangerous right, to the mushroom?

As for the Aiptasia, do you guy feel that it's safe to leave it there...that's the only one and it's tiny. Only thing I am concerned is that it seems to grow as quick as the algae. Perhaps it's okay to pull it off the rock using fingers or tweezers?

Thanks again all for the help!

-Alan

SeahorseKeeper · Sep 11, 2012

For the aiptasia, I would inject it with a kalk (or Mrs. Wages pickling lime) solution. If you pluck it, you risk stressing it and it sending spores throughout the tank.

bensonw · Sep 11, 2012

Problem is that I do not have any kalk (honest, I do not know the term). If memory serves me correctly, the rock that aiptasia attaches to is tiny (~2"x2"x2")too, which I can take out. Sad thing is that there are a few little polyp on that rock...

-Alan

SeahorseKeeper · Sep 11, 2012

You can try a lemon juice.

bensonw · Sep 11, 2012

As for the algae, maybe I can cut back a little bit on food and lighting time...checked 3 days ago the Nitrite/Nitrates/ammonia are at the lowest bracket compared to testing kit chart. pH is between 8-8.5, calcium between 420-440, temp between 76-78F...everything seems happy so far it seems...

Only thing keeps dying on me is the snails...many flipped over and by the time I noticed they were goner or about to

bensonw · Sep 12, 2012

Lemon juice? I think I have lemon at home...do you know the suitable ratio or straight shot? 1ml ok, since it's a tiny little guy?

Thanks again

-Alan

steamer51 · Sep 12, 2012

If you try lemon juice don't mix with water, use full strength. A syringe full squirted directly on the aiptasia has worked well for me in the past. The aiptasia will retreat back into a hole in the rock if it can so shoot more in the hole if it does. An eyedropper or even turkey baster can be used if you don't have a syringe. Watch the area closely for the next couple of days to make sure the aiptasia is dead and does not come back due to just being wounded. The most important thing right now is to kill it soon. It is easy to think a couple of small aiptasia are kind of a neat new life in a new tank and they are small and won't hurt anything. Wrong!!! They will multiply and cover your tank as long as they have food (you have excess nutrients in your tank that the algaes are feeding on) and light (they don't need much).