HELP. What is this?

byron · Feb 13, 2014

tank: 450g display, 150g fuge, 150g sump... fairly new system - has been up for around 18mos now. Tank is a mix of fish and coral. I apologize for the lack of clarity in the images, I was unable to capture crisp images.

Don't know whether to be concerned about this or not. Thanks for any help... I'm still new to this stuff.

This is growing in the fuge in the middle of the chaeto:

This may be the same thing? It is growing in the display tank in multiple places around on the rock.

BigRedSquid · Feb 13, 2014

Looks like aptasia

ReefRMadness · Feb 13, 2014

Aptasia. Aka glass anemone. Its a common pest

byron · Feb 13, 2014

What are better methods for eradicating and controlling it? Does it spreading rapidly once in a system?

I have read that peppermint shrimp tend to feed on aptasia. Other livestock solutions? I've got a bunch of reading to go do...

Katesreef · Feb 13, 2014

Bad Bad Bad....I boil a small amount rodi water (1/4 cup maybe) add pickling lime to a consistancy that will just come out a syringe. It's pretty thick. I cover the nasty thing completely with it. Works better than Aiptasia X or the other stuff. Pickling lime is from Walmart or the grocery store. Peppermint shrimp are hit and miss. (Didn't work for me) I have a copperbanded butterfly in one tank that keeps them totally out of the tank but still have them in sump. Take care of them now or they will cover your whole tank. They sting corals.

NanaReefer · Feb 13, 2014

Just curious, where did you get your chaeto?

byron · Feb 13, 2014

NanaReefer said:
Just curious, where did you get your chaeto?

originally from ReefCleaners.org - 15mos ago, later (9mos ago) from LSF ( ABC Reefs in Syracuse)

byron · Feb 13, 2014

been reading on Berghia Nudibranch -- what do you think for that route to clean up the tank? they seem to have been bred to attack aptasia.

GHill762 · Feb 13, 2014

byron said:
been reading on Berghia Nudibranch -- what do you think for that route to clean up the tank? they seem to have been bred to attack aptasia.

I've heard they can rid a tank of aip quick, which is great, but nudi's have very specialized diets and will die if you don't move them to another tank full of aiptasia.. your infestation isn't nearly bad enough to use berghias imo (unless there is a lot more we aren't seeing in photos)..

byron · Feb 13, 2014

GHill762 said:
I've heard they can rid a tank of aip quick, which is great, but nudi's have very specialized diets and will die if you don't move them to another tank full of aiptasia.. your infestation isn't nearly bad enough to use berghias imo (unless there is a lot more we aren't seeing in photos)..

I don't the the experience to know how much "bad" would be, but it is starting t show in 6+ places on the rock at one end -- and at least that one giant on in the fuge -- I thought it was a huge mushroom when I first saw it.

Here a pic of the tank:

GHill762 · Feb 13, 2014

byron said:
I don't the the experience to know how much "bad" would be, but it is starting t show in 6+ places on the rock at one end -- and at least that one giant on in the fuge -- I thought it was a huge mushroom when I first saw it.

Here a pic of the tank:

wow, that's a gorgeous tank and it looks like a beautiful home.. you have chairs at your tank too? nice!!

byron · Feb 13, 2014

here is a link to the build thread for anyone wanting to see the system:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/la...%E9s-465g-reef-700g-total-13.html#post1599780

byron · Feb 13, 2014

GHill762 said:
wow, that's a gorgeous tank and it looks like a beautiful home.. you have chairs at your tank too? nice!!

thanks... its relaxing to sit here and gaze into the tank

vlangel · Feb 13, 2014

GHill762 said:
wow, that's a gorgeous tank and it looks like a beautiful home.. you have chairs at your tank too? nice!!

I second what a beautiful tank but face those chairs the other direction! Just kidding, it looks awesome.

GHill762 · Feb 13, 2014

vlangel said:
I second what a beautiful tank but face those chairs the other direction! Just kidding, it looks awesome.

I'd bet you good money that they (or at least one of them) spend a fair chunk of time facing the other direction..

Reefing Madness · Feb 13, 2014

The Berghia Nudibranch is good to use, but they need some guidance in finding some Aiptasia, as they are slow.
You can shoot em with Lemon Juice. Get a syringe, fill it with Lemon Juice and inject it into the stalk of the critter
Matted Filefish
Copperbanded Butterfly
Peppermint Shrimp
Aiptasia injection with lemon juice Pt 1 - YouTube

byron · Feb 13, 2014

we actually have changed the media room furniture around some have the sofa now facing the aquarium as well:

Here are a couple of current shots of the cluttered up fish room behind the DT: (as long as I keep the door shut, no one sees what a mess it is :bigsmile: )

byron · Feb 13, 2014

back on topic, last night I added a handful of peppermint shrimp... don't know if it will do anything or not, but I'll watch and see. Sounds like that may not have been a good course, but its been done already.

from checking around, there may not be enough Aptasia in there yet to keep a colony of Berghia fed and I don't want to starve them after they fix my issue. I will pick the Aptasia out of the fuge that I can find and keep eye on things.

GHill762 · Feb 13, 2014

byron said:
back on topic, last night I added a handful of peppermint shrimp... don't know if it will do anything or not, but I'll watch and see. Sounds like that may not have been a good course, but its been done already.

from checking around, there may not be enough Aptasia in there yet to keep a colony of Berghia fed and I don't want to starve them after they fix my issue. I will pick the Aptasia out of the fuge that I can find and keep eye on things.

I wouldn't pick them out. You can cut under them if they're on glass but pulling or tearing them will make them spread.