IS this stuff bad?

[rebecca]

I have these things growing all over my one rock in my tank they look kinda like feathers brown in color, sorry for the bad pic's, just wondering if they are bad or not.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Rebecca I am sorry to say but yes they are very bad and will take over your tank. They will sting corals and multiply faster than rabbits.

You need a few Peppermint shrimp to take care of the major infestation you already have plus you need to start killing them by other methods.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/anemonecare/a/aa100798.htm

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Oh they are what's called Aiptasia Anemone's.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I edited my first post because I said the wrong shrimp and added more info.

 

[rebecca]

They aren't the normal Aiptasia as I have a few of these, I know I need a better pic, but they are flowing feather like things, let me take some more shots and see if I can get a better one, thanks for the reply

 

[rebecca]

It's almost like this stuff only a lot smaller and a darker brown..

 

[rebecca]

And I must add it doesn't grow tall at all.

 

[killingseed2000]

looks like some kind of macro algea over taking. better picture would be helpful.

 

[rebecca]

Let me try turning off the flow and see if that will help with the pic's

 

[killingseed2000]

Dinoflagellates bloom maybe?

 

[rebecca]

I looked up Dinoflagellates bloom but these are attahed to the rock.

 

[rebecca]

I can see how they do look like Aiptasia but they aren't, I could get a better pic of them if they were not on the biggest rock in my tank...lol it takes up the whole left side half.

 

[Emokidjosh]

So it is it like this?
http://www.aquariumarts.com/brownstarpolyp.jpeg

 

[Hypertek99]

Can't tell by the blurry pics but they look like Hydroids to me. And yes they are bad they will sting other corals.

 

[Patwa]

here's a solid test to see if it's an anemone....touch one...if it (fully) retracts faster than you can say "aiptasia", it's a 99% positive ID on it being an anemone of some sort...and of course, it should be eradicated immediately.

until you know what it is, i recommend QUARANTINING that rock asap...prevent it from spreading until you know fo sho!

never skip a beat with your display tank when you see stuff like this!

trust

Zach.

 

[rebecca]

Nah it's not star polyps I wish they were, I thing hypertek99 nailed it for what they are, hmm looks like I better pull my frags off that rock I glued on and get it out of my tank Thanks guys for the help.

 

[rebecca]

Patwa, yes they go back in their holes as soon as I touch them.

 

[Patwa]

Patwa, yes they go back in their holes as soon as I touch them.

then that rock has to get 'treated' right away...step to it

g'luck

Zach

 

[Hypertek99]

If they are kinda tube like and they go back in their tubes then they are Hydroids. Yes they spread very fast. The only way to get rid of them off that rock is pick them out with tweezers and let the rock sit out and dry.

 

[rebecca]

There are a different kind that are in lil tubes, kinda a yellow in color feather type thing that sticks out, but I did notice, the brown ones don't go back all the way into the rock, the feather head stays out but the rest goes in, if that makes any sense.