Read QT article by Steve Pro

PARADISE1 · 09/21/2008, 07:35 PM

Hi,

This is my first time posting - please be kind.

I read your article on QT.

I have a question about pests imported on live rock.

I recently bought 75 gal tank, pre-salted water, live sand, and live rock. It has been cycling w/o lights for 3 weeks now. The parameters are good - checked weekly.

The gentleman from the LFS helped me to select good live rock for aquascaping. One rock had a baby brittle star, an oyster embedded in the rock, and a small little unknown thing. The staff said it was a baby feather duster and said it was a great find.

But... after reading your article, I saw the picture of the aiptasia! I am wondering if that is it??? and not a feather duster. I looked in my cycling tank and saw two small light brown looking "feather dusters".

At this point, I am wondering, should I take the rock out and scrub it?

Is the oyster safe? He opens and closes.

Or... do you think all is well since it has been cycling for 3 weeks w/o lights?

My ultimate goal is to move my 2 fish, hermit crab, and xenia from my established 10 gal nano (bought that from a friend- everyone is healthy and parameters are good in the nano) and move them into the new 75 gal. I will make the nano a qt tank.

Any thoughts on this? Please help.

Macimage · 09/21/2008, 09:41 PM

Can you post a photo? Otherwise, it's hard to say whether it is a feather duster or aiptasia.

Joyce

PARADISE1 · 09/21/2008, 09:56 PM

Thank you for responding.

I will try to figure out the settings w/ my digital camera.

I will try to search the site on what settings to use when taking the pix.

Thanks,

returnofsid · 09/22/2008, 04:41 AM

Even if this is an aiptasia, the situation isn't as dire as you think. Aiptasia are a fact of most reef tanks at one time or another. They can be killed in the reef tank. Unless you have a large outbreak of them, there's no need to take drastic measures.

One of the most reliable ways to kill them is by using Kalk Paste or Joe's Juice. Joe's Juice can be purchased at most saltwater LFS. Kalk Paste is home made using Pickling lime, which can be purchased in the canning section of most grocery stores or Walmart. It's usually in a green, plastic jar labeled Mother's Pickling Lime. It's mixed with RO or Tap water to a toothpaste consistency. Then you use a plastic medicine dosing syringe to inject this paste into the tentacles and mouth of the aiptasia. It will melt and die before your eyes.

Pickling Lime also is used to make Kalkwasser or Kalk water. It's a high alk and high Ca solution that can be dripped into your tank over night to replace evaporated water and help keep your tank balanced. Read up on this before doing it though. Make sure you have a firm understanding of the relationship between Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium and why they're vital to keep balanced in our reef tanks.

PARADISE1 · 09/22/2008, 08:20 AM

Thank you so much. I was so upset because I am waiting to add my fish from my nano and I thought it would put the brakes on everything.

I only noticed 4 or 5 of them. Do you think it is still worth treating? I am supposed to buy a cleaning crew this weekend.

A sea K · 09/22/2008, 08:27 AM

If they are aptisia it is best to rid them before they spread. Find out what you have before taking action though. Pepermint shrimp did the job for me and the aptasia never came back. I would also think even a new LFS employee would know the difference between aptasia and feather dusters.

PARADISE1 · 09/22/2008, 08:39 AM

Very true. I checked other pictures of aptisia and I think that is it. I am staying away from that guy at LFS!

To be sure, I will still try to take a picture. If it aptasia... I will buy the solution and use a syringe like the Terminator.

I hope my parameters will not be thrown off for long. I am hoping to put a cleaning crew in there this weekend- including peppermint shrimp.

09/21/2008, 07:35 PM	#1
PARADISE1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hampton Roads, VA Posts: 52	Read QT article by Steve Pro Hi, This is my first time posting - please be kind. I read your article on QT. I have a question about pests imported on live rock. I recently bought 75 gal tank, pre-salted water, live sand, and live rock. It has been cycling w/o lights for 3 weeks now. The parameters are good - checked weekly. The gentleman from the LFS helped me to select good live rock for aquascaping. One rock had a baby brittle star, an oyster embedded in the rock, and a small little unknown thing. The staff said it was a baby feather duster and said it was a great find. But... after reading your article, I saw the picture of the aiptasia! I am wondering if that is it??? and not a feather duster. I looked in my cycling tank and saw two small light brown looking "feather dusters". At this point, I am wondering, should I take the rock out and scrub it? Is the oyster safe? He opens and closes. Or... do you think all is well since it has been cycling for 3 weeks w/o lights? My ultimate goal is to move my 2 fish, hermit crab, and xenia from my established 10 gal nano (bought that from a friend- everyone is healthy and parameters are good in the nano) and move them into the new 75 gal. I will make the nano a qt tank. Any thoughts on this? Please help.

09/22/2008, 08:27 AM	#6
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	If they are aptisia it is best to rid them before they spread. Find out what you have before taking action though. Pepermint shrimp did the job for me and the aptasia never came back. I would also think even a new LFS employee would know the difference between aptasia and feather dusters. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/21/2008, 09:41 PM	#2
Macimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Quartz Hill Posts: 4,078	Can you post a photo? Otherwise, it's hard to say whether it is a feather duster or aiptasia. Joyce

09/21/2008, 09:56 PM	#3
PARADISE1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hampton Roads, VA Posts: 52	Thank you for responding. I will try to figure out the settings w/ my digital camera. I will try to search the site on what settings to use when taking the pix. Thanks,

09/22/2008, 04:41 AM	#4
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	Even if this is an aiptasia, the situation isn't as dire as you think. Aiptasia are a fact of most reef tanks at one time or another. They can be killed in the reef tank. Unless you have a large outbreak of them, there's no need to take drastic measures. One of the most reliable ways to kill them is by using Kalk Paste or Joe's Juice. Joe's Juice can be purchased at most saltwater LFS. Kalk Paste is home made using Pickling lime, which can be purchased in the canning section of most grocery stores or Walmart. It's usually in a green, plastic jar labeled Mother's Pickling Lime. It's mixed with RO or Tap water to a toothpaste consistency. Then you use a plastic medicine dosing syringe to inject this paste into the tentacles and mouth of the aiptasia. It will melt and die before your eyes. Pickling Lime also is used to make Kalkwasser or Kalk water. It's a high alk and high Ca solution that can be dripped into your tank over night to replace evaporated water and help keep your tank balanced. Read up on this before doing it though. Make sure you have a firm understanding of the relationship between Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium and why they're vital to keep balanced in our reef tanks.

09/22/2008, 08:20 AM	#5
PARADISE1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hampton Roads, VA Posts: 52	Thank you so much. I was so upset because I am waiting to add my fish from my nano and I thought it would put the brakes on everything. I only noticed 4 or 5 of them. Do you think it is still worth treating? I am supposed to buy a cleaning crew this weekend.

09/22/2008, 08:39 AM	#7
PARADISE1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hampton Roads, VA Posts: 52	Very true. I checked other pictures of aptisia and I think that is it. I am staying away from that guy at LFS! To be sure, I will still try to take a picture. If it aptasia... I will buy the solution and use a syringe like the Terminator. I hope my parameters will not be thrown off for long. I am hoping to put a cleaning crew in there this weekend- including peppermint shrimp.