Aiptasia!!! i have a rock with 20 or more heads is it good or bad?

[nycpuffer]

well i read theyre a good natural filtration for the water but they will kill your coral its a newbie tank so thank god its just rock no corals one serpent starfish 2x emerald crabs.


7.8 ph, nitrate and nitrite 0,ammonia 0

p.s they look pretty cool small stalk with 8 arms and theyre all neon green theyre has to be atleast 40 heads 20 was under rated


Is that aiptasia? sorry for the picture

 

[jrobbins]

if they are mostly on one rock, just do yourself a favor and pull that rock. neon green color is probably rock anemones or mojanos. both of which aren't so great to have in your tank. they will also spread and replicate quickly (like most nems) and be a total PITA to remove later.

Also, it's not just corals you have to worry about. some of them will also eat your fish if they get big enough.

 

[nycpuffer]

Wow

 

[jrobbins]

actually it doesnt really look like an anemone to me. is there a base or mat that connects the polyps? they looks almost like star polyps or something similar. also, try poking them with something and see how they react. do the skirts just curl up, does the whole thing retract into a hole in the rock, or does it retract into a sort of mat with a bunch of holes in it (maybe slightly purplish in color)?

 

[nycpuffer]

There is a mat that connects the polyps it all purple i poked it and the whole thing retracts into a hole in a purple mat the purple mat its like a road on the rock its like streets connecting and evrywhere there is purple there is a polyp no purple no ployp HOPE THAT HELPS LOL


FOUND A PICTURE OF A STAR POLYPS THEY LOOK LIKE THE PHOTO

 

[jrobbins]

they are star polyps then. they are an invasive coral (ie they grow quickly and will overgrow neighboring corals) but are generally pretty harmless and kinda pretty. just make sure it doesn't get onto your main rock work or it will get everywhere.

FWIW, i like to lean star polyp rocks against the back glass. the mat will grow onto the glass and look pretty cool. you also don't have to worry about cleaning the glass that way.

 

[nycpuffer]

ok so theyre not aiptasia i got scared there for a moment and was going to throw boiling water on the rock lol i need to make sure

 

[Avi]

The star polyps that you have there can be attractive, but they are very...very, invasive and will spread rapidly once they "take." So, if you want to keep them, keep that rock away from everything. If they pop up somewhere else on your rockwork, scrape them off when you first see them there.

 

[nycpuffer]

sounds good thanks for all the help ill will take a clear picture asap so anyone can help identify the star polyps

 

[jrobbins]

You want us to ID your star polyps???

Ok, the one on the left looks like George. The guy 3 up from the bottom is clearly Fred. And Bill is the lazy lookin dude hanging out in the back...

 

[nycpuffer]

lol funny

 

[ryangrieder]

You want us to ID your star polyps???

Ok, the one on the left looks like George. The guy 3 up from the bottom is clearly Fred. And Bill is the lazy lookin dude hanging out in the back...

hahaha. thats great. if you ever want to frag your freds let me know!

 

[mandown123]

it is star polyps not aiptasia. good news.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Just so you know from now on, if it doesnt look like this it isnt aptasia.

Congrats on the hitchhiker coral! Good score.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

You want us to ID your star polyps???

Ok, the one on the left looks like George. The guy 3 up from the bottom is clearly Fred. And Bill is the lazy lookin dude hanging out in the back...

you forgot the other one which is definitely Ringo