Zoa or anemone?

Han · Oct 27, 2019

I just set up a new tank yesterday and noticed this today. Looks like a zoa to me but could it be a majano anemone or something else? I’ve dealt with aptaisia in my other tanks but never majano so I just want to know if this should be killed/removed. Sorry for the poor photo, it’s very small.

The Aquatic Arsenal · Oct 27, 2019

I am thinking majano anemone

ScottB · Oct 27, 2019

Tough with the picture. Could be Mahano but equally a palythoa. They are the ultimate survivors.

Personally, I would nuke it now (and I have a Pacifist nature) unless you disagree -- or someone here sees a better value/risk trade I do not.

A nice feeding of thick calcium hydroxide, then a scrape off, then a coat of epoxy over the attachment spot.

Han · Oct 27, 2019

Well I guess there’s no reason to leave it if it could be a majano. I’ll hit it with some aptaisia x and epoxy.

eea60123 · Oct 27, 2019

They’re tough suckers. I’ve had them survive a kalk paste bath. I’d definitely cover it up with something, entirely with epoxy or glue if it was my tank. I’ve battled them and they are like aquarium cockroaches.

Han · Oct 27, 2019

eea60123 said:
They’re tough suckers. I’ve had them survive a kalk paste bath. I’d definitely cover it up with something, entirely with epoxy or glue if it was my tank. I’ve battled them and they are like aquarium cockroaches.

Do you think aptaisia x and epoxy would kill it and keep it from coming back?

eea60123 · Oct 27, 2019

I don’t know that aptasia-x will kill them because I’ve not tried it on them. I have used it on aptasia with moderate success. I think that it burns them and keeps them from feeding, but I don’t know that’s the best approach with majano. I’d completely cover it with glue or epoxy to keep it from reproducing. When I didn’t completely cover it they seemed to survive. I like kalk paste or bleaching the rock if they get too bad. I usually take the rock out and cover it with the kalk paste during a water change so I can rinse the rock off in old tank water. An old tooth brush works good for getting everything off(kalk too). If it’s still alive or visible I’d do a second round. I’ve also killed them by flipped the rock into the sand so that it is completely covered. I my experience which is terribly long, they pop up when and where you least expect them to. You think they’re gone but then they come back. I don’t know if that’s due to them splitting because I didn’t adequately kill one or if it was too small to notice. That’s my concern with aptasia-x. It may die, but did it reproduce with its last breathe. If you kalk it then definitely take the rock out and rinse it in SW so you don’t spike the ph. I think lemon juice has a similar affect as aptasia-x but may be less effective and it to can spike ph.