Invasive anemone not aptasias

Question

Invasive anemone  
Junk anemone   QUESTION: Our 150gal tank is a combination reef and fish. We 'get away' with this because we have excessive filtration. The system cycles 500 gals per hour.  Recently we solved an aptasias problem using nude ranches and a file fish- all gone now but we have a new invader that the locals are calling Navajo anemones but I can't find anything on these and no one around here has figured out what eats them.  We live in the Chicago area. I have attached pictures.

ANSWER: From your images, it appears to be (Glass Anemones).

A good fish that will eventually eradicate them all when given enough time is the (Copperband Butterfly).

Btw you have a beautiful reef aquarium.

I wish you the best of luck with all your saltwater aquarium endeavors!

Regards,
David
All Experts Editor www.allexperts.com
OCReef Director www.ocreef.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Copperband butterfly  

More fish   QUESTION: Thank you David. Here is a picture of our copper and butterfly. We have had him for 5 years now. I think it likes the other food too much. Is there anything else that might eat them?  How much will the biology of the tank change if I remove several live rocks?

Answer
Hi Marge:

In a well established aquarium removing some of the live rock won't change the biology significantly, if any.

You could always replace these pieces of live rock with some new cured pieces of live rock.

You could also try cutting back on the amount of food that you're feeding the copper band, so he'll start eradicating these hitch-hiker anemones. Copper bands will eat almost all species of these hitch-hiker anemones, including: aiptasia, glass, and navajo. These hitch-hiker anemones come in varying sizes and colors. The difference in appearance of these hitch-hiker anemones is determined by what ocean they are indigenous too. Indo-Pacific ocean species will look slightly different than Atlantic ocean species.

Take care.