ID please

[mginani]

I noticed two of these pop up in my tank? Anyone know what it is? Nothing has been added to my tank for at least a year. Thank you!

 

[MnFish1]

I noticed two of these pop up in my tank? Anyone know what it is? Nothing has been added to my tank for at least a year. Thank you!

It looks like a 'glass anemone' AKA Aiptasia. And to my eye - looks like its stinging some of the nearby zoas

 

[ScottyD36]

Aiptasia

 

[Tired]

Aiptasia. Kill it with aiptasia-X, or by removing the rock from the water and covering the anemone in superglue.

 

[mginani]

Aiptasia

Are we sure that is what it is? I have not added anything to my tank for a long while so not sure how it would get in there. Tank is many years old.

 

[MnFish1]

Are we sure that is what it is? I have not added anything to my tank for a long while so not sure how it would get in there. Tank is many years old.

Its interesting - because - if you think about it - with the statement above, it shouldn't be there at all, but it is (i.e. even if its not aiptasia, since you haven't added anything, this 'thing' shouldn't have appeared). It certainly looks like aiptasia - and aiptasia can grow in areas that are not seen (under rock, etc) then pop up - when you least expect it. Aiptasia also does not necessarily spread all over the tank. When I first started reefing - I had one - and it stayed 'one'. never spread, etc.

 

[Goaway]

Are we sure that is what it is? I have not added anything to my tank for a long while so not sure how it would get in there. Tank is many years old.

They can hide in the rocks for years before they want to surface. Just because you didn't see it before, doesn't mean it was never there.

 

[beehive124]

+1 Aiptasia Anemone.

 

[mginani]

Okay. Is it better left alone? I’ve heard using Aiptasia-x or other methods can make the issue worse.

 

[beehive124]

An Aiptasia Eating Filefish can solve your problem. They’re relatively inexpensive and just a hilarious fish to watch. One of my favorite fish in the hobby. They’ll wipe out the aiptasia pretty quickly. After they run out of aiptasia to eat they love frozen mysis. I think they’re a great addition to any reef aquarium.

 

[Tired]

Don't leave it in there, it'll more than likely multiply. Don't get a fish just to eat one aiptasia, either. Just pull the rock out of the water, wait for the aiptasia to retract, and cover it in a few drops of liquid superglue. It can't release any spores if you've sealed it under glue.

 

[MnFish1]

Okay. Is it better left alone? I’ve heard using Aiptasia-x or other methods can make the issue worse.

Since it is stinging the surrounding coral (by my eye) - I would take it out. I would tend to do what the other poster said. Super glue - making absolutely sure you cover the whole base. Then - I would look carefully around the rest of the tank - for 'more'.

 

[MnFish1]

Since it is stinging the surrounding coral (by my eye) - I would take it out. I would tend to do what the other poster said. Super glue - making absolutely sure you cover the whole base. Then - I would look carefully around the rest of the tank - for 'more'.

PS - though the palytoxin thing will not likely be in play here - I would wear glasses and gloves when you take the rock out of the water (assuming you can take the rock out of the water)

 

[ScottyD36]

Are we sure that is what it is? I have not added anything to my tank for a long while so not sure how it would get in there. Tank is many years old.

Yup I have them in both my tanks. I use aptasia X as the quick solution. I have a Aptasia eating filefish in my big tank and berghai nudibranch in my small tank. Either way get rid of it quickly, no good comes from them.