Need help with aptasia

luamada · 10/25/2012, 03:38 PM

I have a tank and it is full of margento aptasias, and I have been fighting it for five years. I am done. CAN I move my fishes with all the rocks into a tamp tank, then put clorox in the tank and let it run for several days until it is clean of aptasias and margentos, then clean the tank completely and put new water and let it run with freshwater for about a week then empty completely and start a new salt water tank. Let it cycle and start with dead rocks, and slowly get it started again. Once the levels are good, then get ONLY my fishes from the tamp tank and move them into the old tank (with the new rocks)??? DOES CLOROX kills the aptasias and margentos?
Please help me I am too tired of fighting them... and I want a reef tank...
thank you for all your help
lu

bnumair · 10/25/2012, 03:51 PM

been there done that. i had aptaisia farm. i did exactly that. move the fish. use unscented bleach and run for few days then drain and let it air dry for few days. once dry u can run freshwater and vinegar and clean it out. soak all ur equipment in bleach.
rock u can leave it out in garage or something to dry out. if u leave rock wet aptaisia will live. or just buy new rock.

MinnFish · 10/25/2012, 06:07 PM

I feel your pain. I think every tank will have them sooner or later. Believe me, they can survive some harsh conditions. I just read a great article on it. Written by Matthew and Jessica Reed, titled "Aiptasia Prevent Defense". I don't know if I can mention the magazine here. But, try goggle. Hope u luck.

ebacon · 10/26/2012, 11:17 PM

Don't use bleach, get about 4 berghia nudibranchs and they will eat and reproduce like rabbits, only downside is when aptasia are gone they starve but you can always trade off to local reef club member, don't waste time with copper bands or file fish or peppermint shrimp, they don't work unless they are starving, get some berghia, all is well....

10/25/2012, 03:38 PM	#1
luamada Love saltwater fishes... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Valrico Posts: 394 Blog Entries: 12	Need help with aptasia I have a tank and it is full of margento aptasias, and I have been fighting it for five years. I am done. CAN I move my fishes with all the rocks into a tamp tank, then put clorox in the tank and let it run for several days until it is clean of aptasias and margentos, then clean the tank completely and put new water and let it run with freshwater for about a week then empty completely and start a new salt water tank. Let it cycle and start with dead rocks, and slowly get it started again. Once the levels are good, then get ONLY my fishes from the tamp tank and move them into the old tank (with the new rocks)??? DOES CLOROX kills the aptasias and margentos? Please help me I am too tired of fighting them... and I want a reef tank... thank you for all your help lu __________________ 350G, 100Gsump, 350lb of live rock-dead, 3 Radion PRO, Apex Controller with wireless capability, PH realtor, calcium Reactor, carbon Reactor, 1 MPs60, 1MP 40, auto-top off, auto water changer, skimme Current Tank Info: 350G Deep See Aquatic with Sapphire glass 96.5X36.5X24, Sump Refugium, LED Radion PRO 3, 350 LV rock, Apex Controller, MP 60, auto-top-off, more to come

10/25/2012, 03:51 PM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	been there done that. i had aptaisia farm. i did exactly that. move the fish. use unscented bleach and run for few days then drain and let it air dry for few days. once dry u can run freshwater and vinegar and clean it out. soak all ur equipment in bleach. rock u can leave it out in garage or something to dry out. if u leave rock wet aptaisia will live. or just buy new rock. __________________ 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

10/26/2012, 11:17 PM	#4
ebacon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Charles Mo Posts: 1,084	Don't use bleach, get about 4 berghia nudibranchs and they will eat and reproduce like rabbits, only downside is when aptasia are gone they starve but you can always trade off to local reef club member, don't waste time with copper bands or file fish or peppermint shrimp, they don't work unless they are starving, get some berghia, all is well.... __________________ Everybody Loves Bacon

10/25/2012, 06:07 PM	#3
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	I feel your pain. I think every tank will have them sooner or later. Believe me, they can survive some harsh conditions. I just read a great article on it. Written by Matthew and Jessica Reed, titled "Aiptasia Prevent Defense". I don't know if I can mention the magazine here. But, try goggle. Hope u luck.