Hydroid Jellyfish

[Marsh980]

When it rain it pours....

After seeing my first Aiptasia yesterday that I smothered with epoxy, I’ve now seen tiny organisms on my tank glass. Probably about 30 in total.

I initially thought they were starfish but after doing some digging on the internet I think they’re Hydroid Jellyfish.

My tank is approx 7-8 weeks old. Could that be the reason for them and I’ve read that they appear on newer tanks and disappear when it comes more established.

Can anyone help me on this and what I should do?

 

[MERKEY]

Its nothing to worry about...they will vanish as the tank gets established.

Do you have a cleanup crew? This is a good sign you are ready for one.

 

[SandJ]

It could be Aiptasia that we’re released when you bothered the adult ones in the tank. I have had this happen before. The adults will release very tiny babies when they feel threatened.
Hydroids tends to stick to the glass in multiple places in a circular pattern while baby aiptasia attach in one spot with little arms toward the inside of the tank.

 

[Marsh980]

Its nothing to worry about...they will vanish as the tank gets established.

Do you have a cleanup crew? This is a good sign you are ready for one.

Thank you very much for putting my mind at ease. Would it be better to scrape them off the glass so the sand sifters can get them.

Yes I have a number of Spiny Star Astrea, Nassarius, conchs, trochus, one Scarlett hermit, 2 Mexican turbo snails and a sand sifting starfish.

My trochus snails spend all their time on my rock and not on the glass

 

[Marsh980]

It could be Aiptasia that we’re released when you bothered the adult ones in the tank. I have had this happen before. The adults will release very tiny babies when they feel threatened.
Hydroids tends to stick to the glass in multiple places in a circular pattern while baby aiptasia attach in one spot with little arms toward the inside of the tank.

I only had one Aiptasia and it was 2mm long so is that an adult who could release babies. The organisms look like this

 

[MERKEY]

Thank you very much for putting my mind at ease. Would it be better to scrape them off the glass so the sand sifters can get them.

Yes I have a number of Spiny Star Astrea, Nassarius, conchs, trochus, one Scarlett hermit, 2 Mexican turbo snails and a sand sifting starfish.

My trochus snails spend all their time on my rock and not on the glass

Unless there are thousands id leave them...they are doing their small part in the bio diversity of your tank. In a couple weeks you probably won't see anymore

But definitely clean your glass so you can see your tank. You won't hurt anything by scraping the glass clean.

 

[SandJ]

I only had one Aiptasia and it was 2mm long so is that an adult who could release babies. The organisms look like this

That is a hydroid. That is what I meant by stuck to the glass in multiple places in a circular pattern.
a 2mm aiptasia would be a baby one. Aiptasia can get up to several inches tall.