So what exactly are these little buggers...?

[Jmdumbeck]

I have had a 2 gallon Fluval spec set up with literally nothing but sand in it for almost a month and half now, and recently (a little over a week ago) added fresh lava rock and a few dead coral pieces from Samoa my friend had brought back. I have nothing living in the tank whatsoever. I've been just thinking about what to put in it. Tonight I turned on the light and found these all over the glass of the tank. I'm assuming they came from the rock from Samoa. My reef-buddy took a look at the picture and said it looks like hydroid medusae. Any thoughts? I'm hearing it's bad news, but I'm not sure what to do about them and HOW bad exactly this is. Thanks everyone!

 

[Lateral72]

Hydroid Jellyfish

 

[wysiwyg]

hydroid jellyfish there harmless and are comin in new aquariums

 

[ritter6788]

Agree with above^^^

They will most likely die out in their own.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

weird looks like spiders, probably jelly fish like above

 

[Jmdumbeck]

Okay, thanks for the ID. Are we sure this isn't something to worry about? My friend said once they are on the rocks, its nearly impossible to get rid of them

 

[sherita]

Hydroid jellies.

Your friend was talking about aiptasia nems. Totally different critter. The hydroids will most likely die out on their own.

 

[Jmdumbeck]

Wellllll. He's written a few books about coral propogation and is a aquatic life genius, so I dont think he would mistake aiptasia with it. I know of aiptasia as well. I've actually been doing this for a few years, I had just never seen anything like this. These little hydroid suckers apparently can be a menace. I actually just ended up draining the tank and putting fresh water in. Cest la vie.