It's alive........

[Apollo]

Looking good so far! Just don't make the same mistake as I did, when the first small green anemone looking thing or small green bubble appear DO NOT pamper and ooh or ah it- get rid of it in a appropriate manner!!

Does that mean that Aiptasia ?
I wouldn't want to kill off benign(good) lifeforms. How does one distinguish between good and bad nennies , sponges or other growths ?

 

[Mtroboer]

No, I actually forgot about the Aiptasia, I was referring to Mojano and bubble algae! I do not know all the physiological differences maybe some of the more experienced members can add to this. It is usually best to read alot and learn the species that you must avoid. Usual baddies include encrusting sponges(often looks like spider webs and overgrow corals), mojano(Spreads like wildfire), Aiptasia(Also spread very fast and have a nasty sting!), bubble algae(could spread fast and is very difficult to remove) to name a few.

 

[Peanut]

Does that mean that Aiptasia ?
I wouldn't want to kill off benign(good) lifeforms. How does one distinguish between good and bad nennies , sponges or other growths ?

Very good question?

I am none the wiser, would not know the difference between good and bad

 

[Mtroboer]

Aiptasia:

Majano: (Usually a lovely bright green)

Bubble Algae:

Encrusting sponge (the growth between the coral heads):

This is to show a few, maybe some other members could add more.

 

[Peanut]

WOW - thanks for the pics Mtroboer.

I will keep an eye out for these little critters.

How do you get rid of them if they appear?

 

[Mtroboer]

Some pest inverts:

Nudibranchs:

Flatworms:

Gastropods(Mantis):

Peacock Mantis

Bristle worms:

Crabs... hehe...

Gorilla Crab

Pistol shrimp:

This is just to show a few examples, and is not the only unwanted members of a species.

 

[Peanut]

OK, my inquisitivness got the better of me.

Here goes, some of the things growing on my liverock.

Please help with ID.

Tx
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

 

[Apollo]

Mtroboer,

Thanks for the info. Do you know of any good weblinks that can be used for identification of "unwanted pests" in the marine aquarium ?

Also, aren't Nudibranch's beneficial in terms of helping to remove Aiptasia ? I seem to recall reading something about this. Could be that I misread though.

 

[Apollo]

OK, my inquisitivness got the better of me.

Here goes, some of the things growing on my liverock.

Please help with ID.


Hey Peanut,

Some cool lifeforms that you have there. Can't help with the ID too much, although I think the first pic looks like Aiptasia.

BTW: What substrate do you have in your tank ? Looks fairly coarse, but maybe that's just because it is a close-up photo.

 

[Shaun]

Their are nudie's that eat Aiptasia, but that is all they eat, so they die when it is all gone.

 

[Apollo]

Their are nudie's that eat Aiptasia, but that is all they eat, so they die when it is all gone.

Thalion,

So what do you do with the "unwanted" inverts such as Nudi's or Mantis shrimps ?

Neither myself nor Peanut have a sump, so there is really no place for them to go.
Seems a bit cruel to just chuck them down the drain. I mean they didn't ask to be in your tank in the first place .

 

[Mtroboer]

OK, my inquisitivness got the better of me.

Here goes, some of the things growing on my liverock.

Please help with ID.

Tx
1.

Looks a bit blurry, does it have a "stem" and sweeper tentacles, or does it look like a fan?

2.

Is a close-up possible?

3.

Does it have a hard skeleton or is it soft and squishy? Is it moving?

4.

Could you please take a another pic, this is one you could possibly worry about. Looks like briopsis to me, if it is please remove it immediately!

5.

Don't know, looks like it could be some tubeworms that is closed!

6.

A tubeworm

7.

Red Macro algaes growing.

8.

Not sure but it also looks like a fanworm!

Maybe some of the other members could also help!

 

[Mtroboer]

Thalion,

So what do you do with the "unwanted" inverts such as Nudi's or Mantis shrimps ?

Neither myself nor Peanut have a sump, so there is really no place for them to go.
Seems a bit cruel to just chuck them down the drain. I mean they didn't ask to be in your tank in the first place .

Just ask around, I'm sure in the case of animals like the Mantis or some nudis(most will end up in the drain) that there will be fellow reefers that will be interested in taking them.

It is only a pleasure helping out, Peanut! No I don't really know of any page having a list of pests, hence the idea to start a thread on Masa listing them. I usually go to wetwebmedia to search for info.

 

[Apollo]

Just ask around, I'm sure in the case of animals like the Mantis or some nudis(most will end up in the drain) that there will be fellow reefers that will be interested in taking them.

Thanks Mtroboer.

 

[RiaanP]

Bristle Worms are part of the Clean Up Crew.
All rubish on the bottom, they go for. If you have a really BIG one, over 15cm then maybe remove it.

 

[crispin]

apollo i have aptasia, mojana, possibly still some bubble algae and now a mantis shrimp i can show you the live versions when you come round if you like.

i personally would not have a bristle worm on that list, they do great work through the reef and are more benificial in my view.

 

[Apollo]

apollo i have aptasia, mojana, possibly still some bubble algae and now a mantis shrimp i can show you the live versions when you come round if you like.

i personally would not have a bristle worm on that list, they do great work through the reef and are more benificial in my view.

Cool Crispin.

We'll chat more tomorrow.

 

[Mtroboer]

OK guys, I must have put a remark there with the Bristle worm, I put it on the list not as an actual pest that must be removed but more as something to watch out for when putting your hands in the tank- if touching them it will burn like hell, from there the name Fireworm.

 

[scubaninja]

OK guys, I must have put a remark there with the Bristle worm, I put it on the list not as an actual pest that must be removed but more as something to watch out for when putting your hands in the tank- if touching them it will burn like hell, from there the name Fireworm.

never burnt like hell but got plugged with a few hairs. no biggie

 

[Mtroboer]

Just try touch stuff after getting a few hairs into the tips of your fingers!!