aiptasia, hydroid, or feather duster?

[wayside]

I need some more opinions. What exactly are these things? They came on some live rock and my tank is currently cycling, so I haven't added any livestock.

 

[SaltyMad]

Looks like hydroids to me.

 

[Anonymous]

Same here.

Are they really small?

 

[wayside]

yeah these are really tiny. I heard the best way is to put marine epoxy over them. Anyone know where I can get this stuff?

 

[Nautilus1]

Why kill them?

 

[alice_curiouser]

Hydroids usually have a "glow" to them (imagine dandelion puffs under black lights), while aptaisia and feather dusters do not. They (hydroids) tend to appear rather suddenly, and then disapear just as suddenly. I wouldn't bother killing them.

 

[wayside]

I heard the hydroids have a sting that can irritate other tank mates. Also, they seem to be spreading quickly as I am only in the cycling stage but have spotted at least 3 growing colonies of them.

 

[Anonymous]

The spreading quickly part is the problem with hydroids.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Ive had those things in my tank for the last year and they havent really spread or caused any damage.

I say if they aren't bothering anything dont mess with the rest of your tank.

Just my take on it.