90% sure this is aptasia.

[Monad]

As the thread title says, I’m 90% sure this is aptasia growing on my monti frag plug.

I did not notice it early because the frag and plug were sitting on another section of the tank and the light was too high so it started bleaching.

I moved the plug this afternoon and noticed this guy tonight.

I plan on going to my LFS tomorrow and picking up some Aptasia X. Are there any other methods I can try before then?

Will dipping the plug in RODI water kill it? Will that also kill the coral?

I’m paranoid that I damaged the thing when I moved the plug and now the aptasia is here to stay.

I want to remove this from my tank ASAP.

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Dipping in RODI will probably hurt your frag, and stressing the aiptasia will cause it to reproduce faster. I would try a kukhenthal peppermint shrimp as theyll eat it and less likely to harm things like other anemones or coral than some of the other Lysmata species which can be easily mis-labelled. They’re nice to have in general. I try to avoid filefish as they often munch on corals too

 

[IceNein]

If it's on a frag plug, why not put on some gloves, pull out the frag plug, scrape off the aiptasia, and then grind off a bit of the plug it was sitting on, rinse it off, and put it back into your tank.

Seems like using some chemical to remove it when it's on something that you can easily pull out of your tank and work with is overkill, but I defer to the judgement of others.

 

[Monad]

Dipping in RODI will probably hurt your frag, and stressing the aiptasia will cause it to reproduce faster. I would try a kukhenthal peppermint shrimp as theyll eat it and less likely to harm things like other anemones or coral than some of the other Lysmata species which can be easily mis-labelled. They’re nice to have in general. I try to avoid filefish as they often munch on corals too

Will a peppermint shrimp be compatible with my skunk shrimp, candy cane and duncan corals?

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

If it's on a frag plug, why not put on some gloves, pull out the frag plug, scrape off the aiptasia, and then grind off a bit of the plug it was sitting on, rinse it off, and put it back into your tank.

Seems like using some chemical to remove it when it's on something that you can easily pull out of your tank and work with is overkill, but I defer to the judgement of others.

This can also work although removing the plug can cause the aiptasia to stress and release spores. Id try it though

 

[Monad]

Alright, plan is to gently take it out. Then scrape it off with a razor.

I just need to see if I have any nitrile gloves.

Oh the joys of a new tank!

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Will a peppermint shrimp be compatible with my skunk shrimp, candy cane and duncan corals?

Skunks can sometimes bully other types, but if the tank is over 30-40gals it should be fine. I would try scraping it off first and then get a shrimp if it ends up spreading

 

[Monad]

Skunks can sometimes bully other types, but if the tank is over 30-40gals it should be fine. I would try scraping it off first and then get a shrimp if it ends up spreading

Tank is 90 gallons. That's good to know.

 

[Monad]

Well, I just took a razor to it. Probably a bad decision. I took it out of the tank, started scraping it with a razor. It retreated to the point of just looking like some a small piece of snot on the plug. I tried my best to get it off and the razor only pushed it around. I think I either got it off, or I just broke up the goop and spread it around with the razor.

Only time will tell.

 

[William Bruckmann]

I raise Aiptasia and frequently snip off the heads to feed Berghia. The stumps always grow back. That being said, I leave the stumps intact, and you have shredded it. Keep an eye on that spot and let me know if it comes back. I am very curious.

 

[jhadaway117]

I had one growing on a zoa frag one time. I pulled out the frag, scraped it off, and put a couple of drops of super glue on the spot it was attached to just to make sure I smothered it and it wouldn't come back. Haven't seen any since.

 

[reeflife3]

After scraping off the aptisa, I would soak the bottom on of the frag plug in peroxide or rubbing alcohol

 

[Monad]

After scraping off the aptisa, I would soak the bottom on of the frag plug in peroxide or rubbing alcohol

Too late for me. I did cover the bottom of the frag in super glue, but it may be too late to prevent it from spreading. The only thing I have in my tank that eats aptasia is a blue hermit crab, but I know those guys only eat aptasia as a last resort. The little guy has plenty of food in algae around the tank. Besides, I don’t think one blue hermit can effectively cover a 90g display.

 

[Monad]

I raise Aiptasia and frequently snip off the heads to feed Berghia. The stumps always grow back. That being said, I leave the stumps intact, and you have shredded it. Keep an eye on that spot and let me know if it comes back. I am very curious.

Definitely. I did cover the bottom of the frag with super glue and I may have missed a spot, but that was a day after I scraped it. The aptasia probably is in the system and I inadvertently spread it.

I’ll keep you updated. Hopefully I killed it, but I probably did not.

 

[Emrava]

I least you took some action! It could show up again or not. I had them show up in my tank every now and then, so is good that you know how to identify them and take some action if you don’t want them overpopulating your tank.
Looks like that monti will grow fast in good conditions anyways

 

[Monad]

I least you took some action! It could show up again or not. I had them show up in my tank every now and then, so is good that you know how to identify them and take some action if you don’t want them overpopulating your tank.
Looks like that monti will grow fast in good conditions anyways

Thanks. That monti is pretty new, like the tank. It was bleaching and browning a little bit so I set him on a rock a little bit lower in the tank. It’s coloring up more. I’ll see if it lives.

The nutrient levels in the tank are a bit out of whack because it’s so new. I’ve got high phosphate and low nitrate. I’m actually happy with the nitrate levels.

I’m firmly in the ugly stage, luckily the snails I added are bulldozing the algae like crazy and the rocks stay relatively clear for a day or two before it grows back.

Some of the snails on the sandbed I thought died because they hadn’t moved. Turns out there’s just so many diatoms to eat they have no need to move. I’m loving the experience of keeping a tank.

 

[Spare time]

Well, I just took a razor to it. Probably a bad decision. I took it out of the tank, started scraping it with a razor. It retreated to the point of just looking like some a small piece of snot on the plug. I tried my best to get it off and the razor only pushed it around. I think I either got it off, or I just broke up the goop and spread it around with the razor.

Only time will tell.

Just put gel super glue over it next time

 

[Monad]

Just put gel super glue over it next time

I learned my lesson. Believe me.

If it’s small and retreats into a little bit of goo once out of the tank, I’m just going to cover the area with super glue.