Aptasia? Help!

[tontra]

I just purchased some live rock from a guy who was breaking down his tank. When I got the rock home and placed it into my aquairum I did not notice anything unusual. The next day I noticed there were little brown aptasia looking like things beginning to show up.If you look closely enough the suspects are the little brown specs in the photo. I hope you all can make them out. There are HUNDREDS of these very little things. I'm not sure if they are aptasia, so can someone give me a second opinion? I really hope i dont get the bad news that these are aptasia, I know they can be a huge headache to get rid of. The entire side of this rock seems to be covered in this stuff. Am I out of luck or is there an easy solution to this problem. Since they seem very small, am I fortunate that they are not bigger? Sorry but Im panicking!

 

[tontra]

OOps sorry, the picture can be viewed if you click on the gallery icon above my original post. Thanks.

 

[magdelan]

It's hard to tell what they are from the picture. They could also be hydroids which are just as bad. Check out this site for an ID.

http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm

 

[drummereef]

Really can't tell with that pic. Believe me, hydroids are worse.

 

[Sk8r]

Or even undercolored star polyps. Hydroids are really a possibility.
But hydroids tend to go away as a tank matures. And aiptasia, while unpleasant, aren't THAT bad---except in that sort of numbers. Usually, however, the young aiptasia are like a white grain of rice and root in sand for a while before taking to the rock. If you get a couple of peppermint shrimp, they'll take care of the young. Go to the newbie forum, and check the stickies up at the top. THere should be a long list of closeup photos of hitchhikers, and that may help you pin these fellows down.

 

[tontra]

Thanks fellas, ill do some research and get back to you all!

 

[tontra]

Crap....Hydroids. What should I do guys? And everything was going so well too. Will they bother my fish?

 

[tontra]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9471801#post9471801 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
Or even undercolored star polyps. Hydroids are really a possibility.
But hydroids tend to go away as a tank matures. And aiptasia, while unpleasant, aren't THAT bad---except in that sort of numbers. Usually, however, the young aiptasia are like a white grain of rice and root in sand for a while before taking to the rock. If you get a couple of peppermint shrimp, they'll take care of the young. Go to the newbie forum, and check the stickies up at the top. THere should be a long list of closeup photos of hitchhikers, and that may help you pin these fellows down.

If I literally have hundreds of these things, is a couple peppermint shrimp adequate to take care of the problem? Im assuming these shrimp are not reef safe?

 

[uscharalph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9471854#post9471854 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tontra
If I literally have hundreds of these things, is a couple peppermint shrimp adequate to take care of the problem? Im assuming these shrimp are not reef safe?

I have 4 in my 55 gallon reef and the have eaten all of the Aiptasia in my tank. I hardly ever see them anymore. They come out a t night