Forget aiptasia... what about tunicates?

TripleT · 08/12/2010, 04:23 PM

I have white tunicates that are spreading on rock in my tank.

Has anybody had luck with any fish or inverts eating these?

They look a bit like these:

billdogg · 08/12/2010, 06:38 PM

tunicates are harmless filter feeders that you should be happy to have. why would you want to get rid of them? BTW - that looks more like pineapple (sycoid) sponge to me, but either way - both are good things to have.

Sugar Magnolia · 08/12/2010, 06:41 PM

Not a scypha sponge. They look like this:

Can you please post an image of what you have in your tank? Without an image it's nearly impossible to give you a positive ID.

TripleT · 08/12/2010, 07:39 PM

Sure, they're harmless... but a bit of an eye sore.

I don't mind the purple ones, which I have a few of, but the white ones are just not attractive.

I'll take some pics when I get a chance. They look like the pic I posted, but less translucent, and more porous.

noahm · 08/12/2010, 07:52 PM

Poor bland tunicates....

TripleT · 08/12/2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahm

Poor bland tunicates....

Oh man... now I feel guilty.

Okay, I'm going to go the opposite direction and try breeding them.

If you'd like to fill your tank with tunicates... get your orders in now!!!

SDguy · 08/13/2010, 07:28 AM

I would leave them be. Generally stuff like this blooms due to available food. They don't sting, so what is the concern?

T Diddy · 08/13/2010, 08:25 AM

so target feed the purple ones and maybe they will take over

noahm · 08/13/2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleT

Oh man... now I feel guilty.

Okay, I'm going to go the opposite direction and try breeding them.

If you'd like to fill your tank with tunicates... get your orders in now!!!

lol. Just give them a cool name and you will be the envy of reefers. Everyone knows you can sell a tan polyp for $25 bucks if it is called 'Egypt sands' or 'gold dust' etc. Too bad tunicates aren't reliable or you wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand for 'Abominable Snowman' tunis.

Mavrk · 08/13/2010, 09:37 AM

Angelfish and maybe butterfly fish eat them I believe. Of course some are apparently good for human food: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascidiacea#Culinary

They are closer to vertebrates than sponges in structure. You might be able to sell the purple ones since I have seen them for sale online

BTW, they thrive in well maintained tanks. So you could always stop doing water changes, remove your skimmer, or whatever you are doing to have such good water parameters

TripleT · 08/13/2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahm

lol. Just give them a cool name and you will be the envy of reefers. Everyone knows you can sell a tan polyp for $25 bucks if it is called 'Egypt sands' or 'gold dust' etc. Too bad tunicates aren't reliable or you wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand for 'Abominable Snowman' tunis.

Too funny.

TripleT · 08/13/2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrk

Angelfish and maybe butterfly fish eat them I believe. Of course some are apparently good for human food: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascidiacea#Culinary

Tunicate... it's what for dinner.

Tunicate, the other white meat.

Hmmm... it does sound delicious!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrk

BTW, they thrive in well maintained tanks. So you could always stop doing water changes, remove your skimmer, or whatever you are doing to have such good water parameters

Boy it's gonna be a lot easier taking care of this tank!

Mavrk · 08/13/2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleT

Tunicate... it's what for dinner.

Tunicate, the other white meat.

Hmmm... it does sound delicious!

Boy it's gonna be a lot easier taking care of this tank!

Haha. Still waiting for a picture

iamwhatiam52 · 08/13/2010, 11:25 PM

My small angle fish (cherubs, flame and singapores) love colonial tunicates which I collect from the floating docks here in Long Island.

Dave VG · 08/14/2010, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahm

lol. Just give them a cool name and you will be the envy of reefers. Everyone knows you can sell a tan polyp for $25 bucks if it is called 'Egypt sands' or 'gold dust' etc. Too bad tunicates aren't reliable or you wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand for 'Abominable Snowman' tunis.

Thats to funny lmao

The Escaped Ape · 08/14/2010, 07:41 AM

To think that seeing a tunicate on my new live rock was perhaps the highlight of getting it and here you are wishing you didn't have them! Well, one man's poison is another's whatchamacallit.

Taking a photo might be tricky if yours are as transparent as mine is. Here's the best I could manage.

BTW, I'm assuming this is a tunicate. Does everyone agree?

TripleT · 08/14/2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrk

Haha. Still waiting for a picture

Ladies and gentlemen... I give you the Abominable Snowman tunicate!

And the eighth wonder of the world, Purpurescent Tunicus Maximus!!!

The price is $149.99 per tunicate. However, they are firmly attached to the rock which has at least a few dozen on it.

But for fellow Reef Central members I would sell the whole lot for $4999.

And if this appeals to you, I may also have some Heavenly Angel Hair Algae for sale as well. $49.99 per magnificent strand.

iamwhatiam52 · 08/14/2010, 08:34 AM

How much is shipping?

Are these rare and delicate treasures covered by an arrive alive guarantee?

Mavrk · 08/14/2010, 10:30 AM

Some of the white ones look like they could be sponges. But that could be the picture. I like the purple ones.

You could always braid the hair algae and see if it sells better

TripleT · 08/14/2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamwhatiam52

How much is shipping?

Are these rare and delicate treasures covered by an arrive alive guarantee?

Orders over $4000 qualify for free shipping.

They are guaranteed to be alive up until the moment that you open the packaging.

As you can see I pride myself on great prices, the rarest collectibles, and outstanding customer service!

The Escaped Ape · 08/14/2010, 09:20 PM

They all look like sponges to me, though obviously it's hard to be sure from pictures. But, like tunicates, a sign of good water quality and useful hitchhikers, as they help keep the water sparkling clean.

08/12/2010, 04:23 PM	#1
TripleT Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,092	Forget aiptasia... what about tunicates? I have white tunicates that are spreading on rock in my tank. Has anybody had luck with any fish or inverts eating these? They look a bit like these:

08/12/2010, 06:38 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	tunicates are harmless filter feeders that you should be happy to have. why would you want to get rid of them? BTW - that looks more like pineapple (sycoid) sponge to me, but either way - both are good things to have. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/12/2010, 06:41 PM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Not a scypha sponge. They look like this: Can you please post an image of what you have in your tank? Without an image it's nearly impossible to give you a positive ID. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/13/2010, 07:28 AM	#7
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	I would leave them be. Generally stuff like this blooms due to available food. They don't sting, so what is the concern? __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

08/13/2010, 08:25 AM	#8
T Diddy Slayer of Mice Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 1,338	so target feed the purple ones and maybe they will take over __________________ America's best are not in America. Current Tank Info: 140 Gallon DSA in-wall, foam/rock wall, DIY LED, 40g sump, Precision Marine Skimmer, 100 gallon refugium, NO3, PO4,NH3/4 undetectable, Mg, Ca, KH...eeehhhhhh?

08/12/2010, 07:39 PM	#4
TripleT Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,092	Sure, they're harmless... but a bit of an eye sore. I don't mind the purple ones, which I have a few of, but the white ones are just not attractive. I'll take some pics when I get a chance. They look like the pic I posted, but less translucent, and more porous.

08/12/2010, 07:52 PM	#5
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	Poor bland tunicates....

08/13/2010, 09:37 AM	#10
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Angelfish and maybe butterfly fish eat them I believe. Of course some are apparently good for human food: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascidiacea#Culinary They are closer to vertebrates than sponges in structure. You might be able to sell the purple ones since I have seen them for sale online BTW, they thrive in well maintained tanks. So you could always stop doing water changes, remove your skimmer, or whatever you are doing to have such good water parameters

08/13/2010, 11:25 PM	#14
iamwhatiam52 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Freeport, NY Posts: 1,466	My small angle fish (cherubs, flame and singapores) love colonial tunicates which I collect from the floating docks here in Long Island. __________________ Occupation: Need one. Will work for salt. Current Tank Info: 180 mixed up reef started April 2005. 4 small tanks on same sump.

08/14/2010, 07:41 AM	#16
The Escaped Ape In The Canopy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Taiwan Posts: 1,098	To think that seeing a tunicate on my new live rock was perhaps the highlight of getting it and here you are wishing you didn't have them! Well, one man's poison is another's whatchamacallit. Taking a photo might be tricky if yours are as transparent as mine is. Here's the best I could manage. BTW, I'm assuming this is a tunicate. Does everyone agree? __________________ Tom Victoria Concordia Crescit Current Tank Info: Currently tankless

08/14/2010, 08:34 AM	#18
iamwhatiam52 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Freeport, NY Posts: 1,466	How much is shipping? Are these rare and delicate treasures covered by an arrive alive guarantee? __________________ Occupation: Need one. Will work for salt. Current Tank Info: 180 mixed up reef started April 2005. 4 small tanks on same sump.

08/14/2010, 10:30 AM	#19
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Some of the white ones look like they could be sponges. But that could be the picture. I like the purple ones. You could always braid the hair algae and see if it sells better

08/14/2010, 09:20 PM	#21
The Escaped Ape In The Canopy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Taiwan Posts: 1,098	They all look like sponges to me, though obviously it's hard to be sure from pictures. But, like tunicates, a sign of good water quality and useful hitchhikers, as they help keep the water sparkling clean. __________________ Tom Victoria Concordia Crescit Current Tank Info: Currently tankless

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
need help!!Aiptasia anemones	paolellawp	Northern Ohio Reef Keepers	27	09/20/2010 04:26 PM
Aiptasia anyone?	Sanlynn	Alabama Reef Addicts	18	08/19/2010 12:42 PM
Aiptasia Die! Beaches Die! HELP	Jennifier615	New to the Hobby	5	06/18/2010 08:46 AM
Sponge or tunicate???	jimhobbs	Reef FAQ's	9	12/18/1999 09:09 AM