Salt Water Aquarium Pests

The calming, colorful environment of a salt water aquarium changes to a battleground when pests invade. Most of these pests infiltrate the tank via contaminated rocks or infected fish. Without proper care, an expensive aquarium setup can turn into a fish graveyard. With a little knowledge, though, salt water aquarium owners can fend off some of the most common pests.

  1. Flatworms

    • Flatworms attack several varieties of coral commonly used in saltwater aquariums. Two types of aquarium flatworms have become prevalent in the U.S. The most common, the rust brown flatworm, devours the symbiotic microorganisms that live inside coral. Rust brown flatworms can multiply enough to cover coral and block essential light from reaching the coral. Acropora-eating flatworms, another prevalent flatworm in the U.S., consume coral of the genus Acropora. The Acropora-eating flatworm's opaque color can make it difficult to locate in an aquarium. Low nitrate levels prevent flatworm infestations.

    Bubble Algae

    • The common "bubble algae" includes several species of algae that infest saltwater aquariums. The name comes from the bubble-like structures the algae create. The bubbles incubate spores that eventually spread to other parts of the aquarium. High nitrate levels in the water help the algae gain a foothold and reproduce. Therefore, low nitrate levels prevent the growth of bubble algae. Physical removal of the algae in its early stages also works.

    Aiptasia Anemones

    • While several species of anemones make good additions to an aquarium, one species does not. The invasive aiptasia anemone attaches itself to rocks, coral and glass. When threatened, the species detaches from the object and swims to safety. Aiptasia anemones reproduce asexually and grow new anemones from severed parts. The species uses stinging cells for defense, similar to jellyfish. The survival tactics of the anemone can make physical removal difficult. Some aquarium owners add natural predators, such as peppermint shrimp and berghia, to eliminate aiptasia infestations.

    Cyanobacteria

    • Though commonly called "blue-green algae," cyanobacteria resemble algae only in form. Cyanobacteria coagulate into sheet-like colonies within an aquarium. Some strains of cyanobacteria pose no threat, while some strains release neurotoxins and other poisons into the water. A large infestation of poisonous cyanobacteria quickly kills all plants and fish in the aquarium. Antibiotics work well against cyanobacteria but can increase the risk of creating an antibiotic-resistant strain of the bacteria.