Amb Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Well, I saw this crop up on my rock today and I'm not really sure what it is. My gut tells me it's Aiptasia, but the problem is everything I've seen describing them doesn't show them in small clusters like this, so I'm really confused. It's cropping up on other rocks as well, but always in the same small clusters. For reference, this cluster is only about the size of a thimble, and probably the best shot I could get. (click for much bigger) And if it's not aiptasia, what could it be? Many thanks for any help! Link to comment
castiel Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I would bet on 'not aiptasia'. But not sure what it is instead ... Link to comment
grmoore Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I would bet on 'not aiptasia'. But not sure what it is instead ... Look like common brown polyps. Link to comment
duderubble Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Yeah, I'd say brown zoas or some such. Ugly zoas tend to out-compete pretty ones so you might consider them a pest. Link to comment
tedh Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Feel free to mail me any "ugly zoas" you don't want! Link to comment
duderubble Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Fortunately I don't have any at the moment. But I have experienced that if you have one or two really cool zoas in a colony that you hope will spread, they tend to not spread, and instead the other zoas, which are probably just fine but more abundant will choke out or just out-compete the ones you hoped would become a nice colony. Learning to love the plain ones is a great strategy for reefing hapiness. Link to comment
tedh Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I really like zoas and my tank is new. I've had a small colony for about two week and already have a very tiny one stuck to the front glass. I hope they continue to spread. Fortunately I don't have any at the moment. But I have experienced that if you have one or two really cool zoas in a colony that you hope will spread, they tend to not spread, and instead the other zoas, which are probably just fine but more abundant will choke out or just out-compete the ones you hoped would become a nice colony. Learning to love the plain ones is a great strategy for reefing hapiness. Link to comment
smai-tai Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Looks like majano nems to me. Get rid of them! Link to comment
duderubble Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I would say look at pics of majanos and see if they look more like it than pics of brown zoas. I think I would remove them regardless because they are likely to become a pest long term even if they are polyps of some kind. Link to comment
beefus Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I vote ugly brown majano, the ones in my tank a bright green color and I like them until they popup in the rock spot then they get juiced. Not be racist or anything but I would kill those. Link to comment
Amb Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 I did try comparing them to photos of majano but they didn't appear to be similar. It seems the general consensus though is that they could turn into a pest, so I may as well remove them. I'll probably watch them for a while though before I make any sort of decision. Thanks again for all the input guys. I definitely appreciate it! More help than I expected Link to comment
smai-tai Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I did try comparing them to photos of majano but they didn't appear to be similar. It seems the general consensus though is that they could turn into a pest, so I may as well remove them. I'll probably watch them for a while though before I make any sort of decision. Thanks again for all the input guys. I definitely appreciate it! More help than I expected I am almost positive they are majano's. But I have been wrong in the past. Be careful, they can spread like crazy, then they are a pain in the arse to get rid of. Link to comment
DaJMasta Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 It almost looks like a whole bunch of polyps growing out of a single base... is there a skeleton? If so it could be a browned out flower pot coral. If there's no skeleton but they are conjoined they're probably some sort of zoa, and if they are single unconnected polyps they are likely pest anemones. Link to comment
lakshwadeep Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 It does look like a colony rather than the relatively isolated polyps of aiptasias or manjanos. Link to comment
Amb Posted October 5, 2011 Author Share Posted October 5, 2011 Well, I eliminated them in a probably less than orthodox way (very accurate welding torch) and it appears that there was a slight coral skeleton, so, ultimately it must've been some sort of coral. I suppose though I'm rather happier safe than opposed to sorry. I didn't want to risk a possible outbreak of something detrimental to the tank. And if anyone's curious, using the torch was very helpful in eliminating the target and leaving the rest of the liverock intact! Forgive the pyro in me And because I like saying thank you, thanks again for everyone's help. Link to comment
matth6761 Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Awesome! I burned some aiptasia off of a zoanthid frag with a lighter once. Fire. 100% effective every time. Link to comment
IamTomm Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 It almost looks like gonipora or something along those lines. Make it retract and see if it has a stony base. Link to comment
DaJMasta Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 That's a real shame. Probably would have colored up into something nice. Be VERY careful burning things off of rock - like don't do it again. Burning zoas and aerosolizing palytoxin is probably the last thing you want to do. Boiling zoas is also a terrible idea. If there's a chance it's them or they could be burned, don't do it. I know the fire probably neutralizes the toxin, but it only takes a little released steam with palytoxin in it to go into your eyes or lungs and you will not be enjoying your trip to the ER. Link to comment
JaneG Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 They remind me of goniopora. Too bad you killed them - would have been interesting to see if they would color up or if they were just anemones! Link to comment
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