Weird Things Growing on Live Rock

[chucklepup]

There are 2 things on my live rock that I'm concerned about.

The first one is more worrisome because I think it might be an atapsia (or however it's spelled). I've seen pictures of them that are thick and dark, but this one is thin, stringy and light (almost clear), that's why I couldn't get a picture of it. It moves around, and if it touch it with the end of the net it pulls back into the rock. I think it's growing, what should I do about it?

There are also small, furry-looking white things growing all over my live rock (there are about 10 of them). They weren't here before, they don't move and they don't have any distinctive body parts, I'll try to get a picture.

Thanks!

[FishinInTheDark]

The first one sounds like it is aiptasia. It probably is a little sick from prior transport, but these guys are very tough. It will bounce back and multiply. I have had success with peppermint shrimp taking care of my aiptasias. I have also killed them with boiling hot lemon juice injected right into the mouth with a hypodermic needle. Some people use kalkwasser paste or a product called Joe's Juice.

Sorry, but I can't help you with the other things.

Do they look like this??

[Sugar Magnolia]

If they do look like that, they are q-tip aka pineapple sponges. Perfectly harmless little filter feeders.

[chucklepup]

Yes, they look exactly like that! Very cool!

I'd like to try to use a peppermint shrimp to get rid of the aiptasia, but I already have a skunk cleaner shrimp; will they fight or anything?

[MikeS]

I'd skip the shrimp... they have a bad habit of expanding their menu past aptasia...

If the aptasia are not spreading like wildfire, leave them be...you can kill a few of the larger ones by injecting them with lemon juice if you would like...

Mike

[Sugar Magnolia]

Mike? Leave them be?

Injecting them with lemon juice or a kalk slurry would be your best bet. You could also buy Joe's Juice or Stop Aiptasia. I've used both of those products wih good results.

My current peppermint shrimp has been a model citizen for me for the past year. Not bothering the corals at all, but then again I don't have any yellow polyps in my tank which seems to be their coral of choice for snacking on. He's in my 30 cube along with a skunk cleaner and they get along well. Actually, they pretty much ignore each other.

To be honest that kind of set me back also Mike. It's been my experience that the faster they are eliminated the better because they will spread at some point... I'm sure you have good reasonings so please share :)

I would caution people that are using lemon juice. Lemon juice works to kill the aptasia because of its low PH. If to much is added during the process it can lower the tank's PH. About like adding vinager... small amounts need to be used and there needs to be time between treatments.

fwiw, I have always had great luck with using boiling water... never has failed me once.

[chucklepup]

I think I'll try the peppermint shrimp; I love shrimp and I don't have many corals in my tank yet (I'm wainting untill I get a larger tank this summer along with much better lighting). If that doesn't work I'll try the boiling water; my tank is too small to play around with the Ph.

Thanks!

[B Mead]

I had them in my smaller 10G tank untill I got my 75G. I just thought it was like mold...I guess theres alot to learn.

[MikeS]

Mike? Leave them be?


Yeah...if you only have a few of them, they are not spreading and they are not near the corals, and your nutrients are under control, I say leave them alone, mainly because trying to kill them can often speed up the rate at which they spread. Aptasia only require a very small part of the total animal to survive in order to grow a new one...and if you only injure it in your attempt to kill it, it will go into reproduction mode pretty quickly, and spread. I've seen it happen in my tank. :-D

If they are spreading, threatining corals, ect. then by all means kill as many of them as you can...just be sure you get them on the first attempt or you may just worsen the problem...

hope that made sense...

Mike

[chucklepup]

It's been there forr a few weeks and hasn't changed. It's really close to one of my corals, but doesn't seem to bother it. I think I'll wait and see if it changes before I do anything.

Thanks!

[MikeS]

well...if it is really close to a coral, you may want to try to get rid of it...I use lemon juice in a small hypodermic needle syringe...like the kind used for insulin injections. Jab the needle quickly into the mouth area of the anemone, you must do it quickly before the anemone retracts. Inject the lemon juice...I ususally give it 2 or 3 shots of this...my syringe holds .3cc...so about 1 cc of lemon juice...

Mike

[chucklepup]

Ok, thanks, I'll give that a try.

Now the only problem is finding a hypodermin needle syringe without people thinking I'm a druggy... :wink:

[FishinInTheDark]

Print out this thread and take it to a good pharmacy. I got mine for free doing something similar.

[icereefer]

you can get hypodermic needles at just about any live stock place any where, where they have meds for horses, cattle.or any live stock. supply shops.

[MikeS]

are these hypos small enough (both gauge and length) to be useful for this application, Jim?

Mike

[icereefer]

I use a 20gx1 1/2" and it works great, you just have to make sure you stick them in the center of the disc and there a gonner.and if you want smaller ones for smaller animals most vets will help you out.