Zoa Exploding

[forgingry]

Zoa has been in tank for a couple months and slowly morphed from the normal cluster of purple people eater to this abomination.

What is happening? Is this harmful to the fish and other corals to leave it?

 

[Derrick0580]

Those are aiptasia. Probably came on the frag plug and finally grew large enough to irritate them and keep them closed.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Not zoa, as said above aiptrasia. Not good to have in your reef. Time to put on your study hat and gather as much info as you can. There's many ways to get rid of it, each with pro's and cons

 

[forgingry]

I cut them off with an algae blade and some tweezers then brushed the frag with a toothbrush. The filter tidied up fragments of aptaisia pretty quick. I ordered some aptaisia x for when it comes back. Looks like I’m lucky to have this community because I was just thinking that was part of the Zia’s growth or it was getting too much light.

Unfortunately, I this may explain what happened to my young powder blue tang a couple weeks back. Must have taken a hard sting and succumbed to the toxin.

Thank you so much for your identification. Best regards!

 

[Derrick0580]

Aiptasia can’t kill a fish, especially ones that small.