What is this?
 

Hey, new to the boards, so sorry if this isn't posted in the right spot. I'll get it one day! :lol:

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what exactly this is. It's the best picture I could get of it (sorry about the damsel, he really wanted his picture taken this morning). It looks like lettuce or something growing up from the live rock. This is the biggest one, but there are a couple other small ones coming up. Any help would be great, thanks! :)

http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...31841390_n.jpg

It's right under his bottom fin. (PS, yes I'm aware of that hair algae in the picture too - working on it!)

Hard to tell due to the blur, but I would say its Aptasia

Google that.

+1 to aptasia since you said "smaller ones coming up". Time to ZAP IT! :razz:

are you referring to the orange thingy under the damsel's belly? Kinda blurry so hard to tell but could be a sponge or macro algae of some sort.

Yes, I'm taking about the orange/red thing under the damsel's belly. I was thinking it was some sort of sponge. Are they fine?


As for the aiptasia... I know those exist. They are all over my live rock from the only LFS here. Problem with those is I tried Joe-Juice, it got rid of of the ones I treated, but tons more popped up soon after. And unfortunately, I can't trust peppermint shrimp in my tank with my dottyback and damsel. So I'm at a complete loss with those.

Sponges are fine :-)

It doesn't look like aptasia? Please get a more clear picture.

My 2nd guess would be definetly sponge that being said the picture differences between a sponge, and aptasia are quite significant.

If you are not sure just to touch it and if it receeds then its aptasia, if it just chills and feels like a sponge. You guessed it, Its a SPONGE!!!:wink:

I believe you can see the sponge in that photo, under the damsel's belly, and then the aptasia at the bottom of the photo. I'll get a more clear picture of the two tonight hopefully.

id
 

if it's soft and recedes slowly it could be a carnation or chilli coral.as for your aptasia problem,inject them with lemon juice,smother them with kalkwasser mix,torch them,epoxy them,etc-but do it during the day about 1-2 hours after feeding so they don't release their daughter cells.for natural eradication-file fish,copperband ,sometimes banner fish,or berghia

Ooooh! Those two sound nice, I definitely won't touch the red stuff yet then!

I tried to nuke them before using Joe's Juice and a syringe, but I think it released all that gunk that caused tons more of them. Thought I could just start living with them. Hahaha - they hitched in on the live rock I bought - was not cooked or cured. As for copperband fish or even file fish (which I don't think look too pleasing,) are they reef save, and not aggresive?