Some pics! What is this stuff~

jdrink · 08/05/2011, 01:44 AM

Here are some pics of stuff on my live rock and i'm just curious what some of it is

I've looked at some "hitchhikers guides" on the internet but its a bit hard to figure out whats what.

These things were both closed like the one i labeled 1 in the picture, but the second one seems to have opened up (it still closes sometimes though). The first one hasn't opened at all.

Was hard to get a good picture of this, but its like some sort of slug/snail type thing. It leaves a slimey trail behind it when it moves about.

I assume this is a feather duster.

Some interesting red algae type stuff

Strange green patch of algae

This is the one i think might be an aiptasia, sorry for the bad pic its in a really awkward spot and was very hard to get a picture of. It definitely resembles pictures of them that i've seen around. I *think* there are at least 2 others about the place in crevasses too.

Thoughts?

Ron Reefman · 08/05/2011, 04:49 AM

I'm no expert either. And after 7 years in the hobby, I still find new stuff I haven't seen before.

1) Paly: soft coral - good
2) Snail?: hard to see - probably good
3) Feather duster: good
4) Looks like some kind of a small colony of coral to me (but that's just my best guess). I have one that looks similar but it's brown rater than purple.
5) Algae: I wouldn't worry about it yet. Your CUC may eat it when you put them in.
6) Aptasia: serious pest anemone - get rid of it now! And stay on the lookout for more!

droth335 · 08/05/2011, 04:49 AM

Yes, I think you are correct on the aiptasia diagnosis. I would suggest getting rid of it/them quickly. A syringe of boiling water/lemon juice/joes juice are all options. the others all look look good, interesting hitchhikers to me. First one appears to be one open and one closed button polyps then a snail and some interesting algae....good luck with it!

jdrink · 08/05/2011, 04:56 AM

Ahhh >.< I need to get rid of the aiptasias then, i'll have to try the syringe method, i think it might be way too early to add a peppermint shrimp to try and take care of it.

Ron Reefman · 08/05/2011, 05:10 AM

Peppermint shrimp are iffy anyway, especially with bigger aptasia polyps. They like the very new, very small starts. Get some Aptasia-X or Joe's Juice. It will solve your problem and you may well need it again in the future.

jdrink · 08/05/2011, 05:18 AM

I just read elsewhere that hermit crabs apparently eat them too. Anyone had any experience with this?

jdrink · 08/05/2011, 05:25 AM

Wow, so i just saw the biggest thing i've seen so far. An actual crab just chilling on the sand. Had like a white body, and its legs seemed to be sort of stripey. I couldnt get a picture quick enough before he hid back inside a rock, but i'll try if he comes out again. Can't believe something that big tagged along with the rock O_O

reeftanknewbie · 08/05/2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I'm no expert either. And after 7 years in the hobby, I still find new stuff I haven't seen before.

1) Paly: soft coral - good
2) Snail?: hard to see - probably good
3) Feather duster: good
4) Looks like some kind of a small colony of coral to me (but that's just my best guess). I have one that looks similar but it's brown rater than purple.
5) Algae: I wouldn't worry about it yet. Your CUC may eat it when you put them in.
6) Aptasia: serious pest anemone - get rid of it now! And stay on the lookout for more!

I agree with all of these. I get rid of aptasia by taking a diabetic needle and filling it with distilled white vinegar. Then injecting the aptasia completely with the stuff. This is cheap and works well for me. Inverts are a hit and miss when it comes to controlling a population of something.

RedStangGA · 08/05/2011, 06:12 AM

A syringe of boiling water worked for me. Basically melted the thing.

mattGgator · 08/05/2011, 07:15 AM

1 and 2 are zoanthids- turn the rock upwards so they face up towards the light better. They will probably color up nicer for you with more light.
3- most likely a stomatella snail and the "slime trail" you think you are seeing is actually a part of the snail (search stomatella for pics)
4- a Sabellidae worm- lives in holes in the live rock- has a non-calcareous tube (doesn't use calcium to make a hard tube)
5- is a coral. Looks to me like a non-photosynthetic type of coral- post it under the NPS section of reef central for an ID
6- a green encrusting algae- I would suggest removing it
7- an aptaisia- get 3 peppermint shrimp when your tank is ready or use kalk paste to kill it.

cloak · 08/05/2011, 10:31 AM

I think those purple things in the fourth picture are foraminiferans.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/rs/index.php

thebkramer · 08/05/2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

I think those purple things in the fourth picture are foraminiferans.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/rs/index.php

+1
I was just about to add this myself

08/05/2011, 01:44 AM	#1
jdrink Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 53	Some pics! What is this stuff~ Here are some pics of stuff on my live rock and i'm just curious what some of it is I've looked at some "hitchhikers guides" on the internet but its a bit hard to figure out whats what. These things were both closed like the one i labeled 1 in the picture, but the second one seems to have opened up (it still closes sometimes though). The first one hasn't opened at all. Was hard to get a good picture of this, but its like some sort of slug/snail type thing. It leaves a slimey trail behind it when it moves about. I assume this is a feather duster. Some interesting red algae type stuff Strange green patch of algae This is the one i think might be an aiptasia, sorry for the bad pic its in a really awkward spot and was very hard to get a picture of. It definitely resembles pictures of them that i've seen around. I think there are at least 2 others about the place in crevasses too. Thoughts?

08/05/2011, 04:49 AM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I'm no expert either. And after 7 years in the hobby, I still find new stuff I haven't seen before. 1) Paly: soft coral - good 2) Snail?: hard to see - probably good 3) Feather duster: good 4) Looks like some kind of a small colony of coral to me (but that's just my best guess). I have one that looks similar but it's brown rater than purple. 5) Algae: I wouldn't worry about it yet. Your CUC may eat it when you put them in. 6) Aptasia: serious pest anemone - get rid of it now! And stay on the lookout for more! __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

08/05/2011, 04:49 AM	#3
droth335 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 794	Yes, I think you are correct on the aiptasia diagnosis. I would suggest getting rid of it/them quickly. A syringe of boiling water/lemon juice/joes juice are all options. the others all look look good, interesting hitchhikers to me. First one appears to be one open and one closed button polyps then a snail and some interesting algae....good luck with it! __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 210 sps dominant reef: 40g sump, kalk,4 reefbreeder photon 32's ; 300DD mixed reef with 180 gallon sump, 4 Reefbreeder Photon 32's.

08/05/2011, 05:10 AM	#5
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Peppermint shrimp are iffy anyway, especially with bigger aptasia polyps. They like the very new, very small starts. Get some Aptasia-X or Joe's Juice. It will solve your problem and you may well need it again in the future. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

08/05/2011, 06:12 AM	#9
RedStangGA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 1,052	A syringe of boiling water worked for me. Basically melted the thing. __________________ Marineland 220, Marineland 60 Cube

08/05/2011, 04:56 AM	#4
jdrink Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 53	Ahhh >.< I need to get rid of the aiptasias then, i'll have to try the syringe method, i think it might be way too early to add a peppermint shrimp to try and take care of it.

08/05/2011, 05:18 AM	#6
jdrink Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 53	I just read elsewhere that hermit crabs apparently eat them too. Anyone had any experience with this?

08/05/2011, 05:25 AM	#7
jdrink Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 53	Wow, so i just saw the biggest thing i've seen so far. An actual crab just chilling on the sand. Had like a white body, and its legs seemed to be sort of stripey. I couldnt get a picture quick enough before he hid back inside a rock, but i'll try if he comes out again. Can't believe something that big tagged along with the rock O_O

08/05/2011, 07:15 AM	#10
mattGgator Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Gainesville, Fl Posts: 87	1 and 2 are zoanthids- turn the rock upwards so they face up towards the light better. They will probably color up nicer for you with more light. 3- most likely a stomatella snail and the "slime trail" you think you are seeing is actually a part of the snail (search stomatella for pics) 4- a Sabellidae worm- lives in holes in the live rock- has a non-calcareous tube (doesn't use calcium to make a hard tube) 5- is a coral. Looks to me like a non-photosynthetic type of coral- post it under the NPS section of reef central for an ID 6- a green encrusting algae- I would suggest removing it 7- an aptaisia- get 3 peppermint shrimp when your tank is ready or use kalk paste to kill it.

08/05/2011, 10:31 AM	#11
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I think those purple things in the fourth picture are foraminiferans. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/rs/index.php

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