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06/06/2018, 12:29 PM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 90
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Need identification help
What are these and how do I get rid of them? They are multiplying at a rapid rate in my tank. I think they are hydroids but I haven't found anything to positively identify them with. Any suggestions on how I can get rid of them is greatly appreciated.
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06/07/2018, 06:19 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: willoughby
Posts: 648
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It's hard for me to tell from the picture, my eyes aren't what they used to be, but to me they look like young aiptasia. There are a variety of things out there that make outrageous claims and some do work some of the time but for the most part the only thing that I've seen work well for large infestations is berghia nudibrachs. They're obligatory aiptasia eaters and do a heck of a job. Once the job is done you can move them on to a new home, there's always a nearby reefer in need of an aiptaisa killer. You could also try a raccoon butterfly, aiptasia eating file fish or copper banded butterfly, but there's no guarantee that either of those won't go after coral once they've cleaned up the aiptasia. Of the three, I've personally seen raccoon butterfly fish eat aiptasia like they're never going to see food again.
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06/07/2018, 07:44 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 90
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I thought aiptasia too but I contacted a local guy who sells berghia nudibrachs and he said they were not aiptasia. I've dealt with aiptasia before. He said they were hydroids but I cannot find a reference. Whatever they are they are a pest and manual removal just spread them like mad.
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06/07/2018, 07:57 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 590
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Try to turn your whites on full and your blues off.
It will help to focus the picture and allow a clearer shot. Then we can try to ID! |
06/07/2018, 07:59 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 590
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(It looks like Aiptasia or Majano to me)
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06/07/2018, 11:03 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: willoughby
Posts: 648
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Hmmmm, if they are indeed hydroids I've seen raccoon butterflies munch on them as well.
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06/07/2018, 11:30 PM | #7 |
Invert Sexy Time!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 2,255
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There are a loooadd of different species of hydroids. Not all are bad news. A lot of the single polyp type species tend to die off after a while and come in blooms. I have some tiny ones that came in with reef stew live mix I fed my tank. Apparently they are common in brine shrimp mixes. Mine look like itty bitty tiny baby nems almost, but barely bigger then a spec on my glass.
Not saying yours are the same, just that there are a lot of different kinds. If you feed really heavy that also could be part of the problem. |
06/08/2018, 12:20 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 90
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I'll try to get a better picture this weekend. I can't turn off the blue channel as this is a 150 watt DE halide.
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