aiptasia advice

[Just Jim]

Now before I get started, I want to say that I've tried just about everything. I have A LOT of aiptasia. I have a large mixed reef with a very high bioload. I skim the bananas out of the tank and my PO4 and nitrates are in check. But because I feed so heavy I can't get rid of the aiptasia. I've tried kalk, but they come back. I bought that stupid wand, but that can't get into tight places. Recently I got a bunch of nudibranches, and they've either been eaten by my leopard wrasses or blown away by high current. I tried peppermint shrimp 5+ years ago and all I remember was they ate everything but the aiptasia. Anyone have a different sollution?

[samology2]

usually I use a syringe filled with white vinegar "surely not perfumed neither frutty".. and give a direct injection inside the aiptasia

[nrbelk]

When I had issues with aptasia I did a combination of peppermint shrimp and aptasia X. I would have to first kill off all the large aptasia, basically, all I could see, and once I did that, I don't see them in my display (they are still in my sump though).

I had to do both methods together to get it to work. Peppermint shrimp by themselves never did it and aptasia x by itself also never fixed the problem permanently.

[kissman]

i have heard it is hit and miss but what worked for me was 3 pepperment shrimp then did help but when I added my Aptasia Eating File Fish at first it didn't look like he was touching them. I left for a weekend when I got aptasia was gone. Is an ugly fish but worked. Has never picked at any corals

[Just Jim]

First, does kalk paste actually destroy the aiptasia, or just burn em up and they come back?
I don't remember what the peppermint shrimp ate that they weren't supposed to, but I remember having to make a soda bottle trap to get them out. I've read some types of peppermints work better than other, but really, aren't they all the same? I don't like introducing new inverts that might eat an expensive lps or eat snails.

I have a very mature 240g DT. There are some big sps colonies that the aiptasia attaches inside. As much of a PITA as it is trying to kill them, I'd rather struggle than introduce any fish that may mess with coral or disturb the harmony of my fish. I have 23 total I think.

[coral princess]

I used peppermints, and aiptasia x.

[coral princess]

I've heard bergia nudibranch will do the job.

[gravattj]

i just picked up a matted filefish to fight my aiptasia. very peaceful little guy and highly camouflaged. hopefully he starts making a dent...

[Fishie80]

+1 for peppermints...or u can try a copperband I believe

[Pimentel]

Originally Posted by Fishie80

+1 for peppermints...or u can try a copperband I believe

Tried 2 copperbands and file fish now I have more aiptasia, the copperbands n file fish ate my zoas n polyps

[agruetz]

Originally Posted by nrbelk

When I had issues with aptasia I did a combination of peppermint shrimp and aptasia X. I would have to first kill off all the large aptasia, basically, all I could see, and once I did that, I don't see them in my display (they are still in my sump though).

I had to do both methods together to get it to work. Peppermint shrimp by themselves never did it and aptasia x by itself also never fixed the problem permanently.

This is currently what I am doing so far seems like it might have lasting results. To early to tell for me though.

[Just Jim]

Remind me, what problems do peppermints bring when they dont behave. I think it was snails and a coco worm. I don't keep coco worms anymore so i may consider it. But as I said, I feed once a day heavy. So if the peps are fed, will they still scavenge for aiptasia? And that's if they show interest to begin with.

[efird1]

Aptasia X worked great for me, haven't had a problem sense

[burnah]

filefish rid my tank from hundreds of aiptasia, truly infested, within a few months none is visible anymore. ive never seen them eat it though they are great fish too

greetings

[Just Jim]

Originally Posted by burnah

filefish rid my tank from hundreds of aiptasia, truly infested, within a few months none is visible anymore. ive never seen them eat it though they are great fish too

greetings

Don't they eat zoas?

[GSMguy]

Originally Posted by Just Jim

Don't they eat zoas?

Some do.

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by Just Jim

Recently I got a bunch of nudibranches, and they've either been eaten by my leopard wrasses or blown away by high current.

Have you actually witness the wrasses ate them? Or that they were all blown away in the current? FYI. I got 4 Berghia and for +3 months, I have never witness them once (day or night constant searching). Just when I was about to give up, the anemone started to disappear one by one. My tank is now completely aiptasia free and during the entire 5+ months, I have seen the Berghia a total of 3 times: I spot them only after all the aiptasia gone (I assume hunger has driven them out during the day time which is when I spot them).

The Berghia is your best option but you need to have patient. You will see the anemone disappear only after your Berghia have a chance to lay at least one batch of eggs. It's the second generation that will do the damage. And don't worry about the size of the aiptasia, they don't have a chance against the Berghia.

[Just Jim]

I have not given up hope on the berghias. I placed 4 of them in my huge digi colony that has lots of aiptasia. I put 2 in my frag tank that's barebottom. I saw one last week but not since. I would've thought since the frag tank is lower current, has plenty of aiptasia to eat, and no fish/predators that they'd spawn and be everywhere. I can't find any with a flashlight at night now...

The wand is a great tool, but it needs to be more flexible in design to reach in the crevices.

[tommy tomato]

+1 on patience. it takes about 3 months to get to the 3rd generation of berghs, and that is usually when you start seeing a difference. it may take longer for you because you have such a large system and you only introduced a few nudis. its supposed to be along the lines of 1 nudi for every 10 gallons, but it worked for me @ 1 per 20g... just dont add peppermints because they will eat your nudis.

[Tate]

Inject them with kalk paste.