What is this? (picture)

[ludnix]

I have some of these growing on two peices of my live rock. Does anyone know what these are and if they are reef safe?

They are about 1cm in length from base to tip.

http://ludnix.scriptnation.net/aquarium/identification.jpg

Thanks in advance!

[sfilingeri]

Do they look like this:
http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/faqs/aiptasia.html

[Paintbug]

those are Hydroids. not something you want to have in the tank. they spread quickly, and will sting fish, corals, and other inverts, maybe even you. manual remove is the only way i know of getting them out. just be sure to wear some gloves.

[ludnix]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10067867#post10067867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfilingeri
Do they look like this:
http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/faqs/aiptasia.html

No, they have much shorter tentacles.

those are Hydroids. not something you want to have in the tank. they spread quickly, and will sting fish, corals, and other inverts, maybe even you. manual remove is the only way i know of getting them out. just be sure to wear some gloves.

Thanks Paintbug, luckily they are only on some small small frags of live rock so it should be easy to remove the hydroids.

Is there any things I should know when removing them? Just scrape them with a razor blade and avoid contact with skin?

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10067898#post10067898 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ludnix
No, they have much shorter tentacles.



Thanks Paintbug, luckily they are only on some small small frags of live rock so it should be easy to remove the hydroids.

Is there any things I should know when removing them? Just scrape them with a razor blade and avoid contact with skin?

pretty much. so people will use a kalk paste, but i have never tried that. i just scrape them off.

[frederickk]

better take them out fast

[pikachusalad]

I have those in my tank - I posted on the noob forum, and pretty much determined they are hydroids.

I was told to pick them out with a tweezer, and read elsewhere that it may be difficult because they are anchored / hide in the rocks, so another method is to cover them with underwater aquarium epoxy, which can be pried off later or just left to overgrow with coralline.

Here was the thread I posted:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1132898

[frederickk]

Never heard of that before, interesting.

[caesar Gdi]

looks like aiptasia to me

[pikachusalad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10106349#post10106349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by caesar Gdi
looks like aiptasia to me

If they're like the ones in my tank, they are very tiny, and STAY very tiny. They also have hair-thin tentacles, and only one row around the edge.

Makes me think theyre not aiptasias.

[spleen93]

I agree, hydroids. Pull them out with tweezers before they start spreading.

Spleen

[spsmaniac]

It looks like aiptaisa to me

[Tambwe]

Still looks like aptasia!!! i would try some Joes Juice works wonders for me. some people thinks Bi-Angels help, but if they are full aptasia continues to grow. Joes juice the best and keep a bottle handy.

[aquarius77]

I have been reading on here that upping the magnesium level in the tank to around 1600 ppm will wipe them out in a few days.

I cant recall where it was but i know ive been seeing it on here lately, the search function is currently not avail and Banging on the search button rapidly only makes it less likely that you will get in so i cant get you a link right now. I will look around and see if i cant run acrossed it for you.

[aquarius77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10128921#post10128921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tambwe
Still looks like aptasia!!! i would try some Joes Juice works wonders for me. some people thinks Bi-Angels help, but if they are full aptasia continues to grow. Joes juice the best and keep a bottle handy.

Thats not Aiptasia, Hydroids for sure. They make look similar in blurry pics but side by side they are very different.

[pikachusalad]

The magnesium level wipes out aiptasia or hydroids?

[edit]
Ah...I posted at the same time as you - your last reply indicates hydroids.

[aquarius77]

Hydroids.

[HBtank]

Lol, the magnesium level is for Bryopsis algae. Plus, it is on a seperate rock, no reason to start changing entire tank levels.

Those are hydroids and can be removed in various ways, just act fast.

[maroun.c]

if it's just a small LR frag i would suggest saccrifying the rock.

[aquarius77]

Yep byprosis, I appologize. I was confused and spewed out bad information.
Its no wonder i cant find the thread on it....

Once again i appologize and i thank you HBtank for clearing it up, it is byprosis i was thinking of.