Please help ID this

[Alentino]

Dear experts,

sorry i have no pics of these creatures so i can only draw and describe anyone know what this is?

it is increasing in numbers in my tank and i noticed that they grow only in dark and unlit areas, especially on the glass surface. they can inflate and deflate and i tried touching one and it squirted water out. why is it multiplying and what do they need to thrive? please advice

[blueheaven]

your descriptions match a sea squirt

[arcanehacker]

if it is a sea squirt then it should be reef safe. They are filter feeders. Only thing is, do they produce toxin when dead?

[Acanthurus pyroferus]

no , they just wither away if there isn't any proper water flow and thrive where strong water flow is available.

[Alentino]

hmm... strong water flow, that's true, there are alot of them in my sump right now where the flow is pretty strong. have been using two little fishes' "marine snow", i hope this could sustain those interesting creatures.

[Acanthurus pyroferus]

wow...your water parameters must be good with the right circulation for sea squirts to produce that way....using Marine Snow? Now , thats something I thought every reefer said is of no use. Just goes to prove that the underdog prevails..... Wish I had them producing that way...

[Alentino]

haha, maybe it's because i've been changing water alot more than usual lately hmm.... i can't really say for sure whether it's because of marine snow, but i'm thinking of trying the new product "Bioplankton" now. the reviews looks promising I'm really too lazy to go into plankton culturing thats why i've always been using commercial liquid foods

[Acanthurus pyroferus]

haha, maybe it's because i've been changing water alot more than usual lately hmm.... i can't really say for sure whether it's because of marine snow, but i'm thinking of trying the new product "Bioplankton" now. the reviews looks promising I'm really too lazy to go into plankton culturing thats why i've always been using commercial liquid foods

Maybe you should try DT's Phytoplankton...should be the best there is I have no available place to set - up my own culturing station and have to rely on buying these products. I have a few squirts in my tank but not as many as you say you do....maybe you've found a way to culture them..... care to share your secret? By the way what colors are they in?

[arcanehacker]

wow...your water parameters must be good with the right circulation for sea squirts to produce that way....using Marine Snow? Now , thats something I thought every reefer said is of no use. Just goes to prove that the underdog prevails..... Wish I had them producing that way...

Why? What's wrong with marine snow? .. been using it for my tube worms and Yumas.. Tubeworms are growing really fast... or maybe its the kalkwasser I dosed..

[FuEl]

Yep.it's an ascidian. Anyway..marine snow is actually processed and by rights, dead. So if you overdose there is a slight chance of an ammonia spike. For DT it is not so serious as it is said to be in suspended animation, resulting from lower temperatures. So when you add it into your tank it becomes supposedly live again. They can survive in your water longer and it will take a longer time for an overdose to result in an ammonia spike.

[Alentino]

i would love to share my knowledge with you but unfortunately i don't know anymore than you about sea squirts and i have no idea why they are mulitplying too they are all transparent in colors. and oh by the way someone made a post earlier on about this creature and has pics, it looks exactly like those in the pics http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=12481

besides growing on glass i also found it under some rocks. maybe there are alot of them under your rocks too

[Alentino]

mmmm.... DT sounds good, do i have to store in in refrigerator after opening seal?

[Acanthurus pyroferus]

mmmm.... DT sounds good, do i have to store in in refrigerator after opening seal?

yes , before and after DT should be kept in the refrigerator. I hope you keep your marine snow in the refrigerator as well....he..he

[blueheaven]

for your info, my tank got red, blue, red-striped, colonizing and brown sea squirts

[Alentino]

hehe no worries, i did'nt miss out that part of instruction for my marine snow

wow blue heaven, how did you get them to poliferate in your tank?

[Acanthurus pyroferus]

for your info, my tank got red, blue, red-striped, colonizing and brown sea squirts

WAH! Blue Haven....you opening factory or what...he...he your QC must be damn good.... Bravo man....what you using to feed?

[blueheaven]

lol they just seem to appear and grow and spread and grow....

btw i feed my tank with DTs and Marine Snow every alternate days

cheers