Hitchhikers

TLKeeler · 05/13/2012, 12:30 PM

Me and my husband are new to reef aquariums. We have been cycling our tank for about 3 weeks now and have a lot of life showing up on the live rock. We are trying to determine which is safe and which is not before we get to the point of adding anything else to the tank.

The one in the big circle has clear "tentacles" with white spots, no barbs. The ones in the little circles towards the bottom are very small and hard to see but have red centers.

Aiptasia?

Feather Duster? "tentacles" are barbed.

Are both of these aiptasia? Even though they have a slightly different appearance?

Cluster of something, coral maybe? "tentacles" are clear with no barbs.

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Frantz · 05/13/2012, 01:08 PM

Picture 1: The bigger circle in pic one looks like ball anemone (safe), I can't see the small ones but I think they are just feather dusters and also safe.

Picture 2: Aiptasia (glass anemone) bad and spread fast. Get Aiptasia x or whatever product you like to kill them off. Peppermint shrimp will also eat them.

Picture 3: Majano Anemone, also a pest and fast breeder. Scrap off and remove.

Picture 4: I'm pretty sure these are very very very healthy Aiptasia.

Picture 5: Coral, Galaxea maybe?

ItzJustinN · 05/13/2012, 01:13 PM

i agree with post above. bigger circle in pic 1 might be safe (do some more research, try to get a better pic and post an id thread if you cant find it)

pic 5 - not sure if galaxea, doesnt look like the pics i look at yesterday (was thinking about getting one) but i could be wrong. but its probably safe too just do some investigation.

rest is aiptasia/majano and needs to be eradicated.

IridescentLily · 05/13/2012, 01:13 PM

Hi,
Welcome

Not sure about the clear one, that could be aiptasia too but it looks like something else i've seen called a ball anemone, that isn't neccesarily bad, i just can't be 100%

Those other two yellow things might be clove polyps, but it's too hard to tell.
Maybe others can tell what the other things are.

The 2nd photo is definitely aiptasia.

Edit: oh others HAVE posted, didn't see that, we all posted at the same time.

05/13/2012, 12:30 PM	#1
TLKeeler Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1	Hitchhikers Me and my husband are new to reef aquariums. We have been cycling our tank for about 3 weeks now and have a lot of life showing up on the live rock. We are trying to determine which is safe and which is not before we get to the point of adding anything else to the tank. The one in the big circle has clear "tentacles" with white spots, no barbs. The ones in the little circles towards the bottom are very small and hard to see but have red centers. Aiptasia? Feather Duster? "tentacles" are barbed. Are both of these aiptasia? Even though they have a slightly different appearance? Cluster of something, coral maybe? "tentacles" are clear with no barbs. Any help would be highly appreciated.

05/13/2012, 01:13 PM	#4
IridescentLily Editor-Reefkeeping mag Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 3,858 Blog Entries: 5	Hi, Welcome Not sure about the clear one, that could be aiptasia too but it looks like something else i've seen called a ball anemone, that isn't neccesarily bad, i just can't be 100% Those other two yellow things might be clove polyps, but it's too hard to tell. Maybe others can tell what the other things are. The 2nd photo is definitely aiptasia. Edit: oh others HAVE posted, didn't see that, we all posted at the same time. __________________ ~April Editor-Reefkeeping Magazine

05/13/2012, 01:08 PM	#2
Frantz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pennsylvanian Posts: 109	Picture 1: The bigger circle in pic one looks like ball anemone (safe), I can't see the small ones but I think they are just feather dusters and also safe. Picture 2: Aiptasia (glass anemone) bad and spread fast. Get Aiptasia x or whatever product you like to kill them off. Peppermint shrimp will also eat them. Picture 3: Majano Anemone, also a pest and fast breeder. Scrap off and remove. Picture 4: I'm pretty sure these are very very very healthy Aiptasia. Picture 5: Coral, Galaxea maybe?

05/13/2012, 01:13 PM	#3
ItzJustinN Nano-Reefin' Newbie Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: St. Charles Posts: 1,334	i agree with post above. bigger circle in pic 1 might be safe (do some more research, try to get a better pic and post an id thread if you cant find it) pic 5 - not sure if galaxea, doesnt look like the pics i look at yesterday (was thinking about getting one) but i could be wrong. but its probably safe too just do some investigation. rest is aiptasia/majano and needs to be eradicated.