Pest anemones

[Riptide10]

I have a 55g tank that has a ton of these small anemones growing in them and spreading fast. They have white tips on the tentacles and look like little strawberry anemones. They certainly aren't the brownish color you expect aiptasia to be.

Will a butterfly such as a copperband get rid of these things or will they turn their beak up at it?

I think these are corynactis species anemones.

 

[Jadran]

honestly I don't think that fish would be great idea for several reasons:

- difficult to feed, need to get specimen that would eat in shop and even than might perish within month or two..

- do you have any tangs in your 55 (zebrasomas or such..) if so dont take copperband

you can not trust it with buttons, anemones, etc..

-it might eat these anemones but if you have heavy outbreak would it catch up with it..? IMO its better to deal with these pests with JJ, kalkwasser or somethig alike and then to use such fish for future prevention..

if you're not concerned about buttons, anemones, clams... might be better idea to take some hardcore "reefunsafe" butterfly or filefish.. would do much better work, IMO

could you post some shots of these pest anemones.. ?
recently had to deal with similar prob. got infested with strange aggressive colonial anemones that noone could ID..had no choicew but to replace the LR..

 

[Riptide10]

Well I already have the butterfly. In another tank. As to how safe she is for reefs - that is untested. Guess I will be finding out soon. In any case she eats like a horse though I have yet to get her to eat anything but frost foods. Turns her beak up to flake.

Regarding these strawberry anemones you can see some pictures here:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2002/invert.htm

I have the corynactis type, the ones that only grow about 1" across. Interestingly this article doesn't seem to portray them as a pest species. I suppose they are sort of pretty and I wouldn't mind having some of them - as long as their growth would stay in check.

BTW I am going to be keeping this copperband with a larger anemone that is hosting clowns right now. I know there is some risk there but in this hobby you know how that goes. It's worth a try and if it doesn't work out then either the fish goes or the anemone. Pretty much that simple.