Strange Zoa

Bloodbuzz459 · 09/29/2017, 02:03 PM

Hello All,

I bought what I presumed was a Zoa but it seems to be struggling and growing strange (see photo) can anyone advise? These large stringy heads seem to be growing all aroud my tank now

Im using a Fluval Reef LED and zoas about mid way - Gonipora and Xenia seem fine but this just dies not seem to be doing well.

Any advice from someone with more experience is greatly appreciated

Tuffyyyyy · 09/29/2017, 03:08 PM

The large stringy heads are pests called aiptasia and need to be pulled out. Do you have gloves? The zoanthids can release a toxin, so I'd recommend wearing them while you're down there pulling the weeds.

Reef Junkie · 09/29/2017, 05:03 PM

So Aiptasia, not fun and very deadly to other corals. That colony is doomed if you don’t get them out.
The best (albeit it might kill the colony) method to remove the Aiptasia, is to move pieces of coral rubble right on top of the Aiptasia. They should detach from the zoa rock to climb on top of the coral rubble. Once they do that, remove the coral rubble and let it dry out for 5 days.

Repeat for each Aiptasia anemone.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bloodbuzz459 · 09/30/2017, 05:33 AM

Oh man what a fool! I knew they weren’t right but could not identify online.

Thank you for your help - Would Apitasia X be a worthwhile purchase? I could pull these couple out in the interim? I have no LFS unfortunately so have to purchase things online!

Reef Junkie · 09/30/2017, 04:25 PM

No LFS??? Where do you live?

I’ve never used Aiptasia X, so I can’t comment.

I’ve used manjano probes, they do not work. The most effective way of removal I have ever found was the one I described above.
Hopefully some other member might have a better experience.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

chaudhry · 10/06/2017, 11:35 PM

Aiptasia X us very effective. Saying this from personal experience!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Marou · 10/09/2017, 02:56 PM

I had great luck with peppermint shrimp, but you need two or more to get them to work, i had one for month and she was not eating aptaisia , i got a second one , next morning all aptaisia was gone.

09/29/2017, 03:08 PM	#2
Tuffyyyyy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 41	The large stringy heads are pests called aiptasia and need to be pulled out. Do you have gloves? The zoanthids can release a toxin, so I'd recommend wearing them while you're down there pulling the weeds. __________________ YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2sbkb1R My Tanks: IM40 & IM10 Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 40 and 10

09/29/2017, 05:03 PM	#3
Reef Junkie Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Somewhere, NY Posts: 6,595	So Aiptasia, not fun and very deadly to other corals. That colony is doomed if you don’t get them out. The best (albeit it might kill the colony) method to remove the Aiptasia, is to move pieces of coral rubble right on top of the Aiptasia. They should detach from the zoa rock to climb on top of the coral rubble. Once they do that, remove the coral rubble and let it dry out for 5 days. Repeat for each Aiptasia anemone. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Bill "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." B.B. Current Tank Info: "Still" Living vicariously through cb747

09/30/2017, 04:25 PM	#5
Reef Junkie Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Somewhere, NY Posts: 6,595	No LFS??? Where do you live? I’ve never used Aiptasia X, so I can’t comment. I’ve used manjano probes, they do not work. The most effective way of removal I have ever found was the one I described above. Hopefully some other member might have a better experience. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Bill "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." B.B. Current Tank Info: "Still" Living vicariously through cb747

09/30/2017, 05:33 AM	#4
Bloodbuzz459 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 41	Oh man what a fool! I knew they weren’t right but could not identify online. Thank you for your help - Would Apitasia X be a worthwhile purchase? I could pull these couple out in the interim? I have no LFS unfortunately so have to purchase things online!

10/06/2017, 11:35 PM	#6
chaudhry Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 155	Aiptasia X us very effective. Saying this from personal experience! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

10/09/2017, 02:56 PM	#7
Marou Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 14	I had great luck with peppermint shrimp, but you need two or more to get them to work, i had one for month and she was not eating aptaisia , i got a second one , next morning all aptaisia was gone.