So still new and have questions...

[Mackinback]

I'm still getting accustomed to my nano tank and all the different life inside it's glass walls...
So I'm fighting a steady stream of atpashia. I was a little careless at first, so I probably had some spores released because of that. But I've got some good medicine (at least I think it's good) Red Sea's Aiptasia-X.. Also have Blue Vet's Aiptasia RX. But I have been dealing with them as they pop up..
So my question is.. What is this stuff?

I only ask because it looks similar to Aiptasia and even acts like it when touched.
Now I know I could just have some bad rock. And I will decide that when I upgrade this tank to a slightly larger (15ish gal) tank. But I have heard some rock needs to be bleached or just gotten rid of. So we'll see. Maybe if I am careful with the current Aiptasia and get it all medicated, I could be good.

So question # 2 is, I see these dark bubbles form from time to time.. I've seen it on the rock.. Even on my candy cane coral. And even (in this picture) on the glass..

Now I've removed them from the coral when I see it. But just wanting to know what the heck it is? Good? Bad? Neutral?
And since we are on the topic of bubbles... Should I sift through the substrate like one does in Fresh water? To avoid nitrogen pockets or whatever... This tank has a finely granulated crushed coral.. but there is also about 2" of it in the tank too..

Thanks for the help!

MacK

 

[Zeal]

Green stuff is bubble algae, careful popping them in the tank could make it worse.

Also get some peppermint shrimp they LOVE atpashia.

 

[James M]

Not all peppermint shrimp eat aptasia , so hits a hit or miss .

 

[Mackinback]

Hey Zeal.. Bubble algae.. Ok cool.. I'll read into it..
As for the peppermint shrimp.. I've heard mixed thoughts on them.. Sometimes they will eat coral.. Sometimes they work out great. So I might try one or two..
I'm working with a 9gal tank.. So not much room to play with.

 

[3mm3]

I'm thinking the first picture is colonial hydroids.

Definitely remove the bubble algae as you find them.

 

[Zeal]

Hey Zeal.. Bubble algae.. Ok cool.. I'll read into it..
As for the peppermint shrimp.. I've heard mixed thoughts on them.. Sometimes they will eat coral.. Sometimes they work out great. So I might try one or two..
I'm working with a 9gal tank.. So not much room to play with.

1 could be enough. I think they'll ignore the coral for the aptasia

Edit: Whered you get this rock Honestly id start over... your tank is small. Seems like a loot of issues with this rock

 

[Mackinback]

1 could be enough. I think they'll ignore the coral for the aptasia

Edit: Whered you get this rock Honestly id start over... your tank is small. Seems like a loot of issues with this rock

I bought the tank established.. But yeah... I just may start new. Then my concern is just some of the coral that has taken to the rock since I've had it.

 

[Mackinback]

I'm thinking the first picture is colonial hydroids.

Definitely remove the bubble algae as you find them.

I think you are right 3mm3.. So before I start googling.. Is it good or bad? Not exactly great to look at. heh

 

[Zeal]

I think you are right 3mm3.. So before I start googling.. Is it good or bad? Not exactly great to look at. heh

Very bad

 

[3mm3]

I think you are right 3mm3.. So before I start googling.. Is it good or bad? Not exactly great to look at. heh

Well I had one little spot on a rock for years and they never spread. But after I transferred the rock into my new setup they have been spreading. Several spots now. In all honesty I do not feel they are as bad as bubble algae and aiptasia. I have colonial hydroids and encrusting montipora touching with no damage to the coral. On the other hand aiptasia sting and kill a variety of corals. Bubble algae too if touching a coral will kill the area it is against. Not sure how I but may did into that.

If you can remove the rock and razor off the hydroids I would.

 

[cristata.reef]

@Zeal yeah peppermints don't always eat aiptasia. The reason behind this? There are actually several species in the Lysmata wurdemanii complex that are morphologically identical. Despite their outward appearance they could not be more different from each other in terms of compatibility in our tanks, with some being beneficial and others mini-shrimp terrors. Berghias are a good alternative as is Aiptasia X

 

[Mackinback]

Well hmm.. It's a constant stream of bad news with this tank.. lol
I'll continue with my meds for the aiptasia.. I see a couple small ones now anyways.. Too small to medicate.
So now I want to focus on colonial hydroids..
I have some of this (coral maybe) layered stuff.. And it's growing through this too..

If I am going to try removing the rock.. Can I pick the brown stuff off to grow elsewhere? I can pick the colonial hydroids off pretty easy.. But who's to say it won't come back.
Thanks for the input thus far everyone.