Hydroid, Snail, Anenome, or something else?

[mann1139]

These guys have been slowly growing in my 12g tank over the past few year.

Recently my clownfish have started to look 'stung', so I made the decision to pull the rock out, boil it, and put it in the sun to get rid of them.

My first batch of pictures didn't come out, but luckily a couple of them were on the loc-line and were missed in the intial purge.

Size is tinier than aiptasia, their tubes are flexible rather than hard like vermetid snails, and they appear to grow in colonies 'on' the rock, rather than 'in' it.

Also found this big worm while pulling the rock out. Tablespoon for scale.

Any idea if either of these could be responsible for 'stinging' my clowns?

Photos

 

[mcgyvr]

Colonial hydroids...basically harmless filter feeders.

Boiling rock is dangerous and can release toxins from corals on it that can kill you or make you seriously ill.. Don't do that.

There are much safer ways to kill creatures on the rock..bleach/peroxide,etc...