5.5 Gallon :)

[MadCatter]

http/www.deviantart.com/deviation/60020622/

http/www.deviantart.com/deviation/60020752/


So quite a while ago, I noticed one tiny little Aiptasia in my tank... I let it grow, and now he's turning into a beast. It's a fishless (and will remain so) tank.. 3 hermit crabs, 2 turbo snails, and an emerald crab were my additions, and I've just been waiting for more things to sprout form the rocks. Haven't seen hank (the bristle worm) in quite some time.. I hope he's still there.

The tank has gone through a move from the dorms, and did quite well. A few days ago I noticed my largest Aiptasia was STUFFED.. I thought maybe it had eaten something.. but there was nothing in the tank for it to eat. Later in the day it was normal sized... Now, I have 15-20 tiny aiptasia scattered through the tank - could the 'giant belly' of the big one have something to do with this? There are two others in the tank that are much larger than the new additions.. but nowhere near as large as the first.

I also have 3 visible feather duster worms that have somewhat recently appeared.. they're about 5 cm across at the feathery bit, and are bright orange.

http/www.deviantart.com/deviation/60022284/

 

[kkyyllee]

an aptaisia tank, thats pretty cool, somethingyou dont see to often

 

[littleme1969]

They are really quite pretty, shame they are such a pest

 

[MadCatter]

Not a pest if that's what you're aiming for I don't ever plan to have fish in this thing because it's just too much maintenance. I turn on my light.. make sure the power head is still going.. clean it every so often, and they're fine. So long as there is stuff growing from the light, I'm good. Occasionally I throw in some fish food for the anemones so they get bigger, but it's very easy to maintain over all.

 

[MadCatter]

One of the other bigger two (Velcro Balboa.. ..don't ask)...

http/www.deviantart.com/deviation/60025430/

http/www.deviantart.com/deviation/60025660/


Unkown orange creature in my tank.. the body is stationary, though must be attached deep inside the rock because these tentacles poke out on the other side or on top every so often (about an inch in each direction). It has a long stalk sort of like an anemone, but tentacles that look like a star fish.

http/www.deviantart.com/deviation/60025924/

 

[atmmachine816]

Cool, will look interesting when they have taken over the tank.

 

[Musho3210]

lol i dont think your tank could ever crash, imagine admitting you killed an aipstasia not on purpose....

 

[MadCatter]

lol i dont think your tank could ever crash, imagine admitting you killed an aipstasia not on purpose....

This thing is exceptionally easy.. and I'm having plenty of fun just watching the creatures coming from the rocks.. what I love is how much diversity there still is just in the same rocks I've had for months.. things just appear out of seemingly nowhere.

I have actually resisted buying peppermint shrimp, because I hear they're rumored to eat aiptasia... my precious little 'pest' anemones have names.. and you know what? all the 15 new ones coming up will have names too. haha.


Also.. these guys can't hurt humans with their stings.. I was curious one day and let it just grab right onto my finger.... I'm so safe

 

[I'mwithstupid]

Aiptasia anenomes are real pests in reef tanks and should really be destroyed on sight. Their stinging tentacles will kill most SPS, LPS and soft corals. Try a peppermint shrimp, Lysmata Wurdmanii or you can buy treatments, a popular brand is Joes Juice. For the Joes Juice to be effective you need to inject the liquid into the mouth of the anenome.

Luke

 

[AndyS]

Hes not trying to kill them mate, hes trying to grow them.

 

[littleme1969]

Aiptasia anenomes are real pests in reef tanks and should really be destroyed on sight. Their stinging tentacles will kill most SPS, LPS and soft corals. Try a peppermint shrimp, Lysmata Wurdmanii or you can buy treatments, a popular brand is Joes Juice. For the Joes Juice to be effective you need to inject the liquid into the mouth of the anenome.

Luke

You really should read before you post Its not a reef system and there are no fish or corals.. just a bit of a clean up crew and live rock . I think they are really pretty and its nice to see them in a different light other than the doom and gloom that is usually banded about them. Having said that.. If I get one I'm Killing it!!! ..lol

 

[MadCatter]

Aiptasia anenomes are real pests in reef tanks and should really be destroyed on sight. Their stinging tentacles will kill most SPS, LPS and soft corals. Try a peppermint shrimp, Lysmata Wurdmanii or you can buy treatments, a popular brand is Joes Juice. For the Joes Juice to be effective you need to inject the liquid into the mouth of the anenome.

Luke

I appreciate the advice, but really.. this is an Aiptasia tank on purpose. I don't have any intention of keeping anything but the aiptasia and the crabs/snails that I have right now. My crabs and snails both go head on into the things and don't get hurt, so I haven't had a reason to worry yet. No intention of keeping any corals or other anemones, or fish Don't have the right lighting/equipment, money, time, or patience for anything more, and I love the Aiptasia that I have.

Hes not trying to kill them mate, hes trying to grow them.

Haha, and you say that like it's taking effort

 

[xNOTLOCx]

Ya lol this reminds me my lfs has a 1/2 gallon fish tank and it has a huge aptasia in it, he won't let any other grow I guess, but the tank is just for the aptasia and it's really pretty cool, its big though, i think he's had it since he opened up the place, he has a filter on it with a little light, and it sits on the desk. definitley a cheaper way to grow an anenome

Oh and also I think someone could make a fortune if they sold them in miniature tanks for house pets, to like little kids or something, THEN WE COULD PUT SIGNS SAYING *likes to be pet* thatd b funny ha ha ha lol j/k but nice tank its cool

 

[MadCatter]

Well.. rearranged the rocks a bit.. weren't too stable before, or as aesthetically pleasing as now. The little anemones are growing at an exponential rate it seems.

Yesterday I bought a 'reef sun' light.. was just on an ordinary bulb before (10 gallon light just resting on a 5 gallon tank.. that's how low maintenance this thing is.. haha).... I prefer the bluish light much more though, and I'm sure they "appreciate" it more as well.

Today I found something that looked like krill.. one single little animal.. that looked exactly like freeze dried krill.... of course, have never fed krill frozen or freeze dried... hmm. Doesn't look anything like the little copepods or amphipods in my tank... looks like a tiny shrimp.. 'antennae' legs, tail, eyeballs.. everything.. dead though. Strange.

 

[MadCatter]

Whole tank closer up.

Side view.. I really need to clean my glass, inside and out

Oh, so makeshift

Unidentified creature thing... any ideas? It actively reaches out and 'searches' for food, rather than waiting for something to drift by like an anemone.

Hubert, the trusty turbo snail, encouraging the growth of Coraline Algae everywhere.

New Emerald Crab trying to hide in a hole that is much too small for him. with Arnold, the Aptasia anemone


Also got a tiny little mushroom coral today for 2$, figured I'd see if I could get it to grow.. it's amazing how much they can shrivel up when they're stressed.. the size difference is huge. I'm hoping it will attach to a rock soon...