What's Growing on my Glass???

[olsenjb]

Got looking at my reef tank tonight and noticed some rather unusual things stuck to the glass. They are pink, round, and appear to have hair-like tentacles around them, which appear to be clear. There are various sizes, but none larger than about 1 mm in diameter. They don't move, just stuck to the glass. What are they?
Also, I really like powder-blue tangs and long-nose yellow butterfly fish, but I read contradicting reports as to whether they are reef friendly or not. Anyone had experiences with these species?
Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[bob the builder]

Kinda sounds like a glass anemone or a feather duster. The only thing about the duster is that it is not pink, and doesnt have tenticles all over, it only has tenticles on one part of its body. The glass anemone sounds just like it though.
PB tangs are in fact reef safe, but need a big tank since it does get big. The long nose butterfly is/isnt reef safe. Well, it is reef safe. But one day it might want to start eating polyp and mushroom sandwitches, that isnt good. But, there is that chance that it wont eat polyps and mushrooms...

 

[olsenjb]

A glass anenome? Not too familiar with those. What do they do? Are they good/bad/otherwise? If bad, how do I get rid of them? I wipe down the glass daily, and there is usually 50-75 stuck to the glass by the next day.

 

[demosthenes]

Well, I'm unfamiliar w/ personal experiences regarding aiptasia, so I'm taking a shot in the dark. It may be the beginnings of an aiptasia takeover, but that's just a guess.
PS Never heard of a glass anemone.

 

[olsenjb]

If it is aptasia, what's the best way to get rid of it?

 

[demosthenes]

Well, I would ask a shark, or make a post called "Aiptasia" and ask about it there. I have no experience with it. If you do have it, I know you can get rid of it with certain types of butterfly fish, but they tend to be reef-eaters and may die after the aiptasia is dead. I've heard of using insulin syringes, I'm diabetic on an off-note, to inject very hot water into the base. HTH

 

[bob the builder]

Glass anemones and aptasia are the same things . Peperment shrimp and some butterfly fish(IE: copperband) eat aptasia. Depends if they are good or bad. If you like them and dont mind there presents, there good, if you hate them and they are a big problem, they are bad. Glass anemones(AKA aptasia) eat filter foods(Marine snow, and DT's phytoplakton)and not to mention photosynthises as well. But, 50-75 a day, IMO, you have have a probelm with em. I am trying to grow these glass anemones for my tank(think they look cool) and you have 100's that you dont want...
Just try my advice. Also, my LFS says peperment shrimp are not reef safe, im not sure about that though since people here have them, oh wait, never mind about not being reef safe, that was camel shrimp. Hope this helped!

 

[demosthenes]

Yes, I mentioned this, but the shrimp wouldn't be able to reach the aiptasia, and copperbands, IMO, aren't reef safe, and will die when the aiptasia is gone.

 

[bob the builder]

Originally posted by Demosthenes:
<strong>Yes, I mentioned this, but the shrimp wouldn't be able to reach the aiptasia, and copperbands, IMO, aren't reef safe, and will die when the aiptasia is gone.</strong><hr></blockquote>
NO. I have to 100% disagree with all of that. THe shrimp are able to climb the glass with there "feet" to get the the anemone. And copperbands, ARE IN FACT REEF SAFE. I have seen one in my lfs's tank for over 6 months now, and it is great. Of coarse, there always is that chance that one day the butterfly will start to eat polyps and shrooms, but for the most part, they are reef safe. They do a great job of cleaning for aptisia and do a great job of getting rid of pods and such. They are good fish. Just note that they are known to sometimes nip at polyps, stony polyps, and such. I did warn you just then. It's 50% reef safe, 50% not reef safe. Trust me, even on SWF.com it says they are reef safe, just might eat polyps...