Aptasia Lord I hate this stuff

pfcreed · 07/12/2012, 12:59 PM

I am really struggling right now with my aiptasia problem. do you think that aiptasia is inevitable considering they are so prevalent in LFS? Im considering a complete tear down and restart. Things that are a factor for me is my mandarin Goby. I actually waited an entire year just like everyone said to, to build my pod population. I have a lot of time in that one fish and I don't see a way to do a successful restart without killing his food supply. I tried peppermint shrimp, I only added three and I did see them eating the small ones, then I went out of town and I haven't seen 2 of the three since. its a 90 gallon tank. In your experience what do you recommend me to do. Tear down the tank and do a restart? Buy peppermint shrimp in bulk and drop 15 or 20 in at once. My LFS here is very limited.

worm5406 · 07/12/2012, 01:11 PM

Can you attach a picture se we can see how large an infestation you have?

I am just starting and I am curious what you consider an infestation.

I got some LR from a LFS and it was covered in it. But I really liked the rock. I got 4 peppermint shrimp and in 2 weeks they took care of all but 3 pieces... Now there is only 1 left. I had about 50-75 of them all over 4 pieces of LR. The last one is too large for them about 1 1/2 inch long. So Ill have to Aptasia-X it.

bnumair · 07/12/2012, 01:16 PM

if the aiptasia population is too much to control via kalk paste/lemon juice/aiptasiarx/etc then its worth starting over. bleach the whole system so u dont leave anything alive.

pfcreed · 07/12/2012, 01:22 PM

sure ill post pics, keep in mind ive been battling some algae issues since returning from out of town last week. and my lights stayed on a full week do to mechanical timer failure.

Entropy · 07/12/2012, 01:35 PM

I would add more peppermints before you throw in the towel. Try to get the Lysmata boggessi version out of the gulf. They do a good job IME. Not sure where you are located but you can get the right out of the water with a valid fishing license in South Texas.

worm5406 · 07/12/2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfcreed

....and my lights stayed on a full week do to mechanical timer failure.

Speaking of that...

I have two 1400 pumps that are at different angles and cycle at 7a-7p that are on a mechanical timer....

Well I noticed on a weekend that the other one was not running. I looked at the timer and it said it was supposed to be ON. I unplugged it and plugged it into a ALWAYS ON and it worked... Hummm.. I took the onA/timer/onB and flipped it.. and it worked... Hummm.. I set it back to 'timer mode' and it was not running.

NOW... When ever I play with the onA/timer/onB switch (not the dip switch one) I run the timer a full 360+ degrees to make sure it is working. Apparently the onA/timer/onB selector does not sit/work correctly and needs to be played with (It is a medium dollar one meant for aquariums) If it is not working I play with the switch and rotate a full 360+ again and walla.... works like a champ....

At least it is in a place where the family will not know to touch it so I dont have to worry about it getting stuck in one mode like it did before...

I want a reef-keeper-elite but the price and working with my ecoxotic lights is a question.. I want it to raise and lower them instead of flash them on.

pfcreed · 07/12/2012, 01:42 PM

Im in Laredo, TX how do you fish for them. I can be in corpus in three hours.

pfcreed · 07/12/2012, 01:48 PM

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0432.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0433.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0434.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0435.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0436.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0437.jpg
This stuff is like the STD of the sea. Shameful.

terancevan88 · 07/12/2012, 02:37 PM

I use the aptasia **** they come back after a while just my experience

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Entropy · 07/12/2012, 02:37 PM

Check out the local club forums for info. Either MAAST (www.maast.org/) or ARC (www.austinreefclub.com). People come back with buckets of them from Port Aransas.

Here is a issue of Reef Keeping about it:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-04/cs/index.php

worm5406 · 07/12/2012, 02:40 PM

IMHO... Those are too big for my peppermint shrimp (granted it looks like mine have doubled in size since I got them).

That size of one would prob pick up my shrimp and wrestle them to the ground. Atpasia-X would be a prime canidate.. Do the shrimp eat the smaller ones at least?

Entropy · 07/12/2012, 02:48 PM

Holy @%%@)%^&&(*@) Batman... Yeah forget what I said about peppermints. They might keep anymore from popping up, but they can't eat those big ones.

pfcreed · 07/12/2012, 03:14 PM

Entropy, you really just did me a solid right there. There is an upcoming event just like that in about two weeks. I really appreciate that.

pfcreed · 07/12/2012, 03:19 PM

Soo what do you all recommend as a plan of attack. I have vinegar, and kaulk, and an extra 20 gall long tank. should I separate the rock with the bigger ones inject them and let the peppermints clean up the rest. should I inject them while they are in the tank, then just add the peppermints. aiptasia x honestly made this situation worst for me. the only syringes i have is the old one from the aiptasia x, and I can use the ones i have with my water test kit for the vinegar.

bnumair · 07/12/2012, 04:06 PM

i personally dont see this battle being won with any means unless u find a cooperband or klein butterfly that will eat up all the aptaisia. if that fails u will have to start over.

SNAKEMANVET · 07/12/2012, 04:19 PM

I would used pickling lime on the big ones and get more peppermints for the small ones.You can get rid of them,it just takes time.Just turn off powerheads while injecting them.After they shrink down put alittle pickling lime on top of them. Good luck.

mthomp · 07/12/2012, 04:43 PM

I am surprised nobody suggested berghia nudibranches

reef4life07 · 07/12/2012, 05:14 PM

I would even consider cooking your rocks for atleast a month. I had a bad bloom of red bubble algea, and a bit of hair. I cooked my rocks for 4 weeks and been good for more then a year now....something to think about.

EzReef79 · 07/12/2012, 05:45 PM

Those suckers are HUGE.......I'd hit the big ones with aiptasia x and then stock up on more peppermint shrimp. I did that and haven't had a problem since. But if all else fails cooking your rock might be your only option.

pfcreed · 07/12/2012, 06:12 PM

Im leaning more towards tearing it down. and starting over. I can cram my fish and few corals in a 20 gal long. I dont know what to do about my carpet. any one have any things I should consider while doing this. I was thinking about buying about 50 lbs of dry rock and putting that in place while the other rock cooks.

Reverend Reefer · 07/12/2012, 07:17 PM

get some berghias.

SteadyReefin · 07/12/2012, 10:41 PM

I second the berghias they will definitely tear it up.

http://www.saltyunderground.com/inde...98cfce00349dcd

jluspo · 07/12/2012, 11:17 PM

I use household lye. It's cheap and it works. Read this and this.

I bought mine from Ace Hardware store for about $3.50 for a 1 pound bottle which is probably enough to last a lifetime. This is the brand i'm using.

Basically I mix about 1 table spoon of the lye with about 100ml of tank water. Use a glass container and let is sit for a while since it will get hot. Please be careful because this is really caustic and can burn you. Turn off all pumps and let the tank sit for a couple of minutes so there are no movement. Once it gets cool, I use the syringe that came from my Aptasia X and slowly inject the lye covering the aptasia and watch it shrink and burn. Unlike kalk or Aptasia X, you don't have to inject it at the aptasia's mouth. Just squirt and let it blanket the aptasia with the stuff and it will kill them.

Be careful not to get it on your corals since it will kill them too. Also, this is how I control some of my unwanted mushrooms or button polyps. For those hard to reach areas behind the tank, I simply squirt the lye solution above them and let it rain lye on the aptasia. Have a turkey baster handy in case the lye starts to get to your corals. Simply blast it with some water to keep it away from the corals or anything else you don't want damaged.

After a few minutes, turn on ALL your pumps and let it mix up for a while. It will turn your tank somewhat clowdy for a few hours but it will pass. I even take an MJ 1200 pump and force water to all the nooks and crannies to mix up the water. It has not affected water chemistry but don't dump more than 50ml of the stuff in 1 treatment.

Do this several times every few days and it will take care of them.

They WILL come back, however. You can't get them all. Once you control the large ones, maybe get the peppermint shrimp, CBB or other creatures that eats the smaller ones.

Enjoy and again, please be careful.

coralsnaked · 07/13/2012, 09:26 AM

Remove the large stalks by various methods such as using a narrow stiff (hard) tube attached to a larger hose and vaccum. Takes a little work and time but is usually pretty effective in removing the adult stalks. You may damage some softies in the process but beleive me the adjoining corals are in more danger from the infestation than from the siphon. Then use Red legged hairy hermit crabs to combat the return growth and smaller ones you can not reach. Your LFS should have an ample supply. One per 3 gallons is usually enough. But since they are reef safe and you have an ample food source in the infestation you can double up on them for a while till they get the problem under control. Then just find them a good home and keep three per gallon going forward. Please do not use chemicals. Remember your corals are naked in there and have no protection.

PS: If you discnnect the sump you can bleach it. But be sure to throughly empty and rinse with RO water before recnnecting it.

pfcreed · 07/14/2012, 01:07 AM

Im kinda attached to the ideal of starting over now. My plan is to move all livestock and some rock over to my 36 gallon tank that i had set up before, then dry out the tank completely perhaps even paint it. my biggest concerns right now are my carpet anemone and my spotted mandarin. Not really a bad thing if anyone cares to give me some advice on that topic I would appreciate it.

07/12/2012, 12:59 PM	#1
pfcreed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 162	Aptasia Lord I hate this stuff I am really struggling right now with my aiptasia problem. do you think that aiptasia is inevitable considering they are so prevalent in LFS? Im considering a complete tear down and restart. Things that are a factor for me is my mandarin Goby. I actually waited an entire year just like everyone said to, to build my pod population. I have a lot of time in that one fish and I don't see a way to do a successful restart without killing his food supply. I tried peppermint shrimp, I only added three and I did see them eating the small ones, then I went out of town and I haven't seen 2 of the three since. its a 90 gallon tank. In your experience what do you recommend me to do. Tear down the tank and do a restart? Buy peppermint shrimp in bulk and drop 15 or 20 in at once. My LFS here is very limited. __________________ Bash me if you must but help me if you can.

07/12/2012, 01:16 PM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	if the aiptasia population is too much to control via kalk paste/lemon juice/aiptasiarx/etc then its worth starting over. bleach the whole system so u dont leave anything alive. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/12/2012, 01:22 PM	#4
pfcreed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 162	sure ill post pics, keep in mind ive been battling some algae issues since returning from out of town last week. and my lights stayed on a full week do to mechanical timer failure. __________________ Bash me if you must but help me if you can.

07/12/2012, 01:35 PM	#5
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I would add more peppermints before you throw in the towel. Try to get the Lysmata boggessi version out of the gulf. They do a good job IME. Not sure where you are located but you can get the right out of the water with a valid fishing license in South Texas. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

07/12/2012, 01:42 PM	#7
pfcreed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 162	Im in Laredo, TX how do you fish for them. I can be in corpus in three hours. __________________ Bash me if you must but help me if you can.

07/12/2012, 01:11 PM	#2
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	Can you attach a picture se we can see how large an infestation you have? I am just starting and I am curious what you consider an infestation. I got some LR from a LFS and it was covered in it. But I really liked the rock. I got 4 peppermint shrimp and in 2 weeks they took care of all but 3 pieces... Now there is only 1 left. I had about 50-75 of them all over 4 pieces of LR. The last one is too large for them about 1 1/2 inch long. So Ill have to Aptasia-X it.

07/12/2012, 01:48 PM	#8
pfcreed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 162	http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0432.jpg http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0433.jpg http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0434.jpg http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0435.jpg http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0436.jpg http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/IMAG0437.jpg This stuff is like the STD of the sea. Shameful. __________________ Bash me if you must but help me if you can.

07/12/2012, 02:37 PM	#9
terancevan88 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 100	I use the aptasia **** they come back after a while just my experience Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

07/12/2012, 02:40 PM	#11
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	IMHO... Those are too big for my peppermint shrimp (granted it looks like mine have doubled in size since I got them). That size of one would prob pick up my shrimp and wrestle them to the ground. Atpasia-X would be a prime canidate.. Do the shrimp eat the smaller ones at least? Last edited by worm5406; 07/12/2012 at 02:56 PM.

07/12/2012, 02:48 PM	#12
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	Holy @%%@)%^&&(*@) Batman... Yeah forget what I said about peppermints. They might keep anymore from popping up, but they can't eat those big ones. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

07/12/2012, 03:14 PM	#13
pfcreed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 162	Entropy, you really just did me a solid right there. There is an upcoming event just like that in about two weeks. I really appreciate that. __________________ Bash me if you must but help me if you can.

07/12/2012, 03:19 PM	#14
pfcreed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 162	Soo what do you all recommend as a plan of attack. I have vinegar, and kaulk, and an extra 20 gall long tank. should I separate the rock with the bigger ones inject them and let the peppermints clean up the rest. should I inject them while they are in the tank, then just add the peppermints. aiptasia x honestly made this situation worst for me. the only syringes i have is the old one from the aiptasia x, and I can use the ones i have with my water test kit for the vinegar. __________________ Bash me if you must but help me if you can.

07/12/2012, 04:06 PM	#15
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	i personally dont see this battle being won with any means unless u find a cooperband or klein butterfly that will eat up all the aptaisia. if that fails u will have to start over. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/12/2012, 04:19 PM	#16
SNAKEMANVET PREMIUM MEMBER Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TRENTON Tn Posts: 4,486	I would used pickling lime on the big ones and get more peppermints for the small ones.You can get rid of them,it just takes time.Just turn off powerheads while injecting them.After they shrink down put alittle pickling lime on top of them. Good luck.

07/12/2012, 04:43 PM	#17
mthomp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 766	I am surprised nobody suggested berghia nudibranches

07/12/2012, 05:14 PM	#18
reef4life07 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 480	I would even consider cooking your rocks for atleast a month. I had a bad bloom of red bubble algea, and a bit of hair. I cooked my rocks for 4 weeks and been good for more then a year now....something to think about.

07/12/2012, 05:45 PM	#19
EzReef79 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: PA Posts: 29	Those suckers are HUGE.......I'd hit the big ones with aiptasia x and then stock up on more peppermint shrimp. I did that and haven't had a problem since. But if all else fails cooking your rock might be your only option.

07/12/2012, 06:12 PM	#20
pfcreed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 162	Im leaning more towards tearing it down. and starting over. I can cram my fish and few corals in a 20 gal long. I dont know what to do about my carpet. any one have any things I should consider while doing this. I was thinking about buying about 50 lbs of dry rock and putting that in place while the other rock cooks. __________________ Bash me if you must but help me if you can.

07/12/2012, 07:17 PM	#21
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	get some berghias. __________________ - Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated.

07/12/2012, 10:41 PM	#22
SteadyReefin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 43	I second the berghias they will definitely tear it up. http://www.saltyunderground.com/inde...98cfce00349dcd

07/12/2012, 11:17 PM	#23
jluspo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 30	I use common household lye. I use household lye. It's cheap and it works. Read this and this. I bought mine from Ace Hardware store for about $3.50 for a 1 pound bottle which is probably enough to last a lifetime. This is the brand i'm using. Basically I mix about 1 table spoon of the lye with about 100ml of tank water. Use a glass container and let is sit for a while since it will get hot. Please be careful because this is really caustic and can burn you. Turn off all pumps and let the tank sit for a couple of minutes so there are no movement. Once it gets cool, I use the syringe that came from my Aptasia X and slowly inject the lye covering the aptasia and watch it shrink and burn. Unlike kalk or Aptasia X, you don't have to inject it at the aptasia's mouth. Just squirt and let it blanket the aptasia with the stuff and it will kill them. Be careful not to get it on your corals since it will kill them too. Also, this is how I control some of my unwanted mushrooms or button polyps. For those hard to reach areas behind the tank, I simply squirt the lye solution above them and let it rain lye on the aptasia. Have a turkey baster handy in case the lye starts to get to your corals. Simply blast it with some water to keep it away from the corals or anything else you don't want damaged. After a few minutes, turn on ALL your pumps and let it mix up for a while. It will turn your tank somewhat clowdy for a few hours but it will pass. I even take an MJ 1200 pump and force water to all the nooks and crannies to mix up the water. It has not affected water chemistry but don't dump more than 50ml of the stuff in 1 treatment. Do this several times every few days and it will take care of them. They WILL come back, however. You can't get them all. Once you control the large ones, maybe get the peppermint shrimp, CBB or other creatures that eats the smaller ones. Enjoy and again, please be careful.

07/13/2012, 09:26 AM	#24
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	Remove the large stalks by various methods such as using a narrow stiff (hard) tube attached to a larger hose and vaccum. Takes a little work and time but is usually pretty effective in removing the adult stalks. You may damage some softies in the process but beleive me the adjoining corals are in more danger from the infestation than from the siphon. Then use Red legged hairy hermit crabs to combat the return growth and smaller ones you can not reach. Your LFS should have an ample supply. One per 3 gallons is usually enough. But since they are reef safe and you have an ample food source in the infestation you can double up on them for a while till they get the problem under control. Then just find them a good home and keep three per gallon going forward. Please do not use chemicals. Remember your corals are naked in there and have no protection. PS: If you discnnect the sump you can bleach it. But be sure to throughly empty and rinse with RO water before recnnecting it. Last edited by coralsnaked; 07/13/2012 at 09:53 AM.

07/14/2012, 01:07 AM	#25
pfcreed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 162	Im kinda attached to the ideal of starting over now. My plan is to move all livestock and some rock over to my 36 gallon tank that i had set up before, then dry out the tank completely perhaps even paint it. my biggest concerns right now are my carpet anemone and my spotted mandarin. Not really a bad thing if anyone cares to give me some advice on that topic I would appreciate it. __________________ Bash me if you must but help me if you can.