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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Life in my Sump
I was checking on my sump the other day and noticed something very interesting on one of the bits of rubble in my sump. I saw what looked like a feather duster or some other tree looking thing. To be quite honest, it looks like a white or translucent palm tree. Anyway, I shined a light on it to get a closer look at it and it retracted itself. It was pretty neat...unless it is something harmful. If not, I would like to move it up to the main tank. I will try and get a photo of it to help me identify it. Has anyone had similar experiences in their sump? | 
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Not in my sump but I do have a feather duster in my main tank. They really quite cool looking. | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| if it is a feather duster i am stoked! | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by davbrown79  I was checking on my sump the other day and noticed something very interesting on one of the bits of rubble in my sump. I saw what looked like a feather duster or some other tree looking thing. To be quite honest, it looks like a white or translucent palm tree. Anyway, I shined a light on it to get a closer look at it and it retracted itself. It was pretty neat...unless it is something harmful. If not, I would like to move it up to the main tank. I will try and get a photo of it to help me identify it. Has anyone had similar experiences in their sump? | Dave,
Are you sure it's not what I had? The unwanted house guest....Look at my posts on the salt water forum... | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinismommy Dave,
Are you sure it's not what I had? The unwanted house guest....Look at my posts on the salt water forum... | where am i to look? | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by davbrown79 where am i to look? |  | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| hmmm...it looks similar...what is it? is it bad news? | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by davbrown79 hmmm...it looks similar...what is it? is it bad news? | Yes, it is VERY bad...It's called aiptasia...It will take over your tank in 2 weeks....This is why I bought the peppermint shrimp (which have helped the problem)
Can you snap a picture of it Dave? | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinismommy Yes, it is VERY bad...It's called Aiptasia...It will take over your tank in 2 weeks....This is why I bought the peppermint shrimp (which have helped the problem)
Can you snap a picture of it Dave? | i was afraid of it being aiptasia...i will snap a shot of it as soon as i can. what do they look like when they start out? are they little white masses when they begin to grow? do they have the ability to retract inside of their base? | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by davbrown79 i was afraid of it being aiptasia...i will snap a shot of it as soon as i can. what do they look like when they start out? are they little white masses when they begin to grow? do they have the ability to retract inside of their base? | Mine retracted when anything came near them....Yes, they started out tiny and cute...It wasn't until they got bigger until I realized I had a problem...I'm not sure if this is what you have growing in your tank, but it sure sounds like it... | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| uh oh...now i'm nervous...they are all in my sump and not in my tank...if it is aiptasia...what do i need to do...what damage can they do? | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Lets make sure of what they are first before we hit the panic button.
Sounds like they could be feather dusters
Check and see if you can ID them from this link http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| I agree with Peterpiper. There is big difference between the two and it should be pretty obvious which is which. My feather duster is growing very slowly. I've had him for months since I got that piece of live rock. | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Peterpiper | Excellent website..I agree with you..Don't panic Dave..Just find out what it is.. | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| They are actually beneficial in your sump or fuge. I have a bunch in my overflow box. They act as a pre-filter for uneaten food. | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Aiptasia or dusters? | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Aiptasia. They acts as a direct export of excess nutrients. | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Fish Bum
| How many of these aptasia or feather duster looking things do you have? I noticed one then two then like 10 and just like they appeared they disapeared. I still have one or two but they do look like feather dusters. | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| No Aiptasia in the display tank (peppermint shrimp eat them). Around 50-100 in the overflow box. A couple in the sump. They can't survive with light. A couple in the fuge. | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| well...i will take some shots tonight or this weekend and post them. so long as they stay in my sump i am a happy camper...if it is a feather duster i would like to move it to my tank...i assume i do not want to transport aiptasia to my main tank...righjt? | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Correct ! They will multiply like crazy. | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| i am already noticing a ton of little white masses throughout my sump...i assume that they are the beginning of the aiptasia... | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by davbrown79 i am already noticing a ton of little white masses throughout my sump...i assume that they are the beginning of the aiptasia... |
Dave,
Describe the white masses..Does it look like a small cottonball? | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinismommy Dave,
Describe the white masses..Does it look like a small cottonball? | yup! | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by davbrown79 yup! | This is how they start out..At least in my tank they did..I even have a little white cottonball right now I'm watching..I can't wait to see photo's of what you have growing..I'm hoping it's all good! | |
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April 9th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinismommy This is how they start out..At least in my tank they did..I even have a little white cottonball right now I'm watching..I can't wait to see photo's of what you have growing..I'm hoping it's all good! | from what andy said...it would seem to be all good...that dude knows more than i will ever know...i bow down  | |
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April 10th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by agsansoo No Aiptasia in the display tank (peppermint shrimp eat them). Around 50-100 in the overflow box. A couple in the sump. They can't survive with light. A couple in the fuge. | After re-reading this. Should be, can't survive without light. | |
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April 10th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by agsansoo After re-reading this. Should be, can't survive without light. | so...they need light to survive? | |
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April 10th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Yes. They will over run a tank within a month or two. One day you notice a few, then without realizing, they are everywhere ! Peppermint shrimp will keep them in check. | |
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April 10th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| hmmm...assuming i have aiptasia in my sump...what do you suggest i do? can they get transported to my main tank from my sump somehow? | |
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