What Are These?

[dnsfpl]

[IMG]http://i41.*******.com/16jkplc.jpg[/IMG]

thanks

[masonicman]

Looks like colony polyps

[crabbit]

Look like Aptasia to me. Best to get rid of them. Could be hard as they are close to the corals

[joeychitwood]

I agree that they may be Aiptasia. There are hundreds of threads on RC describing methods of removal, but as crabbit says, do it quick before they grow out of control.

[seaskraP]

aptasia, kill them immediately or you'll regret it.

[Cassidy1016]

I agree it looks like aptasia and I would get rid of them asap!

[sassafrass]

Did you get that coral really cheap ? I hope so.

[dnsfpl]

can i dip the whole sun coral in vinegar or lemon juice?
will i kill the coral?

thanks

[joeychitwood]

Originally posted by dnsfpl
can i dip the whole sun coral in vinegar or lemon juice? will i kill the coral?

You need to kill the Aiptasia individually. You can inject them with Joe's Juice, boiling hot water or concentrated kalk. Or, you could just pull out the rock, hoping that the Aiptasia haven't spread to other LR pieces.

[jgln]

They don't look exactly like Aiptasia I have in my tank, more like my brown polyps. BUT they could very well be aiptasia from just that picture. In my experience with both only the Aiptasia retract completly in fractions of a second when touched, polyps very slowly if at all, and I mean in minutes. I'd touch them with something and see how they react for more assurance they are Aiptasia. If they don't retract very quickly you may want to think before killing them, that is if you want polyps. I also do not know if polyps would kill your sun coral.

[jgln]

Just to be clear, that is the first pretty clear photo of what was thought to be aiptasia that didn't say to me "yeah, that is definately aiptasia" and I have seen a lot. They just look different. Probably is though, just had an idea how you may be able to be conclusive.

[seapug]

I don't think they are Aptasia, but they are another type of pest anemone, maybe Viatrix anemones. I recently had some exactly like that make their way into my tank. They seem to be very mobile and rapidly multiply, but were killed much easier with Kalk paste than normal aptasia. One coating completely killed them.

[Dancing4raiin]

Originally posted by jgln
. In my experience with both only the Aiptasia retract completly in fractions of a second when touchedl.

I agree. Try this before trying to remove them.

[joeychitwood]

They could be majano anemones, in which case you still want to kill them to prevent a scourge.

[dnsfpl]

what is the best way to get rid of all the pest without hurting my sun coral?

thanks all

[MarkusII]

Hello,

I would say aiptasia - and if they are only yet on the coral, take the coral out and remove the aiptasia by scratching them away with a sharp knive if possible or inject hot water.
Be sure to put the coral then into a bowl with salt water and see if there are aiptasias left (they tend to hide if they are endangered) - and redo treatment until all are completely removed - otherwhise you will have them on other places in your tank soon (by the way this might happen anyhow, if one sees aiptasia most of the time it is too late to get fully rid of them).
Other solution is only to put a predator in.

regards

Markus

[crabbit]

I would use a strong kalk mix that is so thick you are just able to syringe it on to them. Turn off all the flow in the tank and let them have it. Be very careful not to get the coral. Let the mix sit on them for 30min to an hour and put the flow back on. Be sure that if you have to use lots of the mix, test Ph and calcium as this is high in kalk.

[dnsfpl]

i bought 1 copperband butterfly and 2 peppermint shrimps
hope they will do their job

thanks

[jgln]

If the rock is small I like the idea of removing the rock and scraping them off and then recheck again. I found a toothbrush gets them off good. The follow up could then be what you did and buy the above. If by chance neither eat the aiptasia, then you only gave them more time to spread, right now you MAY have them contained to the rock. Good luck.

[aaron1987]

Kill it with fire! (Or pickling lime )

[MarkusII]

Hello,

i bought 1 copperband butterfly and 2 peppermint shrimps
hope they will do their job

- yes they will, but the copperband will also pick food from the tubastrea. Will not be easy to keep the tubastrea alive together with the copperband without very special care when feeding the tubastrea.

regards

Markus