[enfuego]

Have a couple of things in the tank that I don't know what are. Hopefully the photos will be good enough for someone to get an idea of what I have. The fern looking green plant seems to be spreading quite rapidly across half the tank, and the brown things (pollyps?) look cool but they are getting thick. All help appreciated.

[stacef]

I am not sure about the green. But the brown looks like Aiptasia. There are lots of threads on here of how to get ride of them. I do not speak from experience so I do not know how to rid of them. I know there is a lemon juice method? Others will be able to help with this.

[pogodzib]

Before I tell you what I think the brown ones are, do they shrink up to near nothing and suck back into the rock when disturbed or do they just close up but remain outside of the rock crevices. Also, could you get a close up shot of the polyps?

The green one is Green Star Polyps. A very easy coral to keep that many beginners start out with. They can spread quickly and overtake a tank if not controlled.

[enfuego]

Originally Posted by pogodzib

Before I tell you what I think the brown ones are, do they shrink up to near nothing and suck back into the rock when disturbed or do they just close up but remain outside of the rock crevices. Also, could you get a close up shot of the polyps?

The green one is Green Star Polyps. A very easy coral to keep that many beginners start out with. They can spread quickly and overtake a tank if not controlled.

The brown guys quickly suck up into the rocks when disturbed. (i tried to get one last night with my tongs and was unsuccessful!)

The green growth I am talking about isn't the Green Star Polyps, but the fern looking stuff to the top of the photo.

[enfuego]

Found another photo of my fern stuff, hope this helps get it identified. Thanks!

[thelastmucci]

I believe the "fern" stuff is a type of Macro algae...you should ask E_Baer he's a an expert on that stuff. As far as the brown things go..I'm also going to go with aiptasia...these little buggers can be a nusinace and must be controlled at all costs before getting any sort of coral in your tank...they'll basically use chemical warfare to kill any coral. Your best bet is to buy some (don't know sizes but it looks like you have allot) Joe's juice it comes with a syringe and you basiacally just shoot it into the center. That should kill them off I think within days. Don't try to pick them off as they will just regrow and spread more quickly.

[rlcline76]

Feathery looking stuff, maybe see if you can Google bryopsis and get some images.

I do not think I will ever complain about aiptasia again.

[msbdiving]

The "fern" actually looks like a species of caulerpa. I have the same looking stuff that started growing from my rocks after i had thought it died off a few months ago.

[thelastmucci]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

I do not think I will ever complain about aiptasia again.

Amen to that

[enfuego]

Thanks for the info. One question about the Joes Juice....does it have any side effects on the water?

[pogodzib]

Minimal. I wouldn't have any concern with injecting around 30 aiptasia at a time in a 125 gal tank, but as a precaution, I don't think I'd inject anymore than that per day. At that pace, it won't take you too many days to get them all. BTW - I've never seen any side effects from it, but since you have so many to inject, I don't think I'd inject them all at once.

[plecosword]

It seems like you have it all figured out, but this may still be helpful, Marine & Reef Aquariums: Eliminating Stinging Aiptasia sp. in your Aquarium

[ozzy_200769]

I am assuming it's a reef tank, can you remove your coral to another tank?
Peppermint shrimp will help in a reef
Copperband butterfly will in a fowlr tank
Theres this stuff called "Stop Aptasia", I use it in my fowlr but I only have a few, I personally am waiting to get a Butterfly from my lfs.
You have to inject the stuff to kill the aptasis, you don't want them

[plecosword]

but I would deffinately go with the "natural" way becaus eif you kill them, they will just saty thre to rot, and amonia will probably go high!