Aiptasia reproducing? Please help

[moose216]

Hello everybody,
I've got a 26 gallon nano that's about 2 months old. It's got about 40 pounds of live rock. I know there is still an aiptasia or two despite my efforts. My questions is this, I have noticed that nearly every morning the front of my tank has several hundred tiny little creatures on it. They are about 1/16 of an inch, they are clear, they seem to have a radial symmetry with several arms or tentacles radiating from the center body. When the snails foot touches them the snail rapidly pulls it's foot away from the mystery animal. Can anyone help, my initial suspicion is aiptasia spawn but I'm not sure, if anybody has some insight please help. I tried to take pictures but it's impossible to capture an image they are so tiny and clear. Please help!

 

[nivram]

Hydroid? Does it look like this?

 

[moose216]

Definitely it

Definitely it

Nivram, thanks that is definitely it. I will do some homwork on it. Thanx for the info

 

[Sotoquatic]

Hey id like to offer advice as to your aiptasia, i got a raccoon butterfly in my tank to get rid of it and it only took him about a week and half to kill it ALL. about 100 pounds of live rock full of aiptasia, and the raccoon did it for me.

 

[Ludwigia73]

Actually, it's more likely a larval form of jellyfish... It's a normal occurrance in healthy reef tanks. Look closer, are they attached to the glass on a stalk, or look more like a many-armed starfish, but very tiny?

 

[moose216]

Thanks for the responses
Nivram hit it right on the head and provided a perfect pic to match. They are hydroids (larval jellies). They are not completely gone but they have subsided on their own. There are about 90% less. Thanx for the suggestions.

 

[Dankbaby]

you can also try getting peppermint shrimp, they prey on aiptasia.