Will expose to air kill aptasia?

Kissfan79 · 09/03/2009, 07:38 AM

Hey guys...
Will exposure to air on it's own kill aptasia? The reason I ask is that there are several aptasia in the overflow chambers of my 180 and I was thinking about shutting off the return pump and draining the water out of the overflows to let them dry out and try and kill the aptasia. If the air will indeed kill the aptasia, will the dead aptasia still cause any spreading into the display tank after they are dead?

Thanks, Jim

Imzadi · 09/03/2009, 07:59 AM

They are like cockroaches... I doubt Radiation will even kill them totally. You could try it, but I would think that would have more adverse effects then treating them would. I have heard people leaving a rock out of the tank for a week, and still the freak weeds come back...

BigJay · 09/03/2009, 08:02 AM

No, exposure to air does not kill them. Even if you do, if the foot of the aiptasia survives it will probably regrow completely.

The aiptasia in my tank laugh at anything short of thick kalk paste. That should be easy for you to do with the flow off.

sedor · 09/03/2009, 08:43 AM

+2 I was reading a thread the other day and it mentioned someone removing the rock, boiling it, bleaching it and a couple STILL came back. Now that may have been a little exagerated...but the point is they could probably survive WW3 and take over the planet.

dalee26 · 09/03/2009, 08:49 AM

I just boiled mine 2 weeks ago and a few posts recommended bleaching it. I am going to pass on that because I don't want it to leach in my system because it would probably be hard to completely rinse out of the rocks. I am going to put them in a large rubber trashcan with a skimmer and Powerhead for a few weeks and see if they survived the 10 minutes in super boiling salt water. I will be amazed if they survive that. It smelled like a seafood boil. lol

jenglish · 09/03/2009, 09:06 AM

bleach will dissipate if allowed to completely dry.

I don't think drying is an effective method unless you were talking about an area being completely dry and no humidity for weeks... like setting rock outside for a week in the sun.

hatemeyet · 09/03/2009, 09:26 AM

my only succes to killing them has been pickling lime and water...pickling lime is sold at walmart..mix 2 teaspoons with one teaspoon of water,heat for thirty seconds,then shoot them with it..its a non-stop battle for me,but im finally winning

xmjxflipx · 09/03/2009, 10:01 AM

ive used aiptasia X, if you do it properly they just implode....ive also tried peppermint shrimps the ones that supposedley eat aiptasia, but idk if the peps work...hah

CLINTOS · 09/03/2009, 10:47 AM

I like the pickling lime method mentioned above

It's been 3 years for me since fighting aiptasia I've tried everything I like to dry out the rock's that are not important or have lots of hiding places for aptasia and even pop off some coral's just for the rock if need be

then just go to town on the few rock's left using a paring knife to pop aiptasia off and/or pickling lime

when you think your done wait a month a few will come back and repeat using a paring knife and/or pickling lime then add the other dried out rock's back slowly

took me 1 frustrating year to get rid of all aiptasia and now I only use 1/2 lbs rock per gallon and don't cement my rock together or buy rock's that I know I will have a hard time getting rid aiptasia that have crazy crevices

LobsterOfJustice · 09/03/2009, 11:18 AM

Nah, drying won't kill them. If you can shut off your return for a day and fill the overflows with vinegar and fresh water, that might work...

LockeOak · 09/03/2009, 01:48 PM

Drying would eventually kill them, but it would take at least a few days (believe me, ours always die in the lab when we forget to add water to the bowl for a while). Many of the problems people have removing them from the rock is that they are able to withdraw deep into the rock where it stays moist. You could try shutting down the pump, draining the overflow and scrubbing them down thoroughly with a stiff brush. They don't survive extreme fragmentation. Let dry for a day then turn the overflow back on (maybe only do one overflow at a time so you can keep the tank running on the other).

scottsr · 09/03/2009, 08:16 PM

What you don't like aptasia, I saw a tank with a whole bunch, it was beautiful. Seriously though I agree with all the others when they say no to killing them with air. Nuke em with kalk paste.

ed102475 · 09/03/2009, 08:47 PM

( bleach will dissipate if allowed to completely dry .)
---------------------------------------------------------------------

I am no chemist but I think you are wrong . Put some bleach on a cutting block let it dry then spray with water and make a sandwich on it then let me know...

LobsterOfJustice · 09/03/2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ed102475
( bleach will dissipate if allowed to completely dry .)
---------------------------------------------------------------------

I am no chemist but I think you are wrong . Put some bleach on a cutting block let it dry then spray with water and make a sandwich on it then let me know...

Chlorine will evaporate away, if you wash anything with bleach and let it air dry it should be good to go.

09/03/2009, 07:38 AM	#1
Kissfan79 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 558	Will expose to air kill aptasia? Hey guys... Will exposure to air on it's own kill aptasia? The reason I ask is that there are several aptasia in the overflow chambers of my 180 and I was thinking about shutting off the return pump and draining the water out of the overflows to let them dry out and try and kill the aptasia. If the air will indeed kill the aptasia, will the dead aptasia still cause any spreading into the display tank after they are dead? Thanks, Jim

09/03/2009, 07:59 AM	#2
Imzadi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,038	They are like cockroaches... I doubt Radiation will even kill them totally. You could try it, but I would think that would have more adverse effects then treating them would. I have heard people leaving a rock out of the tank for a week, and still the freak weeds come back... __________________ If you don't agree with me, that's fine... just go, think about it some more, and come back when you do. Current Tank Info: 120g Freshie, 55g salty with a 2/3 BeanAnimal. BA METHOD - TESTIFY! I am a DIY Disaster, but I am saving money! Damsel FREE since 07/08/09!

09/03/2009, 08:02 AM	#3
BigJay Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southlake, Texas Posts: 1,872	No, exposure to air does not kill them. Even if you do, if the foot of the aiptasia survives it will probably regrow completely. The aiptasia in my tank laugh at anything short of thick kalk paste. That should be easy for you to do with the flow off. __________________ PBITAWA

09/03/2009, 08:43 AM	#4
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	+2 I was reading a thread the other day and it mentioned someone removing the rock, boiling it, bleaching it and a couple STILL came back. Now that may have been a little exagerated...but the point is they could probably survive WW3 and take over the planet. __________________ Ryan

09/03/2009, 09:06 AM	#6
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	bleach will dissipate if allowed to completely dry. I don't think drying is an effective method unless you were talking about an area being completely dry and no humidity for weeks... like setting rock outside for a week in the sun. __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

09/03/2009, 08:49 AM	#5
dalee26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 29466 Posts: 162	I just boiled mine 2 weeks ago and a few posts recommended bleaching it. I am going to pass on that because I don't want it to leach in my system because it would probably be hard to completely rinse out of the rocks. I am going to put them in a large rubber trashcan with a skimmer and Powerhead for a few weeks and see if they survived the 10 minutes in super boiling salt water. I will be amazed if they survive that. It smelled like a seafood boil. lol

09/03/2009, 09:26 AM	#7
hatemeyet Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 199	my only succes to killing them has been pickling lime and water...pickling lime is sold at walmart..mix 2 teaspoons with one teaspoon of water,heat for thirty seconds,then shoot them with it..its a non-stop battle for me,but im finally winning

09/03/2009, 10:01 AM	#8
xmjxflipx Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 73	ive used aiptasia X, if you do it properly they just implode....ive also tried peppermint shrimps the ones that supposedley eat aiptasia, but idk if the peps work...hah

09/03/2009, 10:47 AM	#9
CLINTOS Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: windsor,ontario Canada Posts: 859	I like the pickling lime method mentioned above It's been 3 years for me since fighting aiptasia I've tried everything I like to dry out the rock's that are not important or have lots of hiding places for aptasia and even pop off some coral's just for the rock if need be then just go to town on the few rock's left using a paring knife to pop aiptasia off and/or pickling lime when you think your done wait a month a few will come back and repeat using a paring knife and/or pickling lime then add the other dried out rock's back slowly took me 1 frustrating year to get rid of all aiptasia and now I only use 1/2 lbs rock per gallon and don't cement my rock together or buy rock's that I know I will have a hard time getting rid aiptasia that have crazy crevices

09/03/2009, 11:18 AM	#10
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Nah, drying won't kill them. If you can shut off your return for a day and fill the overflows with vinegar and fresh water, that might work... __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

09/03/2009, 01:48 PM	#11
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	Drying would eventually kill them, but it would take at least a few days (believe me, ours always die in the lab when we forget to add water to the bowl for a while). Many of the problems people have removing them from the rock is that they are able to withdraw deep into the rock where it stays moist. You could try shutting down the pump, draining the overflow and scrubbing them down thoroughly with a stiff brush. They don't survive extreme fragmentation. Let dry for a day then turn the overflow back on (maybe only do one overflow at a time so you can keep the tank running on the other).

09/03/2009, 08:16 PM	#12
scottsr Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 112	What you don't like aptasia, I saw a tank with a whole bunch, it was beautiful. Seriously though I agree with all the others when they say no to killing them with air. Nuke em with kalk paste.

09/03/2009, 08:47 PM	#13
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	( bleach will dissipate if allowed to completely dry .) --------------------------------------------------------------------- I am no chemist but I think you are wrong . Put some bleach on a cutting block let it dry then spray with water and make a sandwich on it then let me know... __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.