No more Aiptasia. Now what?

glenns · 04/18/2007, 11:28 AM

A few months ago I introduced a Klein's butterfly into my Aiptasia infested reef tank. A few weeks went by and he did not touch them Then one day I noticed they were are all gone. It was like they are erraticated over-night. So, the question, is if I remove the butterfly, will they come back? I like him, but like many butterflys, he nips at corals. Specifically my Green Eye polyps. I would not mind it if he grazed on the brown button polyps. They are the only thing that out grew the Aiptasia.

Glenn

Reeses · 04/18/2007, 11:44 AM

You'll have to try it to see. Think about trying a peppermint shrimp, they usually do a good job and won't eat your corals.

cardgenius · 04/18/2007, 11:44 AM

I would keep him just a little longer just to make sure they dont come back. Ive cleaned my tank of those guys many times and they always seem to come back.

frederickk · 04/23/2007, 10:49 AM

If you have another tank you can probably put him there and see if aptaisia comes back.

cyclops23 · 04/23/2007, 01:27 PM

i use peppermint shrimp. they do a very good job of keeping the aptasia away. very interesting to watch, too. it might not be your thing, but i really like shrimp. i have 2 cleaners and 1 peppermint in the show tank, and 1 fire and 1 peppermint in my seahorse tank.

04/18/2007, 11:28 AM	#1
glenns Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 623	No more Aiptasia. Now what? A few months ago I introduced a Klein's butterfly into my Aiptasia infested reef tank. A few weeks went by and he did not touch them Then one day I noticed they were are all gone. It was like they are erraticated over-night. So, the question, is if I remove the butterfly, will they come back? I like him, but like many butterflys, he nips at corals. Specifically my Green Eye polyps. I would not mind it if he grazed on the brown button polyps. They are the only thing that out grew the Aiptasia. Glenn __________________ Glenn Current Tank Info: 90G w/20L Sump/Refugium, 6 T5 lights @54W ea., Reef Octopus EXT-PS-120, DSB/LR ,SPS, Derasa, GBTA, Zoo's, Fish, Inverts.

04/18/2007, 11:44 AM	#2
Reeses Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 606	You'll have to try it to see. Think about trying a peppermint shrimp, they usually do a good job and won't eat your corals. __________________ There are two systems at work in every tank. There's the system you created and the system IT created. Current Tank Info: Just left :0(

04/18/2007, 11:44 AM	#3
cardgenius Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 527	I would keep him just a little longer just to make sure they dont come back. Ive cleaned my tank of those guys many times and they always seem to come back. __________________ I'm no hero...never was. I'm just an old killer hired to do some wet work.

04/23/2007, 10:49 AM	#4
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	If you have another tank you can probably put him there and see if aptaisia comes back.

04/23/2007, 01:27 PM	#5
cyclops23 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, WI Posts: 613	i use peppermint shrimp. they do a very good job of keeping the aptasia away. very interesting to watch, too. it might not be your thing, but i really like shrimp. i have 2 cleaners and 1 peppermint in the show tank, and 1 fire and 1 peppermint in my seahorse tank.