Strange thing in tank
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: SPS
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions SPS corals.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4457
Printed Date: June 28 2026 at 3:45am
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Topic: Strange thing in tank
Posted By: Chris
Subject: Strange thing in tank
Date Posted: November 24 2004 at 6:55pm
| Last night I found a tiny thing that looked like 1 zooanthid on the back of my tank. The size of this thing is about 1/8" across, it is brownish orange in color, and closes when the lights go out. I would say it is a Zooanthids but it moved about 5 inches today, do corals move? My tank is new and I have not added any coral as of yet. Any ideas on what it could be? Should I remove this thing or let it grow? |
Replies:
Posted By: smatney
Date Posted: November 24 2004 at 7:48pm
Chris - Saltwater tanks are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. Hard to tell what it is without a picture but zoos don't move around the tank. It could be a little anemone or something like that. I'd for sure keep it and watch it. That's the fun  .------------- Susan Matney Farmington, UT |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: November 24 2004 at 7:56pm
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It sounds really cool to me! I'd keep it & watch it & post a pic if possible. It's all good. Well, almost all of it is good. ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: November 25 2004 at 8:03am
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Chris, Two years ago I discovered an anenome looking polyp. Orange creame and brown, with one row of short tentacles encircling the perimeter only. The tentacles were shaped like table legs?? with them being wider at the surface and as they extended out became narrower with a bulb-like end. It sounds like mine started out the same size as yours and is now about 3 inches across and can extend out on it's 'stalk' about six inches. It moved under some rocks and now prefers the dark. A funny story about this little fellow: Everyone knows how slow anenomes and corals are right? Well I was feeding some of my LPS' some chopped clam when I decided to give this guy a snack. At this point he is as big as my pinkie. By hand I brought the morsel close and GULP! I swear it learched out at the clam (and my finger!!!) Needless to say I let go of the food pulled my hand away and while my heart was beating 90mph I looked on in amazment as it had totally engulfed the clam in nanoseconds. Now I use a pair of grippers to feed it when I can but it seems like it's getting plenty of food. Let me know when you get pics and I'll compare it to mine. John |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: November 25 2004 at 8:09am
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Could it be something like a little mojano or aptasia or tulip anemone or something? ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: Chris
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 1:10am
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Jpiotrowski it sounds like we could have the same little creature growing in are tanks. I will try to get a photo soon but right now my digital camera wont focus on it (just the glass) and it does not have a manual focus. does yours look anything like this now http://www.northcoastmarines.com/aptasia.htm - http://www.northcoastmarines.com/aptasia.htm ? Weimers you have kinda scared me with your last post. I am afraid it could be a aptasia anemone but it is very small right now and looks more like a zooanthid then it does anything else. I want to let it grow a bit more and see what it turns out to be hopefully it is not any thing bad. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 8:45am
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There is ABSOLUTELY no need to be frightened of Aiptasia. They typically don't cause any harm and are controllable. Here's a teeny tiny one that grew on the glass for a while, then moved on to become food for my Peppermint Shrimp.
Trust me, whatever kind that coral polyp is, it's not bad.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 7:33am
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Chris, No, it doesn't look like the rock anenome/aptasia pic you sent. I will work on posting a pick of this 'little' gem. It's to the right of the hammer behind the rock (notice the knobby/blunted ends on the tentacles, also they are fully extended so, really short!). My appologies to all if this pic is too big. This is my first pic posted! John |
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 8:55am
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By your description, I don't think you have Aiptasia.
I would have to kindly disagree with Mark on this one. Although usually Aiptasia are easily controlled, these guys can easily get out of control. Having a peppermint shrimp or two in your tank usually will keep them in check, but not every one has a peppermint shrimp, and for that matter not everyone wants a peppermint shrimp in their tank (they are notorious polyp eaters). In my opinion I would "take care of them" ASAP. IF they get out of control they will quickly grow to plauge proportions, and will take an small army of peppermint to get them under control. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Mark Peterson wrote:Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 9:47am
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John, it might be a coralimorph of some sort. And I agree with Jake regarding aptasia... you should see my sump. I'm considering draining the sump, drying it out and starting over. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 12:18pm
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Jon, How the $*ll did you know that? THANKS John |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 12:23pm
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I've had mark over to my house to see one of those too. I found
it a long time ago on a college website somewhere, like michigan, or
something. I checked it and then had mark look at it as
well. They are pretty cool, can get about 2" across and do not
like the light, it will move into a shady spot or under a rock
somewhere.
------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 1:01pm
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CT, They are really cool. Do you feed yours? I think that is what sold me on this guy. Any coral or anenome that makes me wet my pants deserves my respect. I was rearranging my rocks and found him again. I tried really hard to give it a nice shaded place where I could see and feed it. They are really picky about where they call home and will pack up if they don't like the area. Mine is 1 1/2 to 2 inches across the oral disc. How do they reproduce?? John |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 2:07pm
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Haven't had mine reproduce yet, but I've fed it before and it puffed up
nice and happy when I did. Right now mine is barley visible
behind and under some rocks. Mine was up to about 2 inches across
then looked like maybe I smashed it or something and is currently only
about 1"-1.5" across.
------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 30 2004 at 8:13am
Many of what I would consider the top hobbyists in the country are among us right here on this MB.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: November 30 2004 at 9:11am
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Mark, You are correct! I have belonged to many different marine 'clubs' and have posted many of the same questions that I have here. On those other posts I very seldom recieved a reply and when I did it was either disparging or totally off base. Being a member here not only has given me the opportunity to own some really cool corals, but has given me the incentive and the tools to figure out why my tank had/has? problems growing softies. I appreciated everyones advice and most importantly their experience. I am a text book junkie, but you can only learn so much via book. It's the experience, especially in this field that counts. Kudos to all! John
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