Recruited an Aptasia Army

Crusinjimbo · 11/14/2013, 06:24 AM

I just can't keep up with the Aptasia using Aptasia X so I recruited, for a price, 5 Berghia Nudibranchs for Salty Underground. Their order processing, communications, packaging and general customer service was outstanding. Followed the acclimation instructions and introduced the little rascals to my forest of Aptasia. I will update with noted battle casualties.

mkbtank · 11/14/2013, 06:28 AM

Good luck

88rxna · 11/14/2013, 06:59 AM

Nice! I just introduced a file fish. If he dont work its these guys next.

Liavb22 · 11/14/2013, 07:18 AM

I've introduced a file fish a few weeks ago as well, nothing yet, but he is eating mysis & brine LOL. My pepermints in the other tank are doing a great job though.

I have a flame hawk and niger trigger, so can't put the shrimp in there, can do Nudibranchs either

Irongills · 11/14/2013, 08:35 AM

Peppermint shrimp are what did it for me, but even they get used to eating other food in the tank after a while. I was lucky in that I didn't put in any livestock until I was aptasia clear.

Best of luck ya'll! I've heard mixed stuff about nudibranches and file fish. It's one of those issues that is going to workout differently for different people I feel.

GroktheCube · 11/14/2013, 10:47 AM

Good luck! I added a dozen and a half berghias about two months ago. They haven't made much of a dent, unfortunately. I think I might just have a bit too much flow for them. I just put two dozen peppermints in there this week, hopefully they pick up the slack. I figure with that many of them, odds are good at least SOME of them will have a taste for aiptasia.

Sethjamto · 11/14/2013, 04:50 PM

2 dozen?? What size tank?

saf1 · 11/14/2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88rxna

Nice! I just introduced a file fish. If he dont work its these guys next.

If you get the right one, and I'm not exactly sure mine fits that, they do eat it. However, so far it would appear they only eat the smaller in size whereas berghias eat any and all.

Matted filefish is what it is called I think. It changes colors it would seem between brown, green, and/or camo in general. Like I said he / she has eaten the smaller in size but left the few large ones alone. He or she also eats everything else I throw in like Mysis shrimp and pellets. Go figure.

ayionna06 · 11/14/2013, 05:46 PM

the file fish works great. Mine took awhile before he started to eat them and I had a forest growing in my tank. I woke up one morning and all my apistasia was gone. I couldn't believe it. I had thought I wasted my money on this fish but out the blue he decided to eat them. Haven't had a problem ever since

conradryaan · 11/14/2013, 06:17 PM

peppermint shrimp did it for me. slowly, but they have cleared almost of it in about two weeks.

Crusinjimbo · 11/15/2013, 06:29 AM

Day one down and I must have received a contingent of very stealthy troops cause they went into the rock and proof, gone. Forty pounds of seasoned pukani loaded with their favorite munchies should keep they busy. I tried three flights of pep shrimp and they were effective in desimating the first attack but couldn't keep.

GroktheCube · 11/15/2013, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sethjamto

2 dozen?? What size tank?

A standard 120.

pledosophy · 11/15/2013, 11:18 AM

I find injecting them with lemon juice is a very good way for an immediate kill and much less expensive then other methods.

Arkayology · 11/15/2013, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pledosophy

I find injecting them with lemon juice is a very good way for an immediate kill and much less expensive then other methods.

Try doing that if you have plague proportions. It would take days.

GroktheCube · 11/15/2013, 12:44 PM

I've found every means of chemical control I've tried to have a fairly low kill rate, and seems to encourage an increase in population. That's how I went from a single aiptasia to hundreds.

Crusinjimbo · 11/16/2013, 06:40 AM

I have used the injection thing for two years and i just can't keep up with these guys without some internal force to assist. Never had to endure any diseases or algae problems of any proportion but these buggers are like aquatic cockroaches! Day 2 and a dent has been made. The Pukani they were inserted into is minus a few enemy positions, I think.

johnike · 11/16/2013, 06:49 AM

I employed a Matted Filefish last year.
When he was done plowing through the Aiptasia, he started on my corals.
Now, I just blast them with pickling lime sludge in a carpet syringe when they pop up.

madweazl · 11/16/2013, 07:08 AM

Aiptasia X never "killed" one for me. I could knock them down but they always dusted themselves off! They toyed with me every other month but I guess it was good for me, kept me on my toes! Lower water temps seemed to be my best allie.

88rxna · 11/16/2013, 07:09 AM

So far i can not tell if my file fish is eating mine yet. I have a lot. I watched him snag one tue first 10 minutes of being in the display but nothing since then. Its only been around a week though. Awesome.fish though!

Hate to say it, but hes eating pellets like a champ.

lionfish300 · 11/18/2013, 12:12 AM

My CB was great of controlling these guys untill he passed. Since then I try 2 more CB but couldnt keep alive due to not eating. Peppermint shrimps just disappear in my tank. Joe juice seem like make the aptaisans multiply? Will see about Mated Filefish I getting one delivery this Tuesday

lionfish300 · 11/18/2013, 12:18 AM

sorry duplicated

Crusinjimbo · 11/18/2013, 06:36 AM

I do believe there is a noticeable decline in the numbers or it could be my ever present optimism. Going in today with a fresh bottle of Aptasia X to decimate some of the big guys. Does blowing up 25-40 of them cause any chemistry issues with the water? Aside from a bit of cloudiness I haven't noticed any problems but maybe daily massacres may not be a good idea from a water chemistry perspective. I have noticed that the Aptasia in the sump have significantly diminished since I have contained most of the light spillage from my ATS. Just a thought.

88rxna · 11/18/2013, 07:23 AM

I tried aptasiax and my population almost tripled from it.

Recliner · 11/18/2013, 07:46 AM

I have a tall 150 so I can't reach certain areas on the bottom. Aphasia x killed everything I could reach. I had 5 peppermint shrimp but sold a bunch if rock and think at least 4 may have went with the rock.
I just bought a kleini butterfly a couple days ago. I saw it peck at a couple yesterday and saw some aphasia that already had several tentacles missing. I did see it peck at my candy canes twice though

nmbeg · 11/18/2013, 10:00 AM

If all else fails, there is the nuclear option--bleach + acid bath your rocks and start over. But that would cause a re-cycle. Perhaps fish can go in quarantine?

11/14/2013, 06:24 AM	#1
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	Recruited an Aptasia Army I just can't keep up with the Aptasia using Aptasia X so I recruited, for a price, 5 Berghia Nudibranchs for Salty Underground. Their order processing, communications, packaging and general customer service was outstanding. Followed the acclimation instructions and introduced the little rascals to my forest of Aptasia. I will update with noted battle casualties. __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

11/14/2013, 06:59 AM	#3
88rxna Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ludlow,PA Posts: 605	Nice! I just introduced a file fish. If he dont work its these guys next. __________________ 90 gallon display, CSC bean animal overflow/30 gallon sump (in basement) SWC 160 skimmer reeflow dart external pump reefkeeper lite a pair of ocean revive S026 led fixtures

11/14/2013, 04:50 PM	#7
Sethjamto Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 845	2 dozen?? What size tank? __________________ 8ft 300g, Reeflo Dart Gold return, MRC 48" High-flo reef sump, MRC MR4 dual beckett Skimmer, (2) Reefbreeders Photon 48's, Reef Angel, LMIII continuous water change/ATO setup..

11/15/2013, 06:29 AM	#11
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	Day one down and I must have received a contingent of very stealthy troops cause they went into the rock and proof, gone. Forty pounds of seasoned pukani loaded with their favorite munchies should keep they busy. I tried three flights of pep shrimp and they were effective in desimating the first attack but couldn't keep. __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

11/15/2013, 11:18 AM	#13
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	I find injecting them with lemon juice is a very good way for an immediate kill and much less expensive then other methods. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

11/14/2013, 06:28 AM	#2
mkbtank Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NE Philadelphia Posts: 1,164	Good luck

11/14/2013, 07:18 AM	#4
Liavb22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Jackson, NJ Posts: 53	I've introduced a file fish a few weeks ago as well, nothing yet, but he is eating mysis & brine LOL. My pepermints in the other tank are doing a great job though. I have a flame hawk and niger trigger, so can't put the shrimp in there, can do Nudibranchs either

11/14/2013, 08:35 AM	#5
Irongills Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 72	Peppermint shrimp are what did it for me, but even they get used to eating other food in the tank after a while. I was lucky in that I didn't put in any livestock until I was aptasia clear. Best of luck ya'll! I've heard mixed stuff about nudibranches and file fish. It's one of those issues that is going to workout differently for different people I feel.

11/14/2013, 10:47 AM	#6
GroktheCube Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2,063	Good luck! I added a dozen and a half berghias about two months ago. They haven't made much of a dent, unfortunately. I think I might just have a bit too much flow for them. I just put two dozen peppermints in there this week, hopefully they pick up the slack. I figure with that many of them, odds are good at least SOME of them will have a taste for aiptasia.

11/14/2013, 05:46 PM	#9
ayionna06 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 193	the file fish works great. Mine took awhile before he started to eat them and I had a forest growing in my tank. I woke up one morning and all my apistasia was gone. I couldn't believe it. I had thought I wasted my money on this fish but out the blue he decided to eat them. Haven't had a problem ever since

11/14/2013, 06:17 PM	#10
conradryaan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 71	peppermint shrimp did it for me. slowly, but they have cleared almost of it in about two weeks.

11/15/2013, 12:44 PM	#15
GroktheCube Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2,063	I've found every means of chemical control I've tried to have a fairly low kill rate, and seems to encourage an increase in population. That's how I went from a single aiptasia to hundreds.

11/16/2013, 06:40 AM	#16
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	I have used the injection thing for two years and i just can't keep up with these guys without some internal force to assist. Never had to endure any diseases or algae problems of any proportion but these buggers are like aquatic cockroaches! Day 2 and a dent has been made. The Pukani they were inserted into is minus a few enemy positions, I think. __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

11/16/2013, 06:49 AM	#17
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	I employed a Matted Filefish last year. When he was done plowing through the Aiptasia, he started on my corals. Now, I just blast them with pickling lime sludge in a carpet syringe when they pop up.

11/16/2013, 07:08 AM	#18
madweazl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NOVA Posts: 774	Aiptasia X never "killed" one for me. I could knock them down but they always dusted themselves off! They toyed with me every other month but I guess it was good for me, kept me on my toes! Lower water temps seemed to be my best allie.

11/16/2013, 07:09 AM	#19
88rxna Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ludlow,PA Posts: 605	So far i can not tell if my file fish is eating mine yet. I have a lot. I watched him snag one tue first 10 minutes of being in the display but nothing since then. Its only been around a week though. Awesome.fish though! Hate to say it, but hes eating pellets like a champ. __________________ 90 gallon display, CSC bean animal overflow/30 gallon sump (in basement) SWC 160 skimmer reeflow dart external pump reefkeeper lite a pair of ocean revive S026 led fixtures

11/18/2013, 12:12 AM	#20
lionfish300 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico Posts: 795	My CB was great of controlling these guys untill he passed. Since then I try 2 more CB but couldnt keep alive due to not eating. Peppermint shrimps just disappear in my tank. Joe juice seem like make the aptaisans multiply? Will see about Mated Filefish I getting one delivery this Tuesday

11/18/2013, 12:18 AM	#21
lionfish300 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico Posts: 795	sorry duplicated

11/18/2013, 06:36 AM	#22
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	I do believe there is a noticeable decline in the numbers or it could be my ever present optimism. Going in today with a fresh bottle of Aptasia X to decimate some of the big guys. Does blowing up 25-40 of them cause any chemistry issues with the water? Aside from a bit of cloudiness I haven't noticed any problems but maybe daily massacres may not be a good idea from a water chemistry perspective. I have noticed that the Aptasia in the sump have significantly diminished since I have contained most of the light spillage from my ATS. Just a thought. __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

11/18/2013, 07:23 AM	#23
88rxna Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ludlow,PA Posts: 605	I tried aptasiax and my population almost tripled from it. __________________ 90 gallon display, CSC bean animal overflow/30 gallon sump (in basement) SWC 160 skimmer reeflow dart external pump reefkeeper lite a pair of ocean revive S026 led fixtures

11/18/2013, 07:46 AM	#24
Recliner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 289	I have a tall 150 so I can't reach certain areas on the bottom. Aphasia x killed everything I could reach. I had 5 peppermint shrimp but sold a bunch if rock and think at least 4 may have went with the rock. I just bought a kleini butterfly a couple days ago. I saw it peck at a couple yesterday and saw some aphasia that already had several tentacles missing. I did see it peck at my candy canes twice though

11/18/2013, 10:00 AM	#25
nmbeg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 894	If all else fails, there is the nuclear option--bleach + acid bath your rocks and start over. But that would cause a re-cycle. Perhaps fish can go in quarantine?