What is this?

[olsenjb]

I'm in the process of taking down my 55 Gallon reef tank that has been up and going for about 3 1/2 years. When I sold all my rock, I came across this thing (circled in the pictures) sticking out of the sand. It has been under rock, and therefore without light, for a long time. I was wondering if anyone knows what it is? The tentacles appear to be banded if that helps any. Thanks.

 

[maurice]

It is a little hard to tell in the pic,but it looks like a majano.

 

[fishamajig]

aptasia

 

[oceana]

yes aptasia. majano is much more round and bulb like.

 

[olsenjb]

I thought it might be aptasia, but I'm surprised that it could live buried under rock for that long. Don't aptasia need light to survive?

 

[marvida]

They don't need light. The biggest apastia I have seen were in a Fluval canister filter growing on the sponge filter.

 

[fishamajig]

aptasia will outlive the cockaroaches. they dont seem to need anything to survive, and resillient as hell.