Proper, and easiest removal of Aiptasia?

coryjac0b · 07/03/2006, 09:49 PM

what is the proper and easiest removal of aiptasia, i have one large piece with a few smaller pieces around it, what do i do to get rid of them, i dont want them to spread anymore.

evilelvis · 07/03/2006, 09:53 PM

I let it run wild a few months ago and have spent the past few months slowly erradicating the damn things with Joe's Juice...which works I have gotten down to about 2 a week now from a trillion a day. So...Joe's Juice might work for sport treatment and any other pop ups.

affan · 07/03/2006, 10:06 PM

Doubt there's a surefire way to rid your tank of Aiptasia. Some have had success with products such as Joe's Juice, Kalk Paste etc. While others swear by Peppermint Shrimps wiping out colonies after colonies of the anemone. While still others maintain that a Copperband Butterfly is to Aiptasia what Kryptonite is to Superman.

You could try all of the above and stick to what works best for you.

Salamander · 07/03/2006, 10:10 PM

Peppermint shrimp and/or a syringe full of kalk.

IslandCrow · 07/03/2006, 10:23 PM

I've had luck with both kalk paste and peppermint shrimp. The kalk paste is by far the cheapest method, so I'd give that a try first. You don't actually need the kalk for sale at the LFS. Go to Walmart or your nearest grocery store and see if they have pickling lime for sale (not pickling salt or pickling spices). Mrs. Wage's is the brand I've been using. It's actually the same stuff Kent sells for about 3-4x the price. Also works great as a calcium supplement (which you very well may already know). Anyway, just mix it up with some water until it's a pretty free flowing white liquid. Then just squirt it into the aptasia's mouth with a syringe. I use a medicine dropper afterwards to suck up the excess kalk as well as the withered remains of the aptasia.

DragonMorayEels · 07/03/2006, 10:41 PM

In my twin eel tanks I at one time allowed Aiptasia to multiply in large numbers, if you don`t believe this, ask around for I got few dozen of peppermint shrimps and they in just a few days wiped them out. And now I will not allow them to get a foot hold, I see few them and I will get a few peppermint shrimps just to deal with those few.

It was about two moths ago when I last gotten 10-12 peppermint shrimps and I can still see one in the 130 DME tank

Quote:

Doubt there's a surefire way to rid your tank of Aiptasia.

affan, there are sure ways, only thing is they return in numbers if you not keep a watchful eye for them.

Buddy

Catharsis70 · 07/03/2006, 10:43 PM

Havent tried it but was told that injecting with iodine works too.

Houtz · 07/03/2006, 11:26 PM

I've killed a bunch of them with lemon or lime juice injections.

coryjac0b · 07/04/2006, 07:45 AM

do i remove the rock from the tank, or inject the aiptasia as it is??

with the lemon juice im referring to.

Pattylucylaura · 07/04/2006, 08:13 AM

I would doubt iodine would be safe since it is easy to over dose your system with it.

The Saltwater Kid · 07/04/2006, 08:40 AM

I've heard that injecting them with a little vinegar works very well!

roper512 · 07/04/2006, 08:42 AM

There is a surefire way.. Berghia.. They're small and can get to any aiptasia you have even in small spaces. They ONLY eat aiptasia, it is their only food source and thus they will go to great lengths to find any and all aiptasia in your tank.

Downside to berghias is they're not exactly the easiest things to find in stock, not super cheap and will 100% for sure die in your aquarium when the aiptasia is gone.

However, berghias are MOSTLY water.. 90%+ in fact and you wouldn't have to worry about their death nearly as much as a fish dying in your aquarium.. With a proper cleanup crew a few berghias dying in your aquarium is not a big deal at all.. However, if you add several berghias to your tank chances are they WILL spawn and I would recommend trying to get as many babies out of the tank and sell them off as you wouldn't want tons of berghia all dying of starvation in your aquarium.

In my opinion berghia are the only 100% surefire way of getting rid of aiptasia and the only way I intend going about ridding my tank of them as it does not require spraying chemicals in the tank or destroying beneficial critters or bacteria on the surrounding rock.. Injecting aiptasia can be hit or miss.. You have to be very good with a hyperdermic needle and sometimes the root of the aiptasia still exists and can regrow or bits of the one you killed can flow around, land and create new aiptasia.

It is, unfortunately, an expensive route to go as like I said once the aiptasia is gone the berghias are goners for sure...

For more information you may want to check out http://berghia.net/

If you want some I'd get on the waiting list now as it could be 1-2 months before they're available.

cindyolson · 07/04/2006, 09:54 AM

Copperbanded Butterfly's work great. I put one in my tank (loaded with aiptasia). Fish was kinda shy for about 10 days, then one morning, no more aiptasia...

tankguy001 · 07/04/2006, 10:02 AM

Will the Copperband and or Pepermint shrimp also go after those clear white anemone found on Florida LR? I can scrape them off only to find them come back in no time at all

cindyolson · 07/04/2006, 02:58 PM

Aiptasia can be white or brown, depends on how much light they get. Both Copperband and Pepermint will tank care of them.

washingtond · 07/04/2006, 03:53 PM

Tankguy001 the answer to your questions is yes will eat it all.

The Saltwater Kid · 07/04/2006, 07:20 PM

Here is a link to a guy selling Berghia on eBay

Ebay link removed

DaddyJax · 07/04/2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Catharsis70
Havent tried it but was told that injecting with iodine works too.

No offense intended but this is the worst idea. Unless you intend to remove the rock and do this this could cause serious damage to your tank. Iodine is very potent and only needs a small amount in a system.

I have had nothing but success using true Peppermint shrimp. Camel shrimp look almost identical to Peppermints but will not touch it.

DaddyJax · 07/04/2006, 08:54 PM

double post sorry!

susanrosenfeld · 07/05/2006, 01:44 AM

Injecting the aptasia with calcium also works. It got rid of all of the aptasia in my tank. Just inject in the mouth.

tankguy001 · 07/05/2006, 04:54 AM

Thanks for the info

Pico Keeper · 07/05/2006, 10:49 AM

I fed all my aptasia's mysis, and got them all fattened up with shrimp so that they couldn't react or pull back when I injeced them with Kalk paste using a syringe. After I killed all the big ones and the tank looked to be aiptasia free, I added a few peppermints, and they ate all the tiny ones I probably couldn't see and I have never seen one again.

epicentyr · 07/05/2006, 11:32 AM

Pico,
good idea with fattening them up first.

gary faulkner · 07/05/2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pico Keeper
I fed all my aptasia's mysis, and got them all fattened up with shrimp so that they couldn't react or pull back when I injeced them with Kalk paste using a syringe. After I killed all the big ones and the tank looked to be aiptasia free, I added a few peppermints, and they ate all the tiny ones I probably couldn't see and I have never seen one again.

Best idea I've heard yet

JRPhd · 07/05/2006, 02:05 PM

my cbb has never touched aiptasia and I would consider him a great eater otherwise. What worked for my small infestation was a 20ml squirt of scalding hot distilled water in the mouth all the way to the base. It's also the cheapest way to do it

.

Jon

07/03/2006, 09:49 PM	#1
coryjac0b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 823	Proper, and easiest removal of Aiptasia? what is the proper and easiest removal of aiptasia, i have one large piece with a few smaller pieces around it, what do i do to get rid of them, i dont want them to spread anymore.

07/03/2006, 09:53 PM	#2
evilelvis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 71	I let it run wild a few months ago and have spent the past few months slowly erradicating the damn things with Joe's Juice...which works I have gotten down to about 2 a week now from a trillion a day. So...Joe's Juice might work for sport treatment and any other pop ups. __________________ 40g cube reef

07/03/2006, 10:10 PM	#4
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	Peppermint shrimp and/or a syringe full of kalk. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

07/03/2006, 10:23 PM	#5
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	I've had luck with both kalk paste and peppermint shrimp. The kalk paste is by far the cheapest method, so I'd give that a try first. You don't actually need the kalk for sale at the LFS. Go to Walmart or your nearest grocery store and see if they have pickling lime for sale (not pickling salt or pickling spices). Mrs. Wage's is the brand I've been using. It's actually the same stuff Kent sells for about 3-4x the price. Also works great as a calcium supplement (which you very well may already know). Anyway, just mix it up with some water until it's a pretty free flowing white liquid. Then just squirt it into the aptasia's mouth with a syringe. I use a medicine dropper afterwards to suck up the excess kalk as well as the withered remains of the aptasia. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

07/03/2006, 11:26 PM	#8
Houtz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vernal, Utah Posts: 146	I've killed a bunch of them with lemon or lime juice injections. __________________ "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Rom. 5: 7-8 NKJV Current Tank Info: 29 gal. AGA mixed reef

07/03/2006, 10:06 PM	#3
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	Doubt there's a surefire way to rid your tank of Aiptasia. Some have had success with products such as Joe's Juice, Kalk Paste etc. While others swear by Peppermint Shrimps wiping out colonies after colonies of the anemone. While still others maintain that a Copperband Butterfly is to Aiptasia what Kryptonite is to Superman. You could try all of the above and stick to what works best for you.

07/03/2006, 10:43 PM	#7
Catharsis70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: IL Posts: 859	Havent tried it but was told that injecting with iodine works too.

07/04/2006, 07:45 AM	#9
coryjac0b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 823	do i remove the rock from the tank, or inject the aiptasia as it is?? with the lemon juice im referring to.

07/04/2006, 08:13 AM	#10
Pattylucylaura Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Decatur MI Posts: 378	I would doubt iodine would be safe since it is easy to over dose your system with it. __________________ Some people are alot like slinkys they both bring a smile to your face if you shove them down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 29 gal 175w MH Reef Tank

07/04/2006, 08:40 AM	#11
The Saltwater Kid Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Barre, VT Posts: 2,586	I've heard that injecting them with a little vinegar works very well! __________________ Oceanic Biocube 14g Nano Tank w/middle chamber refugium mod 2 Ecoxotic Power Pro LED Modules (1 - 12K/Royal Blue combo, 1 - Royal Blue) MaxiJet 900 return, VorTech MP10 circulation Livestock: Higher End Z's & P's, few mushrooms, Aussie Duncan, Maxi Mini Carpet Anemone

07/04/2006, 08:42 AM	#12
roper512 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 393	There is a surefire way.. Berghia.. They're small and can get to any aiptasia you have even in small spaces. They ONLY eat aiptasia, it is their only food source and thus they will go to great lengths to find any and all aiptasia in your tank. Downside to berghias is they're not exactly the easiest things to find in stock, not super cheap and will 100% for sure die in your aquarium when the aiptasia is gone. However, berghias are MOSTLY water.. 90%+ in fact and you wouldn't have to worry about their death nearly as much as a fish dying in your aquarium.. With a proper cleanup crew a few berghias dying in your aquarium is not a big deal at all.. However, if you add several berghias to your tank chances are they WILL spawn and I would recommend trying to get as many babies out of the tank and sell them off as you wouldn't want tons of berghia all dying of starvation in your aquarium. In my opinion berghia are the only 100% surefire way of getting rid of aiptasia and the only way I intend going about ridding my tank of them as it does not require spraying chemicals in the tank or destroying beneficial critters or bacteria on the surrounding rock.. Injecting aiptasia can be hit or miss.. You have to be very good with a hyperdermic needle and sometimes the root of the aiptasia still exists and can regrow or bits of the one you killed can flow around, land and create new aiptasia. It is, unfortunately, an expensive route to go as like I said once the aiptasia is gone the berghias are goners for sure... For more information you may want to check out http://berghia.net/ If you want some I'd get on the waiting list now as it could be 1-2 months before they're available.

07/04/2006, 09:54 AM	#13
cindyolson Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avondale, AZ Posts: 163	Copperbanded Butterfly's work great. I put one in my tank (loaded with aiptasia). Fish was kinda shy for about 10 days, then one morning, no more aiptasia...

07/04/2006, 10:02 AM	#14
tankguy001 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 76	Will the Copperband and or Pepermint shrimp also go after those clear white anemone found on Florida LR? I can scrape them off only to find them come back in no time at all

07/04/2006, 02:58 PM	#15
cindyolson Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avondale, AZ Posts: 163	Aiptasia can be white or brown, depends on how much light they get. Both Copperband and Pepermint will tank care of them.

07/04/2006, 03:53 PM	#16
washingtond Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carrollton, Texas Posts: 360	Tankguy001 the answer to your questions is yes will eat it all. __________________ David - Member of DFWMAS . Current Tank Info: 200/75g reef tank with Fuge/Sumps, Aqua C skimmer. 250 XMs, auto top off systems, JBJ Chiller Geo Reactor.

07/04/2006, 07:20 PM	#17
The Saltwater Kid Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Barre, VT Posts: 2,586	Here is a link to a guy selling Berghia on eBay Ebay link removed __________________ Oceanic Biocube 14g Nano Tank w/middle chamber refugium mod 2 Ecoxotic Power Pro LED Modules (1 - 12K/Royal Blue combo, 1 - Royal Blue) MaxiJet 900 return, VorTech MP10 circulation Livestock: Higher End Z's & P's, few mushrooms, Aussie Duncan, Maxi Mini Carpet Anemone Last edited by Nanook; 07/05/2006 at 11:43 AM.

07/04/2006, 08:54 PM	#19
DaddyJax Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Collins, CO. Posts: 3,190	double post sorry! __________________ Success is not measured by the person who has the most but by the person that needs the least!! Current Tank Info: Currently tankless :(

07/05/2006, 01:44 AM	#20
susanrosenfeld Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 40	Injecting the aptasia with calcium also works. It got rid of all of the aptasia in my tank. Just inject in the mouth. __________________ "The books that help you most are those which make you think that most...a great book that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and beauty." - Pablo Neruda Current Tank Info: 24 gallon Nano - Red Sea Mimic Blenny, Yasa Hachi Goby, Oscellaris Clown, Bubble Coral, Limnalia Leather, Rose Anemone, Candy Coral, Sun Coral, Sun/Moon polyps, Star Polyps, Green Finger Leather, cleaner/peppermint/blue coral banded shrimps

07/05/2006, 04:54 AM	#21
tankguy001 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 76	Thanks for the info

07/05/2006, 10:49 AM	#22
Pico Keeper Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 437	I fed all my aptasia's mysis, and got them all fattened up with shrimp so that they couldn't react or pull back when I injeced them with Kalk paste using a syringe. After I killed all the big ones and the tank looked to be aiptasia free, I added a few peppermints, and they ate all the tiny ones I probably couldn't see and I have never seen one again.

07/05/2006, 11:32 AM	#23
epicentyr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 310	Pico, good idea with fattening them up first.

07/05/2006, 02:05 PM	#25
JRPhd Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SE WI for now Posts: 392	my cbb has never touched aiptasia and I would consider him a great eater otherwise. What worked for my small infestation was a 20ml squirt of scalding hot distilled water in the mouth all the way to the base. It's also the cheapest way to do it . Jon __________________ Me fail Inglish, that's unpossible. Current Tank Info: 40g Oceanic stretchhex. 24" PC Aqua Lunarlights. 50lbs. Marshall LR. 2"SB. Heater. Maxi-900x2. Aqua C Remora Skimmer w/ maxi-1200. DIY HOT Fuge with Chaeto. mmmmm chaeto.