Nuisance anemone? ID help please

gawf4fun · 09/08/2009, 10:43 PM

I went away on vacation and returned to find dozens of these little buggers on the back walls of my tank as well as several on the front glass as well.

These are small dudes, about 1/2" across and a lightish brown/beige color. I've got a few aiptasia in the tank which are larger and have longer and thicker tentacles.

Any idea on what these are and how to best handle them?

Thanks for any guidance offered.

Mark

rendogg · 09/08/2009, 10:56 PM

Baby Aiptasia. You can inject them with any of the following: ph up, strong kalk mixture, boiling water. I find ph up usually does the trick, never tried either of the others. Or, if tank size permits and you can find one that eats, a Copperband Butterfly. If you have a small tank you can get Peppermint shrimp.

gawf4fun · 09/08/2009, 11:02 PM

Baby aiptasia, really? I've considered a copper banded butterfly in the past but always shyed away because of what I've read about feeding/eating problems. If these are baby aiptasia, I wonder if a single copper banded could handle this many. Like I said, dozens on the glass.

Tang Salad · 09/08/2009, 11:17 PM

I forgot the proper name, but I believe those are what's commonly referred to as Swimming Anemones.

gawf4fun · 09/08/2009, 11:59 PM

so would swimming anemones require another method of handling than would aiptasia?

rendogg · 09/09/2009, 12:12 AM

Definitely Aiptasia. Go for a Copperband that is proven to eat prepared food. It will clear all your featherdusters first and then it should clear the Aiptasia in no time.

robs.mark · 09/09/2009, 12:32 AM

peppermint shrimps are also an option...

gawf4fun · 09/09/2009, 03:09 PM

Thanks all. I'm starting my search for a copperband butterfly tonight. I'm going to look for a big one as these little buggers appeared from nowhere and seem to multiply fast!

cakemanPA · 09/09/2009, 04:04 PM

My Copperband cleared dozens of large aiptasia inside of 2 weeks. Fortunately it loves all sorts of other foods.

seapug · 09/09/2009, 04:08 PM

If they are on the glass you can completely remove them with a razor blade and suck them out with a turkey baster. Done.

Ones on rocks require a bit more work. I've had decent luck with peppermints and Kalk paste but recently tried Red Sea Aptasia X and was very impressed with it. The syringe attachments that come with their kits are fantastic.

ethank77 · 09/09/2009, 04:20 PM

I have had great sucess injecting them with a tiny bit of vinagar.

gawf4fun · 09/09/2009, 11:23 PM

Well, I called around a few LFS and found a 4" copperband butterfly that ate mysis. I went and looked, but was encouraged rather to get the 3" Kleins Butterfly that had been seen regularly eating aiptasia in their tank. Even better, it was on sale for $ 23!

I've acclimated him and added him to the tank after lights out. I've got my fingers crossed that he'll have the same appetite in my tank, and not get desirous of my corals.

More later.

rendogg · 09/10/2009, 03:19 AM

Aw man, you'll regret that i'm sure, should've gone with the Copperband.

cakemanPA · 09/10/2009, 06:45 AM

I would have stuck with the Copperband also. Good luck

gawf4fun · 09/10/2009, 10:23 AM

Yikes! You guys have just scared the wits out of me. I mean no offense when I say that I hope you're both wrong.

Are you saying that the Copperband is a better choice, or are you saying that the Klein's was a bad one?

Perhaps I will regret it, but having the Klein's eating aiptasia regularly and reading stories of the Copperband's not eating, I went with my gut.

rendogg · 09/10/2009, 10:35 AM

I hope we're wrong too, for your sake. Not meaning to scare you but the Klein's Butterfly eats coral in the wild, if that was their recommendation I would be second guessing everything they tell you from now on. The fact that the Copperband is eating mysis is good and you should be in the clear, healthy eating Copperbands are rarely a problem in a reef tank, where as the Klein's is very dicy. I would try catching it today and exchange the two, or at least keep a careful eye on it and remove it the first time you see it nipping coral. Make sure to keep it well fed if you're going to try it.

BeanMachine · 09/10/2009, 02:16 PM

Aptasia X works great. Nice and thick.

We are talking about your 180, not your nano, right? Copperband might not work in a nano!

gawf4fun · 09/11/2009, 12:15 AM

Yep, it is my 180 that has the problem. I added wrasses to take care of flatworms last year and I love them. Never had wrasses before that so I saw that as a silver lining. Now I've added a butterfly (which I haven't owned) to take care of aiptasia. Hopefully, in the end ,another silver lining experience. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for all your feedback and responses.

mark

09/08/2009, 10:43 PM	#1
gawf4fun Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 342	Nuisance anemone? ID help please I went away on vacation and returned to find dozens of these little buggers on the back walls of my tank as well as several on the front glass as well. These are small dudes, about 1/2" across and a lightish brown/beige color. I've got a few aiptasia in the tank which are larger and have longer and thicker tentacles. Any idea on what these are and how to best handle them? Thanks for any guidance offered. Mark __________________ Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt... Reef Central Corner Club Current Tank Info: 38 gl Cadlights AIO lit by AI Sol Blue, 24 gl aquapod w/150 watt pendant at the office.

09/08/2009, 11:02 PM	#3
gawf4fun Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 342	Baby aiptasia, really? I've considered a copper banded butterfly in the past but always shyed away because of what I've read about feeding/eating problems. If these are baby aiptasia, I wonder if a single copper banded could handle this many. Like I said, dozens on the glass. __________________ Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt... Reef Central Corner Club Current Tank Info: 38 gl Cadlights AIO lit by AI Sol Blue, 24 gl aquapod w/150 watt pendant at the office.

09/08/2009, 11:17 PM	#4
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	I forgot the proper name, but I believe those are what's commonly referred to as Swimming Anemones. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

09/08/2009, 11:59 PM	#5
gawf4fun Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 342	so would swimming anemones require another method of handling than would aiptasia? __________________ Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt... Reef Central Corner Club Current Tank Info: 38 gl Cadlights AIO lit by AI Sol Blue, 24 gl aquapod w/150 watt pendant at the office.

09/09/2009, 12:12 AM	#6
rendogg Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abbotsford, B.C. Posts: 578	Definitely Aiptasia. Go for a Copperband that is proven to eat prepared food. It will clear all your featherdusters first and then it should clear the Aiptasia in no time. Last edited by rendogg; 09/09/2009 at 12:18 AM.

09/08/2009, 10:56 PM	#2
rendogg Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abbotsford, B.C. Posts: 578	Baby Aiptasia. You can inject them with any of the following: ph up, strong kalk mixture, boiling water. I find ph up usually does the trick, never tried either of the others. Or, if tank size permits and you can find one that eats, a Copperband Butterfly. If you have a small tank you can get Peppermint shrimp.

09/09/2009, 12:32 AM	#7
robs.mark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,461	peppermint shrimps are also an option... __________________ knowledge is power! Current Tank Info: Lagoon

09/09/2009, 03:09 PM	#8
gawf4fun Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 342	Thanks all. I'm starting my search for a copperband butterfly tonight. I'm going to look for a big one as these little buggers appeared from nowhere and seem to multiply fast! __________________ Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt... Reef Central Corner Club Current Tank Info: 38 gl Cadlights AIO lit by AI Sol Blue, 24 gl aquapod w/150 watt pendant at the office.

09/09/2009, 04:04 PM	#9
cakemanPA Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hummelstown, PA Posts: 2,353	My Copperband cleared dozens of large aiptasia inside of 2 weeks. Fortunately it loves all sorts of other foods.

09/09/2009, 04:08 PM	#10
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	If they are on the glass you can completely remove them with a razor blade and suck them out with a turkey baster. Done. Ones on rocks require a bit more work. I've had decent luck with peppermints and Kalk paste but recently tried Red Sea Aptasia X and was very impressed with it. The syringe attachments that come with their kits are fantastic. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/09/2009, 04:20 PM	#11
ethank77 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sabine Pass Texas Posts: 347	I have had great sucess injecting them with a tiny bit of vinagar. __________________ mannais

09/09/2009, 11:23 PM	#12
gawf4fun Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 342	Well, I called around a few LFS and found a 4" copperband butterfly that ate mysis. I went and looked, but was encouraged rather to get the 3" Kleins Butterfly that had been seen regularly eating aiptasia in their tank. Even better, it was on sale for $ 23! I've acclimated him and added him to the tank after lights out. I've got my fingers crossed that he'll have the same appetite in my tank, and not get desirous of my corals. More later. __________________ Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt... Reef Central Corner Club Current Tank Info: 38 gl Cadlights AIO lit by AI Sol Blue, 24 gl aquapod w/150 watt pendant at the office.

09/10/2009, 03:19 AM	#13
rendogg Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abbotsford, B.C. Posts: 578	Aw man, you'll regret that i'm sure, should've gone with the Copperband.

09/10/2009, 06:45 AM	#14
cakemanPA Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hummelstown, PA Posts: 2,353	I would have stuck with the Copperband also. Good luck

09/10/2009, 10:23 AM	#15
gawf4fun Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 342	Yikes! You guys have just scared the wits out of me. I mean no offense when I say that I hope you're both wrong. Are you saying that the Copperband is a better choice, or are you saying that the Klein's was a bad one? Perhaps I will regret it, but having the Klein's eating aiptasia regularly and reading stories of the Copperband's not eating, I went with my gut. __________________ Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt... Reef Central Corner Club Current Tank Info: 38 gl Cadlights AIO lit by AI Sol Blue, 24 gl aquapod w/150 watt pendant at the office.

09/10/2009, 10:35 AM	#16
rendogg Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abbotsford, B.C. Posts: 578	I hope we're wrong too, for your sake. Not meaning to scare you but the Klein's Butterfly eats coral in the wild, if that was their recommendation I would be second guessing everything they tell you from now on. The fact that the Copperband is eating mysis is good and you should be in the clear, healthy eating Copperbands are rarely a problem in a reef tank, where as the Klein's is very dicy. I would try catching it today and exchange the two, or at least keep a careful eye on it and remove it the first time you see it nipping coral. Make sure to keep it well fed if you're going to try it. Last edited by rendogg; 09/10/2009 at 10:41 AM.

09/10/2009, 02:16 PM	#17
BeanMachine Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 11,200	Aptasia X works great. Nice and thick. We are talking about your 180, not your nano, right? Copperband might not work in a nano!

09/11/2009, 12:15 AM	#18
gawf4fun Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 342	Yep, it is my 180 that has the problem. I added wrasses to take care of flatworms last year and I love them. Never had wrasses before that so I saw that as a silver lining. Now I've added a butterfly (which I haven't owned) to take care of aiptasia. Hopefully, in the end ,another silver lining experience. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all your feedback and responses. mark __________________ Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt... Reef Central Corner Club Current Tank Info: 38 gl Cadlights AIO lit by AI Sol Blue, 24 gl aquapod w/150 watt pendant at the office.