Hitchhiker

Hello everyone, this is my first post here on 3reef but where I have read most of my reef tank information throughout the past few months my tank has been set up and during the set up process. In the past few weeks I have noticed this little creature and was hoping that someone could tell me what they think it is. It has a cylindrical base with a few tentacles branching out from the topic similar to a tree, semi transparent. I am sorry for the poor photo quality but due to the location and lighting it is extremely difficult to get a good quality picture.

 

That looks like an aiptasia to me.

Welcome to 3reef.

 

Agreed. Aiptasia. It's a pest anemone that will over run your system if left unchecked. Take the rock out and kill it.

Welcome to 3reef.

 

Thank you guys for the welcome and the quick response's. I was wondering what methods you would suggest for removing the aiptasia, preferably without removing any rock as I just set the tank up for a second time due to a 2 stage move if you want to call it that. If there is no other way then I guess I will have to but I am hoping there is a way to remove it without removing rock. Thank you so much again.

 

Get some Ms. Wages Pickling Lime and mix a little with ro/di until it's the consistency of toothpaste. Turn off all the flow in the tank and feed it to the aip with a syringe and then completely cover it with the goop.

It's better to kill them outside the tank because they release planula when they feel threatened. Everywhere a planula lands and attaches becomes a new aiptasia.

 

ive heard of squirting it with a turkey baster with lemon juice would kill it

 

Peppermint Shrimp eat it, since you have a reef tank I would use those guys. That's what I personally do.
If it is too large they won't eat it and you end up with a very small see through or brownish anenome.
But having peppermints will prevent it from overtaking the tank.

 

concentrated lemon juice works great

 

My peppermint shrimp loves to snack on any aiptasia that tries to hitchhike into my tank.

 

With using the lemon juice injection into the oral disc and surrounding area will this cause the release of more of the aip or will that take care of it without concern for more spreading?