What are these? And should I get rid of them? They popped up on my live rock, tank has been cycling for 3 weeks.

[colenaylor]

I’ve had some people panic and immediately tell me it’s aiptasia. Some have said it’s white cluster anemone, which I am leaning towards. Or some type of colonial hydroid.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Definately not aiptasia..

 

[...]

Bump

 

[colenaylor]

Definately not aiptasia..

Thanks! I just don’t want to deal with it if they’re palys.

 

[Cell]

Looks like some bleached out zoas or palys to me.

 

[flampton]

Be aware they still might end up being invasive too.

 

[esther]

Looks like some bleached out zoas or palys to me.

I second this

 

[flampton]

If they started growing under those overhangs might be nps

 

[flampton]

Is this from the gulf or the keys? Or somewhere else?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its Poriferan sponge and can be invasive. To get rid of it:

Peroxide injections into the sponge
Inject air into the spponge
Vinegar injected into it
Brush off with a very hard toothbrush
Expose the sponge to air

 

[colenaylor]

Is this from the gulf or the keys? Or somewhere else?

The live rock is from my lfs in southwest Florida.

 

[drewwCh]

Looks like some bleached out zoas or palys to me.

+1

 

[flampton]

Btw white cluster anenome is in British waters

 

[flampton]

IMO if you plan on keeping them they will likely spread up the rock if they are or become healthy. So be prepared to kill them at some point.

 

[colenaylor]

If they started growing under those overhangs might be nps

This was the first time I’ve had the light on since I started the cycle in 3 weeks so I was surprised when something was growing a lot.

 

[colenaylor]

IMO if you plan on keeping them they will likely spread up the rock if they are or become healthy. So be prepared to kill them at some point.

How would you recommend going about killing them?

 

[flampton]

No lights 3 weeks they’re bleached palys def. can rub them with kalk paste out of the water, wait a little bit, then dip the rock in a bucket of saltwater until the kalk dissolves, then another quick dip in a fresh bucket just to be sure the kalk is gone and then back in the tank. Can also try in tank by feeding with kalk or aiptasiax or the like but won’t work as well

 

[SHNICI]

about to killing them,

How would you recommend going about killing them?

@vetteguy53081 wrote it already for you

Its Poriferan sponge and can be invasive. To get rid of it:

Peroxide injections into the sponge
Inject air into the spponge
Vinegar injected into it
Brush off with a very hard toothbrush
Expose the sponge to air

Good luck with them

 

[Rit6942]

I say keep them.........what some people may consider invasive I would consider natural and can be a benefit to the tank......and a heck of alot better than dumping in chemicals and store "bottlefixes" to mess with water balance. If you really dont want em.......pull the rock and trade it out.

 

[SHNICI]

I say keep them.........what some people may consider invasive I would consider natural and can be a benefit to the tank......and a heck of alot better than dumping in chemicals and store "bottlefixes" to mess with water balance. If you really dont want em.......pull the rock and trade it out.

you are right too, but in some cases we can't pull out the rock (in his case it's the the very bottom of his rock scape), but we want to go rid of it, we have to take another steps to finish the job. Even disturbing a bit the water quality (yes it can get another issue if not proper measures are taken) but it's what's it.