What is it?

[jlfnjlf]

I have a few critters in my tank that just recently showed up.

Slug like critter

I have two of these things that let out long web like tentacles, and they seem to be upsetting the Zoa's. Looks like I would have to break up rock to eradicate them.

I will wok on a better photo of the web thing. I may need to move the rock temporally.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

The first one is difficult to tell what it is, but it looks like either a Dorid or Aeolid Nudibranch. If that's the case, they prey on Cnidarian tissue. Watch your corals and invertebrates. Also, these critters tend to mimic what they eat, so there is a chance that it might be snacking on either Zoanthids or even Green Star Polyps.

The second picture is rather difficult to tell what it is and where the tentacle-thing is originating from. It almost looks like a food web sent out by a Vermetid Snail, but there is a chance that it is a Digitate Hydroid as well.

 

[Reefugee]

When I saw it, my first reaction was "zoanthid eating nudibranch"? Check all your zoanthids to see if you have any inside of your zoanthids. They can be very difficult to spot. The other thing to do is take a zoa frag out and do a freshwater dip. See if any falls off. If there are any of these creatures on you zoas - then it is most likely a zoa eating nudibranch.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=665211&highlight=nudi

 

[Justin74]

Good call Travis, I would worry about the nudibranch, big time worry. Syphon it out ASAP, and anymore you run across, when you see one, count on a handfull that you dont see. Also do a lil research so you can see what there eggs look like so you can remove them ASAP as well. You may also want to consider taking a proactive stance and swishing any corals (GSP, zoos, etc)you have in fresh water. Make sure the water is near the same pH as your tank (can be done with a air pump for an hour or so) and swish them vigerously for 15-20 sec. Youll notice all types of critters fall off into the water, hopefully most of your nudibranchs's. The idea is to act fast before they spread to plague perportions and infest your corals, best of luck to you!

-Justin

 

[Justin74]

Sorry Minh, Im a slow typer and you beat me

-Justin

 

[Wee-Reef Master]

Yup, coral eater. Freshwater dips are in order I think.

 

[jlfnjlf]

OH MAN...

Being the new dude and all I get many different recipes for the dips. What works best for this situation? My FW has been churning and the PH is well over 10 what can I do to lower it?

Thanks,

John

 

[Fragmented]

Adding water that is not airated should bring the PH down.
Baking soda will also lower PH.

 

[jlfnjlf]

OK so I start doing some reading on the net and this thing looks just like the Aeolid nudibranch Berghia they sell to eat the anti-pasta (can never get the name right) pest anemones? Oh is there a pronunciation guide available for new reef keepers I need it? Back to the nudibranch how do I know if it is a good guy or a bad guy? I have one out and in a glass cup so I can examine it more closely. Can someone point me to a site that addresses the nudibranch that will eat the Zoa in the aquarium?

Thanks,

John

 

[Fragmented]

Berghia are really really small. How big are yours? Where did you find them? (What was in close proximity?) Berghia can not survive very long without Aptasia.

 

[jlfnjlf]

This lil critter is about 8mm long, or a little bigger that 1/4 of an inch. Thus far I have only seen the one, but I am working on getting a dip bath ready.

 

[funman1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8044801#post8044801 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlfnjlf
My FW has been churning and the PH is well over 10 what can I do to lower it?

If it's fresh RODI water the PH reading will be useless, there are not enough Ions in the water for the PH meter to work.
After you add the salt then take a PH reading.

~Steve~

 

[loup]

here's a thread i just ran across to how to pronounce things

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=198931

 

[Justin74]

Ok, I noticed a few things that need clarification. Baking soda raises pH, not lowers it. If the pH is 10, simply stop airating it untill it drops down between 8.4-8.0.

In this situation do the best you can, but dont add salt as it defeats the purpose of a freshwater dip. Sounds like you may be referring to a pH meter Steve, test strips will suffice for this project though. Worse case scenario your pH is off and it will stress the coral. Which is definately the lesser of two evils considering the other one is the being eaten option, and again is a 20 sec max process, dont get hung up on details. Looking with the untrained eye is very uneffective at identification especially on how many there are that are virtually identical in appearance, and more than likely are NOT berghia. God speed!

-Justin

 

[jlfnjlf]

The tentacles are iridescent on this, but I could not capture it on the photo.

After more research me thinks this one is a spaghetti worm.

 

[Fragmented]

Oops. Thanks Justin. I got it backwards.

 

[jlfnjlf]

OK so I did the dip on my 2 big Zoa rocks, and nothing like the critter in the photo fell off. I have a few other frags, but they are glued to the rock work. I got the one in the photo out, and I am keeping an eye out for others.

Thank you all for the advice.

John

 

[ReefRian]

That 1st new photo almost looks like a feather duster, the 2nd one looks like a spagetti worm.

If you can't remove your zoos to get to the nudis, at night after the lights have been off for a while, get a flashlight out and look at your corals, they come out at night and can easily be removed with a suck from your baster. I removed many this way, eventually I got rid of them, but it takes a while. They are slow movers so you should have no problem sucking them out.

Rian