Need advice on aptasia outbreak.

Jerm_54 · 03/19/2015, 04:50 PM

So my tank is just over one month old. 30gal with 30lbs lr, Arctic so26 LED, 1.5"-2" sand bed. 2 Da Vinci clowns that went in on the 30 day mark. Hermits, 1 turbo snail, and 1 cleaner shrimp. I noticed 1 aptasia on one of the last pieces of LR i put in the tank. I picked up some aptasia Rx and gave that a try... within a couple of days i noticed a few tiny little aptasias starting to grow. Again i tried the medicine and got nowhere. I tried the boiling water method and that got me no where. I even just tried to super glue the little b****** but sadly more have sprouted up.

However as far as i can tell the aptasia is still only on this one (big) piece of live rock. i would continue to try and kill each one while they are small but the rock is very porous and is very hard to get at most parts of it. I've counted 7 small ones and one bigger one that i cant get at. I'm about to pull the whole rock out and treat it. Thing is i really like this piece and would like to place it back in the tank.

My question is once i remove the rock how can i kill all the aptasia and how soon can i return the rock to the tank?

gone fishin · 03/19/2015, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerm_54

.
My question is once i remove the rock how can i kill all the aptasia and how soon can i return the rock to the tank?

I have always found a lighter works very well. If I can get the rock out I will hit them with a lighter, has not failed me yet. Once I have burned the little buggers up, I give them a quick dip and back in. I usually do this during a WC Good luck

Jerm_54 · 03/19/2015, 05:47 PM

Thanks, ill give that a try tomorrow. Do you just use a bic lighter or a torch? To get them all i would have to burn a decent part of the rock.

eddiereefs · 03/19/2015, 05:48 PM

Take out the rock, burn it dry it do what ever it takes they will spread quickly and crash ur tank. Do not sleep on this, u cant just kill it in the tank they have spores, it it happened to me i would get neq live rock imo

gone fishin · 03/19/2015, 05:58 PM

I use a bic and also got one of those BBQ lighters.

I have hit some rock with a torch I would not recommend doing it indoors. Some critters can give of toxins and there is the possibility of the rock blowing apart. when I did it I just did quick hits with the torch. Use the torch at your own risk.

If the rock is that heavily infested it may be worth just leaving the rock out to dry for a few days to kill it all off.

hotelbravo · 03/19/2015, 06:27 PM

I had a few aptaisa a around november. I used a large plastic syringe sucked up some boiling water stuck the syringe down into the tank and squirted the water at the base of the aptaisa and I havent seen ANY since.

smedlin · 03/19/2015, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerm_54

I picked up some aptasia Rx and gave that a try... within a couple of days i noticed a few tiny little aptasias starting to grow. Again i tried the medicine and got nowhere. I tried the boiling water method and that got me no where. I even just tried to super glue the little b****** but sadly more have sprouted up.

However as far as i can tell the aptasia is still only on this one (big) piece of live rock.

My question is once i remove the rock how can i kill all the aptasia and how soon can i return the rock to the tank?

Hmp.. boiling water. Never knew about that.

aptasia Rx is great for getting a HANDLE on them. But that's all. You will never get them all with it. Those "little ones" that you noticed a few days later? I bet they were already there.. just to small to see.

And.. I bet they are on the other rocks by now also.

I've tried taking rocks out for days at a time.. sitting on the back porch cooking in the Texas Summer Sun. Little crappers sprouted right back up. Shoot, they was probably enjoying the sun, getting a nice tan, drinking some fruity drinks...

Anyways.. if you don't wanna just totally cook/kill your rocks, get a hand-full of peppermint shrimp.

Jerm_54 · 03/19/2015, 07:16 PM

Thanks for the tips. I pulled the one rock out and its now soaking in hot RO water. I think ill leave it like that for a day, power wash the rock really good and then get it back in the tank along with some peppermint shrimps. I dont think my lfs has any at the moment but ill try and get some asap. would one or two do the job in my 30 gallon?

hotelbravo · 03/19/2015, 09:22 PM

You would be fine with even 3 or 4 in a 30. But if you just want 1 or 2 then thats fine

Not all peppermint shrimp eat aptaisa so be prepared for that. To increase you chances limit the food supply they can clean up for the firsr few days of introduction or whenever you start to see more aptaisa. That way they are more inclined to eat them

smedlin · 03/19/2015, 09:30 PM

It's a hit-n-miss with peppermint shrimp.

they don't ALL eat aptasia. Some will, some won't... and for no apparent reason.

So, get like 4 of them

kmbyrnes · 03/20/2015, 06:07 AM

My aiptasia got out of control when I was gone for 3 months last summer. Been fighting it for 6 months. I have tried lemon juice, AiptasiaX, peppermint shrimp and even pulled some rocks. I finally bit the bullet and got some Berghia Nudibranchs 6 weeks ago. I haven't ever seen them in daylight, but the field of aiptasia in the back of my rocks is disappearing.....

wnehez · 03/20/2015, 06:38 AM

I know it probably won't be a good fit for your tank, but I have always used copperband butterfly fish for the irradication of these little buggers. I have had to do it twice. The first time, I borrowed my friends copper band. He cleared house within 2-3 days. Then I returned him. Then about a half year later, they started popping up again. This time, I bought a copper band. Again, cleaned house in a matter of days. Havent seen any since. Never used the peppermint shrimp, but have injected them with lemon/lime juice and covered in kalk paste. Both seemed temporary fixes. Oh and then I bought the infamous aiptasia zapper! Haha it was indeed fun, but if you didnt get all of the leftover gunk out, it wasn't a concrete solution. But my friends enjoy using the zapper also.

tmz · 03/20/2015, 10:55 AM

I would soak it in some water and bleach overnight . Then soak it in clean water with dechloriinator. Then let it dry until there is no bleach smell. Of course at this point you have dead rock but putting it in very hot water will kill it too.

Heating live rock in water or otherwise may release some toxic vapors ; soI'd be very careful with that approach

hotelbravo · 03/20/2015, 01:58 PM

File fish eat aptasia

saltwater_pappy · 03/20/2015, 07:59 PM

I would try to avoid killing your rock with hot water or bleach. hat may cause you some other problems. I used to kill them with a syringe and vinegar but that was only good for the ones I could reach. Bought 2 peppermint shrimps and within 1 to 2 weeks they were all gone & have not seen one since.

Smknnoakland · 03/20/2015, 09:39 PM

I just found a few aiptasia in my fuge. My brother in law told me about using lemon juice concentrate with a syringe. Been reading up on that method. I'm gonna try it this weekend. I only have 3 or 4 small ones in my fuge. None in my DT. I'll let you kno how it works out.

Clowny88 · 03/20/2015, 09:49 PM

I have a peppermint shrimp that was picking them off. I had a HUGE one and each night I'd come home to see him in the corner of the tank munching on a huge tentacle.

I got impatient though. Took the rock out, soaked up lime juice in a syringe, and put a few drops on them. Listened to them sizzle for about 2 minutes and then put the rock back in the tank... Haven't seen them since.

Grkgod36 · 03/21/2015, 12:37 AM

You can also fill a syringe with concentrated kalk and with a tube attached to it inject it it cements their mouths shut and they die. Or if you know anyone with that really powerful blue laser u can just burn the hell out of it instantly from out side the glass

twizztedbz81 · 03/21/2015, 01:15 AM

I had a small one sprout up a couple weeks ago while my new tank was finishing its cycle. Got a peppermint shrimp and the next day it was gone. Guess I got lucky with my shrimp, but it does work, and little to no effort on my part.

Wally.B · 03/21/2015, 01:40 AM

I have had apasias over the years. Usually picked up on rocks when. Buying corals.

Once I saw one it was the begining of more. And more and more. They grow in places you can't see them. They don't spread on the rock. They spread by sporing and attach all over your tanks other rocks.

I tried all the tricks and nothing worked to completely rid of them. If you disturb them the will shoot out spores and multiply just worse.

What always worked for me was getting a copper band butterfly fish. They love aphasia and their long pointy spout is designed to find even the smallest hidden aptasia. For a small tank get a small coperband which are hard to find.

The downside is once the copperband runs out of aptasias they will starve unless they learn to eat other food. I was lucky one time to have my copper and he ate frozen brine shrimp. He lasted for a couple of years.

03/19/2015, 05:58 PM	#5
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I use a bic and also got one of those BBQ lighters. I have hit some rock with a torch I would not recommend doing it indoors. Some critters can give of toxins and there is the possibility of the rock blowing apart. when I did it I just did quick hits with the torch. Use the torch at your own risk. If the rock is that heavily infested it may be worth just leaving the rock out to dry for a few days to kill it all off. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT Last edited by gone fishin; 03/19/2015 at 06:04 PM.

03/19/2015, 06:27 PM	#6
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	I had a few aptaisa a around november. I used a large plastic syringe sucked up some boiling water stuck the syringe down into the tank and squirted the water at the base of the aptaisa and I havent seen ANY since. __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

03/19/2015, 09:22 PM	#9
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	You would be fine with even 3 or 4 in a 30. But if you just want 1 or 2 then thats fine Not all peppermint shrimp eat aptaisa so be prepared for that. To increase you chances limit the food supply they can clean up for the firsr few days of introduction or whenever you start to see more aptaisa. That way they are more inclined to eat them __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

03/20/2015, 06:07 AM	#11
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	My aiptasia got out of control when I was gone for 3 months last summer. Been fighting it for 6 months. I have tried lemon juice, AiptasiaX, peppermint shrimp and even pulled some rocks. I finally bit the bullet and got some Berghia Nudibranchs 6 weeks ago. I haven't ever seen them in daylight, but the field of aiptasia in the back of my rocks is disappearing..... __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

03/20/2015, 10:55 AM	#13
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I would soak it in some water and bleach overnight . Then soak it in clean water with dechloriinator. Then let it dry until there is no bleach smell. Of course at this point you have dead rock but putting it in very hot water will kill it too. Heating live rock in water or otherwise may release some toxic vapors ; soI'd be very careful with that approach __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

03/19/2015, 05:47 PM	#3
Jerm_54 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 31	Thanks, ill give that a try tomorrow. Do you just use a bic lighter or a torch? To get them all i would have to burn a decent part of the rock.

03/19/2015, 05:48 PM	#4
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	Take out the rock, burn it dry it do what ever it takes they will spread quickly and crash ur tank. Do not sleep on this, u cant just kill it in the tank they have spores, it it happened to me i would get neq live rock imo

03/19/2015, 07:16 PM	#8
Jerm_54 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 31	Thanks for the tips. I pulled the one rock out and its now soaking in hot RO water. I think ill leave it like that for a day, power wash the rock really good and then get it back in the tank along with some peppermint shrimps. I dont think my lfs has any at the moment but ill try and get some asap. would one or two do the job in my 30 gallon?

03/19/2015, 09:30 PM	#10
smedlin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: South of Houston, Texas Posts: 339	It's a hit-n-miss with peppermint shrimp. they don't ALL eat aptasia. Some will, some won't... and for no apparent reason. So, get like 4 of them

03/20/2015, 06:38 AM	#12
wnehez Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ringtown, PA Posts: 351	I know it probably won't be a good fit for your tank, but I have always used copperband butterfly fish for the irradication of these little buggers. I have had to do it twice. The first time, I borrowed my friends copper band. He cleared house within 2-3 days. Then I returned him. Then about a half year later, they started popping up again. This time, I bought a copper band. Again, cleaned house in a matter of days. Havent seen any since. Never used the peppermint shrimp, but have injected them with lemon/lime juice and covered in kalk paste. Both seemed temporary fixes. Oh and then I bought the infamous aiptasia zapper! Haha it was indeed fun, but if you didnt get all of the leftover gunk out, it wasn't a concrete solution. But my friends enjoy using the zapper also.

03/20/2015, 01:58 PM	#14
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	File fish eat aptasia __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

03/20/2015, 07:59 PM	#15
saltwater_pappy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: welland on. Posts: 22	I would try to avoid killing your rock with hot water or bleach. hat may cause you some other problems. I used to kill them with a syringe and vinegar but that was only good for the ones I could reach. Bought 2 peppermint shrimps and within 1 to 2 weeks they were all gone & have not seen one since. __________________ Dave 90G DT, 30G sump, seaclone skimmer, 700GPH & 1400GPH flowjets, 2 150w blueline fantom LEDS, 70lbs live rock, LPS, softies, cleaner shrimp.

03/20/2015, 09:39 PM	#16
Smknnoakland Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: San Leandro CA Posts: 115	I just found a few aiptasia in my fuge. My brother in law told me about using lemon juice concentrate with a syringe. Been reading up on that method. I'm gonna try it this weekend. I only have 3 or 4 small ones in my fuge. None in my DT. I'll let you kno how it works out.

03/20/2015, 09:49 PM	#17
Clowny88 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: N. Illinois Posts: 270	I have a peppermint shrimp that was picking them off. I had a HUGE one and each night I'd come home to see him in the corner of the tank munching on a huge tentacle. I got impatient though. Took the rock out, soaked up lime juice in a syringe, and put a few drops on them. Listened to them sizzle for about 2 minutes and then put the rock back in the tank... Haven't seen them since.

03/21/2015, 12:37 AM	#18
Grkgod36 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 375	You can also fill a syringe with concentrated kalk and with a tube attached to it inject it it cements their mouths shut and they die. Or if you know anyone with that really powerful blue laser u can just burn the hell out of it instantly from out side the glass

03/21/2015, 01:15 AM	#19
twizztedbz81 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 19	I had a small one sprout up a couple weeks ago while my new tank was finishing its cycle. Got a peppermint shrimp and the next day it was gone. Guess I got lucky with my shrimp, but it does work, and little to no effort on my part.

03/21/2015, 01:40 AM	#20
Wally.B Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Toronto GTA,Canada Posts: 1,763	I have had apasias over the years. Usually picked up on rocks when. Buying corals. Once I saw one it was the begining of more. And more and more. They grow in places you can't see them. They don't spread on the rock. They spread by sporing and attach all over your tanks other rocks. I tried all the tricks and nothing worked to completely rid of them. If you disturb them the will shoot out spores and multiply just worse. What always worked for me was getting a copper band butterfly fish. They love aphasia and their long pointy spout is designed to find even the smallest hidden aptasia. For a small tank get a small coperband which are hard to find. The downside is once the copperband runs out of aptasias they will starve unless they learn to eat other food. I was lucky one time to have my copper and he ate frozen brine shrimp. He lasted for a couple of years.