How do I get rid of these little monsters?? Help please!

Bolo Tran · 01/11/2018, 11:46 AM

IMG_7660.jpg

First there was 1. Then there was 10. Now they’re in the hundreds or even thousands! They’re overtaking my tank and I have no clue as to what they are. They’re ugly and unsightly. Are there any natural predators that will eat them? Please help!

tkeracer619 · 01/11/2018, 12:02 PM

Palythoa aka button polyps. They're aweful things. Be careful they can contain palytoxin which can be deadly. At least I think that is what you are talking about.

ryeguyy84 · 01/11/2018, 12:06 PM

the zoas? if so before you do anything read about palytoxin. might be easier to pull the rock.

^didn't see this post. . . what he said haha

tonyreef · 01/11/2018, 12:29 PM

They look like majano anemones to me?

TokiHacker · 01/11/2018, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyreef

They look like majano anemones to me?

Negative. These are def. Palys and be very careful of paly toxin when removing.

removal of rock is one of the safest ways to do it.

RobZilla04 · 01/11/2018, 12:43 PM

Razor blade, glove, patience. I just removed a bunch of zoas that were growing out of hand and into a space where I did not want them. I managed to save a bunch on frag plugs for a buddy.

Run carbon afterward to help remove the toxins from the water. Don't do this if you have cuts or open wounds as there is a medical danger.

RobZilla04 · 01/11/2018, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobZilla04

Razor blade, glove, patience. I just removed a bunch of zoas that were growing out of hand and into a space where I did not want them. I managed to save a bunch on frag plugs for a buddy.

Run carbon afterward to help remove the toxins from the water. Don't do this if you have cuts or open wounds as there is a medical danger.

Double post sorry.

Bolo Tran · 01/11/2018, 12:48 PM

They’ve gotten everywhere. On rocks,sand, frag plugs. some even attach to the glass. I know for sure they’re not majanos but they are pests like aptasia and just spreads like wild fire. If it was just that rock that would be easy but they’re literally all over.

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/11/2018, 02:40 PM

It will be like lawn maintenance. You have to carefully keep them in check by removing them when they grow out of hand back to manageable.

Although I have often times wondered what would happen if you put a stinging coral next to it and let it kill them.

HBtank · 01/11/2018, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolo Tran

They’ve gotten everywhere. On rocks,sand, frag plugs. some even attach to the glass. I know for sure they’re not majanos but they are pests like aptasia and just spreads like wild fire. If it was just that rock that would be easy but they’re literally all over.

This makes it sound less like zoas/buttons, but that is what I thought at first glance. Can you get another picture? What does it look like retracted/disturbed?

Edit: Hmmmm, this looks similar in the pic and behavior (ID'ed as Brooding anemone (Epiactis prolifera):

Green-button-polyp-or-aiptasia-neither?

ReefkeeperZ · 01/11/2018, 05:09 PM

HPtank for the win. treat them like you would aiptasia or majano when killing them off make sure your running carbon for nutrient export. rotten luck man.

ReefkeeperZ · 01/11/2018, 05:10 PM

and by rotten luck I mean "it's rotten luck to wind up with them"

Bolo Tran · 01/19/2018, 03:04 PM

So I think it’s safe to say there’s no natural predator that will eat these pests. What’s the best way to kill these suckers? Aiptasia x or is there a better solution?

venomcc · 01/19/2018, 03:13 PM

They are definitely not aiptasia, but seem similar. Therefore you might have luck with a copper band butterfly eating them. It cleaned up my tank of them.

mcgyvr · 01/19/2018, 03:18 PM

One mans trash is another mans treasure..
I'd just get corals that will grow over them/taller than them and enjoy..

You will not find a predator that will go after them and not attack other corals..
Its all manual removal/targeted attack if you must..

No easy button here..

TrojanScott · 01/19/2018, 03:31 PM

I'd try Aiptasia X. I've had recent luck with it killing majanos. Turn of all pumps, and just coat it with it. Cake it on. Wait half an hour. I know those aren't majanos, but not your common aiptasia either. I doubt a copperband would touch those. (they don't with majanos) Maybe a Klein's butterfly, that would be my only suggestion for a fish that may pick on those, and possibly leave coral alone. I've had hit and miss with that fish.

01/11/2018, 11:46 AM	#1
Bolo Tran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 492	How do I get rid of these little monsters?? Help please! IMG_7660.jpg First there was 1. Then there was 10. Now they’re in the hundreds or even thousands! They’re overtaking my tank and I have no clue as to what they are. They’re ugly and unsightly. Are there any natural predators that will eat them? Please help!

01/11/2018, 12:02 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Palythoa aka button polyps. They're aweful things. Be careful they can contain palytoxin which can be deadly. At least I think that is what you are talking about. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

01/11/2018, 12:06 PM	#3
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	the zoas? if so before you do anything read about palytoxin. might be easier to pull the rock. ^didn't see this post. . . what he said haha __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

01/11/2018, 12:43 PM	#6
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	Razor blade, glove, patience. I just removed a bunch of zoas that were growing out of hand and into a space where I did not want them. I managed to save a bunch on frag plugs for a buddy. Run carbon afterward to help remove the toxins from the water. Don't do this if you have cuts or open wounds as there is a medical danger. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

01/11/2018, 02:40 PM	#9
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	It will be like lawn maintenance. You have to carefully keep them in check by removing them when they grow out of hand back to manageable. Although I have often times wondered what would happen if you put a stinging coral next to it and let it kill them. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

01/11/2018, 12:29 PM	#4
tonyreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 106	They look like majano anemones to me?

01/11/2018, 12:48 PM	#8
Bolo Tran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 492	They’ve gotten everywhere. On rocks,sand, frag plugs. some even attach to the glass. I know for sure they’re not majanos but they are pests like aptasia and just spreads like wild fire. If it was just that rock that would be easy but they’re literally all over.

01/11/2018, 05:09 PM	#11
ReefkeeperZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 392	HPtank for the win. treat them like you would aiptasia or majano when killing them off make sure your running carbon for nutrient export. rotten luck man.

01/11/2018, 05:10 PM	#12
ReefkeeperZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 392	and by rotten luck I mean "it's rotten luck to wind up with them"

01/19/2018, 03:04 PM	#13
Bolo Tran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 492	So I think it’s safe to say there’s no natural predator that will eat these pests. What’s the best way to kill these suckers? Aiptasia x or is there a better solution?

01/19/2018, 03:13 PM	#14
venomcc Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 53	They are definitely not aiptasia, but seem similar. Therefore you might have luck with a copper band butterfly eating them. It cleaned up my tank of them.

01/19/2018, 03:18 PM	#15
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	One mans trash is another mans treasure.. I'd just get corals that will grow over them/taller than them and enjoy.. You will not find a predator that will go after them and not attack other corals.. Its all manual removal/targeted attack if you must.. No easy button here.. __________________ Who me?

01/19/2018, 03:31 PM	#16
TrojanScott Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 2,229	I'd try Aiptasia X. I've had recent luck with it killing majanos. Turn of all pumps, and just coat it with it. Cake it on. Wait half an hour. I know those aren't majanos, but not your common aiptasia either. I doubt a copperband would touch those. (they don't with majanos) Maybe a Klein's butterfly, that would be my only suggestion for a fish that may pick on those, and possibly leave coral alone. I've had hit and miss with that fish.