what's this growing on my coral?

cryotek74 · Apr 9, 2016

So I got this coral and notice this had been starting to grow out of the frag/rock the coral is on. SO what is this growing from the bottom? Almost looks like roots. Thanks in advance for the help.

melypr1985 · Apr 9, 2016

That, my dear, is aptasia. Kill it! That's a pest anemone that spreads quickly and will sting your corals... not to mention it's ugly. There are several methods of removal - joe's juice, aptasia X, lasers. Just pick your favorite and remove that sucker before it spreads. Good luck!

cryotek74 · Apr 9, 2016

thanks for the quick reply. I'll get it killed.

Bubblebass · Apr 9, 2016

I'd just chip off that part of the rock. If you can't then super glue over it. If u mess with them and they don't die they will spread.

cryotek74 · Apr 10, 2016

is it possible to cut the very bottom of the coral off and glue to a new piece of rock? Or will it kill the coral?

cryotek74 · Apr 10, 2016

its a neon green toadstool coral

jsker · Apr 10, 2016

Aptasia are like a fire ant hill, if you do not kill the aptasia right they spread all over the place. If you go with a tank peditor, some will suggest peppermint shrimp. If you do go the shrimp way make sure that the shrimp are the right ones. I forgot the other fish that will be suggested, but I have great success with my matted filefish.

Bubblebass · Apr 10, 2016

cryotek74 said:
is it possible to cut the very bottom of the coral off and glue to a new piece of rock? Or will it kill the coral?

Toadstools are very hardy. It will probably be fine. But I'd try the other routes first. Can you reach the aiptasia with your hand?

cloak · Apr 10, 2016

If you can remove that rock that the Aiptasia is on with ease then you could just burn it off with a cigarette lighter. This is a fairly simple task & only takes a few seconds to do. GL.

cryotek74 · Apr 10, 2016

its up front and easy to get to. I can pull it out and torch it with a small torch lighter, then chip away where it was.

How long can the toadstool be out of the water to burn hte rock and chip away the corpse????

cloak · Apr 10, 2016

Once you hit that Aiptasia with a torch there's not going to be a corpse, so there's really no need to break up the rock. You'll scorch it a little, but this can be rubbed off with a little water. This whole process is only going to take about a minute to do, so don't worry about the Toadstool being out of the water for that long. It should be fine. GL.

cryotek74 · Apr 10, 2016

Thanks for all the help everyone. I appreciate it.

BoneXriffic · Apr 10, 2016

BURN THE WHOLE HOUSE DOWN!! Possibly the whole neighbor hood.

The lighter trick seems like the easiest so long as it isnt affecting other rocks. Did you buy anything else with that one? Keep an eye out for more

cryotek74 · Apr 10, 2016

Just that one piece(it is my first coral). it came on the rock. I'll torch the whole rock with my handy mini torch.

MikeyAl · Apr 10, 2016

jsker said:
Aptasia are like a fire ant hill, if you do not kill the aptasia right they spread all over the place. If you go with a tank peditor, some will suggest peppermint shrimp. If you do go the shrimp way make sure that the shrimp are the right ones. I forgot the other fish that will be suggested, but I have great success with my matted filefish.

Sixline Wrasse I think. The problem with adding fish is that by the time you quarantine the aptasia will spread. If you chose the fish approach for control and don't quarantine the you are risking a lot.

BoneXriffic · Apr 10, 2016

MikeyAl said:
Sixline Wrasse I think. The problem with adding fish is that by the time you quarantine the aptasia will spread. If you chose the fish approach for control and don't quarantine the you are risking a lot.

Doesnt the 6 line wrasse have to be last fish you add to a tank because of their aggresion towards new fish?

MikeyAl · Apr 10, 2016

BoneXriffic said:
Doesnt the 6 line wrasse have to be last fish you add to a tank because of their aggresion towards new fish?

I don't know. I've heard a lot of negative things about the sixline. Mine is a dream. I've had no issues with him. Since I've put him in I've added a pseudochromis, and 2 pajama cardinals with no issues. Maybe I just got lucky and got the pick of the litter

jsker · Apr 10, 2016

MikeyAl said:
Sixline Wrasse I think. The problem with adding fish is that by the time you quarantine the aptasia will spread. If you chose the fish approach for control and don't quarantine the you are risking a lot.

Did not have an issue. Stuff will happen, regardless if you quarantine or not. Fox face it the other fish.

jsker · Apr 10, 2016

MikeyAl said:
I don't know. I've heard a lot of negative things about the sixline. Mine is a dream. I've had no issues with him. Since I've put him in I've added a pseudochromis, and 2 pajama cardinals with no issues. Maybe I just got lucky and got the pick of the litter

Got an 8 line, but the matted filefish was the first responder.

cryotek74 · Apr 11, 2016

so it actually had 3 Aiptasia heads. two were easy and reached 1000 F quickly. The 3rd one was right at the base of the toadstool. I used a screw driver and heated it up with torch, the burned the Aiptasia. The toadstool is actually standing fully upright now. I'm guessing the Aiptasia was messing with it so it stayed pulled in. The toadstool had a rough morning but it looks better now.

Thanks for all the help everyone.