Ohio Reef

Reef Discussion => Pests, Nudsiance Algae and Prevention => Topic started by: SweetReefOH on April 30, 2019, 20:15:53

Title: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: SweetReefOH on April 30, 2019, 20:15:53

My 40B system is stable and doing good but unfortunately, I have these wispy dandelion puff ball things popping up everywhere. I got a couple emerald crabs and they took care of some of it but the crabs tend to stay close to their hiding place. I can’t find any information on what these things are so thought I would check here.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190501/43b2d5b5d9ecf7a63532e61f0f4f1f51.jpg)

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: dbjonesjr on April 30, 2019, 20:18:33

Some type of sponge would be my guess (based on that photo). I have all kinds of weird sponges that pop up periodically from some very old pukani I got off somebody.

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: SweetReefOH on April 30, 2019, 21:03:41

I do have sponges, but these things are more like a plant. If left unchecked, they grow 3-4 times the length in the pic with a few “branches” coming off.

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: dbjonesjr on April 30, 2019, 21:18:03

Interesting I’d love to hear what others think.

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: CoralBeauties on April 30, 2019, 22:59:39

ck this thread. not sure but is this what they are?
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/digitate-hydroids-obsession.147989/
Jeff

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: mtamorrow on May 01, 2019, 08:00:36

My vote is hydroids

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: lazylivin on May 01, 2019, 09:25:37

I agree they are hydrozoan which is a Jelly Fish and the bloom is an unfortunate side effect from feeding small fine particle foods. If you stop they will go away or be significantly reduced to where you won't notice them.

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: SweetReefOH on May 01, 2019, 11:54:21

My understanding is that hydroids normally have a calcerous tube around their base? I may have to get out the macro lens to get a better pic.

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: SweetReefOH on May 01, 2019, 12:04:27

Guess not, after you narrowed it down, I think I found them on google images...,

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190501/442fa35722ef3e36e3df99afa3510c5a.jpg)

Title: Re: Reef Dandelions?
Post by: Wall_Tank on May 02, 2019, 22:27:52

Those are different than the colonial hydroids that I have.  Those have the hard tubes and grow in clusters.