Catcus Coral??

[azdustin]

Hello,
New member here, I have been holding off asking questions on here because I thought I could find the answers on my own. Unfortunately I did not have any luck. I purchased this live rock with the Kenya tree and put it in my tank a couple of weeks ago. Not thinking about looking what was under the rock I let it go and just noticed today that it seems to be growing hairs or something? Also the second pic has white hairs on it as well different rock though, not sure if its spreading. Any help on identifying this and letting me know if its ok to be in there would be great! Thanks for your help in advance

Tank Specs:
15 Gallon Column Tank
Fluval 50 Filter
Oceanic Protein Skimmer
Hydor Micro Pump
Wavepoint 12"
T5 Power-Glo 18,000K

PH 8.0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Salinity 1.024

[mcgyvr]

cant see much but first pic might show a patch of turf algae.. second pic I see some aiptasia down and to the right of that pipe organ coral..
most people freak out about both.. Its really nothing to freak out about though and can be handled easily..

Thats all I'll give you so you've got something else to research on your own

[azdustin]

Thanks I'll look into it

[billdogg]

I can't really tell anything from the second picture, but in the first, it is a kenya tree coral. They tend to be prolific growers that will shed branches in an attempt to take over the tank. If you also have hard corals (either LPS or SPS) I would suggest running carbon to help reduce Allelopathy between them.

[cloak]

Those little white things your seeing in the first picture might be Hydroids or perhaps Foraminiferans. I'm not really seeing anything in the second picture. Check this out.

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/hitchhiker.shtml

[mcgyvr]

I circled the aiptasia.

[cloak]

Where? Those look more like the tubes of a feather duster or perhaps a sponge of some sort, as opposed to a "white" aiptasia. JMO.

[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by cloak

Where? Those look more like the tubes of a feather duster or perhaps a sponge of some sort, as opposed to a "white" aiptasia. JMO.

looks exactly like an aiptasia to me..

[cloak]

Perhaps... Will just have to see what the OP says. Let's hope not though, right?

[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by cloak

Let's hope not though, right?

I don't think aiptasia are nearly the problem people make them out to be..
I easily had 100+ living in my tank for 2+ years without causing any problems..

Then I find it ironic that people will flip out about someone possibly killing a bristleworm or something like that then torching an aiptasia with a laser without care.

[cloak]

100+, Wow! I bet that must have been a sight to see. Well, you are definitely in the minority when it comes down to aiptasia. Good luck with those.

[azdustin]

Thanks for the help, would you recommend aiptasia x as an option ?

[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by azdustin

Thanks for the help, would you recommend aiptasia x as an option ?

For just a few I don't see the point in having to buy something..
You can just pull the rock out and squirt some lemon juice or vinegar on that sucker..

Or you can make your own aiptasia killing solution with just some pickling lime/water to make a paste that can be injected on it while in the water..You can just use a syringe and squirt the paste right in its mouth or right over the body..

OR just get a peppermint shrimp and it will eat it eventually.. or a matted filefish... or berghia nudibranch (harder to come buy and expensive)
peppermint shrimps are great for tanks anyways.. just 1 or 2 and you won't have any problems with aiptasia.

[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by cloak

100+, Wow! I bet that must have been a sight to see. Well, you are definitely in the minority when it comes down to aiptasia. Good luck with those.

I had a few that had "tentacles" that were over 4" long..
They really don't bother anything..
Some "non-reefers" that saw my tank would say.. oh what are those.. they are cool too

[coralsnaked]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I don't think aiptasia are nearly the problem people make them out to be..
I easily had 100+ living in my tank for 2+ years without causing any problems..

Then I find it ironic that people will flip out about someone possibly killing a bristleworm or something like that then torching an aiptasia with a laser without care.

When they sting your $50 per inch SPS they are a real problem I would not recommend using a laser as you can blind yourself, others in room or your I'd rather them up

[cloak]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

OR just get a peppermint shrimp and it will eat it eventually.. or a matted filefish... or berghia nudibranch (harder to come buy and expensive)
peppermint shrimps are great for tanks anyways.. just 1 or 2 and you won't have any problems with aiptasia.

I beg to differ. I've had a peppermint shrimp in my tank for at least 6 months now and it won't even touch the two smaller aiptasia that I'm aware of. I've also caught them eating small Stomatella snails and a few LPS corals as well. (Favia, Leptastrea) Some people do get lucky with these shrimp though...

[3dees]

I had a Kenya that just melted away. I too have zero nitrates which may be the problem. all my other corals are doing great. as for the aptasia, I get one now and then and I just give them a squirt of boiling lemon juice. works better that store bought products.