What is this?

Hey guys,

First off I want to thank everyone for his or her help. I feel like every other second I post something new! Each time I post I receive great information and just wanted everyone to know that I'm very grateful for the wealth of knowledge shared.

On that note, I have a bunch of these on one of my pieces of live rock and was curious as to what they actually are.

Once again, thanks for the info in advance!

-Tom

 

aiptasia anemone or glass anemone. bad to have. kill it or it will mulitply Xtalreef here is a good starting page for unidentifies. good luck. o yea to kill use kalk paste and inject it. Some will say peperment shrimp but they only work sometimes. good luck.

 

Oh crap! lol

 

Ok, many reefers will look at me as if I have two heads and am crazy! But hear me out before you get overly excited and shoot down my thought about aiptasia.
Aiptasia is a filter feeding anemone and although it is symbiotic, so light provides them with much of their nutrients their ability to filter feed is essential and can provide a reef and saltwater fish only tank with the ability to remove excess nutrients like nitrates and phosphates.
Acting in the same way as macroalgae, by placing these in a refugium type environment, you will be able to see the effects of these animals as your nutrient levels should decrease. Just like most of you would not house caulerpa in a main tank, but would in a refugium, aiptasia can be another filter feeder than can aid in nutrient reduction under the right circumstances and in the right place.
I have always believed that everything on this Earth has been put here for a reason. Aiptasia is no exception...I have them and they work well for me!!!

 

I didn't think they looked that bad. Oh well. I'm gonna just grab a peppermint shrimp and a red legged hermit crab and hope they do the trick as the article stated!

Thanks for the info. Any other suggestions are also helpful

 

Can a peppermint shrimp and cleaner shrimp live together?

 

Yes, they can live together.

 

What about the stinging properties of this creature. I hear it can sting most corals to death. Filter or not don't want to risk any of my corals. I house calupra in both DT and fuge. At least fish eat claupra.

 

Coral Reefer's post suggests keeping them in a refugium, not the main tank. I have run a fuge with aiptasia in it with great results.