Brand new to this - 125g

[SycoCell]

Hey guys! Just "turned on" my 125g yesterday. It's a 6' tank with dual plumbing and a Eshopps RS200 Sump underneath with a Reef Octopus Classic 150 - and various pumps/power heads/heaters. Also have me a nice Apex unit that I'm trying to figure out to work out. Anyway - I'm brand new to Salt. It's very overwhelming but I'm enjoying it so far. Suggestions on where to go from here? It's full. My salinity checks out. I have about 100lbs of live rock and 80lbs of sand. My plan is to do a reef/fish setup.

As soon as I started the tank up, I have these little "palm tree" looking things popping up on my live rock. They're clear and flap around in the current. Ideas of what that could be? They're about a finger nail in length. The tank was sitting with about 50 gallons of water/rock/sand/power heads in it for about 5 months prior to starting it up yesterday.

 

[SycoCell]

A few photos from the process. Two of them show the little palm tree things...

 

[vhuang168]

That, unfortunately, looks like aptasia. If it is, and you have lots popping out everywhere, I suggest you pull the rock and bleach/acid dip it off all life! Make sure you read up on how to do it safely.

Or you can pull it and return it to wherever you got it from and ask for a refund (if you can).

Aptasia can be a very invasive pest. Read up on it.

Better closeup pics will help up confirm if it is.




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[SycoCell]

Edit: I found it. They're called Aiptasia which I'm sure you guys are familiar with... Apparently peppermint shrimp will handle that?

 

[gmneil]

better off taking the rock out and bleaching it and starting out without that problem

 

[nereefpat]

I guess I wouldn't panic as much as the others about Aiptasia. There are certain fishes and shrimp that eat those pests, and they can be killed manually.

Have you started cycling the tank? Done any testing? Have an RODI unit?

 

[pfan151]

If you don't take care of it now you more than likely not totally ever get rid of them. Some animals may eat them but there is no point starting your tank with a pest on day one.

 

[flooddc]

As other suggested! get rid of it asap (but don't panic). Peppermint shrimps are hit and miss. All of my peppermint don't even touch it. Fish that eat Aiptasia are usually not reef safe. So it's better to get rid of it while your tank is still new.

 

[clowncaldy27]

Either bleach the rock or bring it back .... yes , there are fish and shrimp that eat aiptasia , but once your aiptasia count is low they will eat soft corals that you put in your tank.

 

[sde1500]

Since you just started the tank, would not hurt at all to bleach the rock to kill the pests. Obviously this kills the live rock, but better than dealing with something forever. No other permanent solution, though peppermint shrimps and other natural predators may keep them at bay by eating some.

Can't say what route I'd choose. I have a couple in my tank right now, came in on a live rock from my previous tank. I have a peppermint shrimp in, the previous one died, but did eat back a significant number of them. But it died and now they are back. I don't find them a nuisance, yet, because they aren't everywhere, yet. But I don't know if I'd go so far as to bleach all my rock, though I wish I had bleached the live rocks I transferred from my previous tank, that would have prevented them from coming over.

 

[SycoCell]

My tank is pretty well cycled since I've had water and flow in it for 4 months now - just haven't been adding chemicals or doing anything besides topping off with RO and flipping lights on and off. But now it's fully up and running with pumps/skimmer/etc...

I opted to put some peppermint shrimp in there right now. I'll closely monitor the Aiptasia to see if more pops up, but as of now, it's only on a couple of my rocks. I'd hate to remove all of the rock as I have about 150lbs worth of it in there.

 

[scooter31707]

I have great success of just squirting boiling water on them. Don't have to bleach the rock and killing the bacteria. Or you can use kalk paste.

 

[JMorris271]

Welcome to RC.
A question or two. Why did you add the check valves? They are going to be a sticking point and eat up your head. Also if you need to, you can loose several of those 90's by redirecting the plumbing.
Once you get that skimmer operational and are cleaning it out, you might find that braided hose is going to be agrivating because it will harden up over time and be much hader to move around to manipulate things. I just would suggest you re route it if possible.
Very nice tank layout.
Good luck with your reef keeping.

 

[SycoCell]

Welcome to RC.
A question or two. Why did you add the check valves? They are going to be a sticking point and eat up your head. Also if you need to, you can loose several of those 90's by redirecting the plumbing.
Once you get that skimmer operational and are cleaning it out, you might find that braided hose is going to be agrivating because it will harden up over time and be much hader to move around to manipulate things. I just would suggest you re route it if possible.
Very nice tank layout.
Good luck with your reef keeping.

I added the check-valves as a backup...I thought that was a good idea to do, no? Tips on getting rid of some of the 90s?