Is this Aiptasia?

Slingshot357 · Sep 4, 2019

Not sure if this is Aiptasia or not. its a very bright teal green. I had Aiptasia before, years ago, but it was a dull tan and ugly. this is actually kinda nice looking but seems to be growing and spreading. Might need to get a peppermint shrimp.

flchamp89 · Sep 4, 2019

It's not aptasia. Picture is blurry on my phone. Could be colonial hydroids or FD I can't tell.

Silent · Sep 4, 2019

Not sure. Kind of looks like baby aptasia but either way if its speading and you didn't put it in there I would be taking that rock out just to be safe.

resortez · Sep 4, 2019

+1 on the hydroids.

Slingshot357 · Sep 4, 2019

flchamp89 said:
It's not aptasia. Picture is blurry on my phone. Could be colonial hydroids or FD I can't tell.

I think you’re correct. I looked up Colonial Hydroids and it does resemble it. The question now would be is it harmless?

Searching online I haven’t been able to find a reasonable way to get rid of it, so if it’s relatively harmless I’ll leave it alone.

I can’t just remove the rock. It’s in several different places on many different rocks most of which are fairly large and are supporting other rocks. Beside, the only way to be sure I got it all would be to remove all the rocks.

Not sure what I should do. Any advice?

flchamp89 · Sep 4, 2019

Slingshot357 said:
I think you’re correct. I looked up Colonial Hydroids and it does resemble it. The question now would be is it harmless?

Searching online I haven’t been able to find a reasonable way to get rid of it, so if it’s relatively harmless I’ll leave it alone.

I can’t just remove the rock. It’s in several different places on many different rocks most of which are fairly large and are supporting other rocks. Beside, the only way to be sure I got it all would be to remove all the rocks.

Not sure what I should do. Any advice?

Lots of reefs have these. There unsightly and often show up with other algae as its believed they are excess nutrient delivered. Managing import typically keeps them in balance.

Slingshot357 · Sep 4, 2019

flchamp89 said:
Lots of reefs have these. There unsightly and often show up with other algae as its believed they are excess nutrient delivered. Managing import typically keeps them in balance.

Thanks for the follow up. I’ll leave it be. It’s actually not bad looking and glows a bright green under the blue light.

I’ll do a better job at managing my nutrients and my bio load is very small. Only a few small fish, one small anemone and one small coral in 90 gallons.

Thanks again for your help!

resortez · Sep 4, 2019

I’ve personally never dealt with hydroids before but I’ve heard that they tend to disappear on their own & that peppermint shrimps will also feast on them like they do with aptasia.

Slingshot357 · Sep 4, 2019

resortez said:
I’ve personally never dealt with hydroids before but I’ve heard that they tend to disappear on their own & that peppermint shrimps will also feast on them like they do with aptasia.

I’ll give it a shot. My pets could always use a new tank mate and it gives me an excuse with my wife to get one.