aiptasia

kevinohio · 09/04/2007, 08:35 PM

I was hoping I would not get them, but saw and intected 4 today with a cacium hydroxide solution. they meltrf away, i just hope i killed thee whole thing.
Do these things pretty much get into every tank? I have heard of so many people getting them.
Any other ways to comabt them othr than the injection method?

I assume its not the end of thw world, that you jusy have to stay on top of it?

11bravo · 09/04/2007, 08:43 PM

I got them in my tank also, ive been doing research on them and they say berghia nudibranches take them out safely and effectively, but I havent tried them yet.

cd77 · 09/04/2007, 08:56 PM

There must be a dozen open threads regarding Aiptasia:

They're usually natural LR hitchhikers. Do not try to manually remove it -- even if you could get the little guy, you risk spreading it even more.

Here are some other pics for you to reference:

And here is (a re-compiled) list of possible cures for it from my own research fighting this nuisance anemone:

There are a number of things people suggest -- some work, some don't. Concentrated Lemon Juice did the trick for me (so far).

1. Get a Copperband Butterfly. I wouldn't do this unless I had a serious breakout of aiptasia, and my tank was prepared for it. I've heard this fish can be difficult to maintain when the aiptasia is depleted.

2. Peppermint Shrimp. [Live Aquaria Link] From what I've read, for the most part they are reef friendly (I keep scarlet skunks and don't want to risk mixing them so I did not try this method) but I have heard of them eating feather dusters and even crabs.

3. Some people have claimed success with red legged crabs -- though this didn't work for me.

4. Concentrated Kalk paste mixture. Search through the forums for 'aiptasia' -- a lot of people have had success with this.

5. Berghia Verrucicornis Nudibranch. This place will have them in later this month. Again, I've read from some people that they'll die off when your aiptasia is gone unless special care is taken to feed them.

6. Concentrated Lemon Juice. Google this, or search the forums (I've posted about it elsewhere) This (so far) seems to have worked for me.

7. My LFS swears by Joe's Juice - http://www.joesjuice.com/

Try #6, and/or #7 first IMO-- after that you may have to get one (or more) of the natural predators I've listed.

kcw1099 · 09/04/2007, 09:04 PM

They are a extremely common problem in a reef tank.I think everyone who has had a reef tank a one time or another has gotten some.The berghia nudibranches do remove them. The only problem with them is that they are hard to find and once they eat all the aiptasia in the tank they will usually starve to death. Copperband butterflys will sometimes eat them also. The easiest way to deal with them is to just inject them with the solution whenever you notice them and that kills them right on the spot. There are a few different products now that will safely remove them. I have used Joes Juice as well as the one by tropic marine and they both work great.

kuoka · 09/04/2007, 09:19 PM

Every tank is fair game for aiptasia unfortunately. Keep going what you're doing and you'll be fine. I have a couple of pep shrimps and I zap any I see with kalk solution. They will multiply so it's important to keep up on them. Good luck.

jasonh · 09/04/2007, 10:19 PM

I got some (two that I can see) on my first piece of LR, ever. I've just tried the lemon juice tonight, but I didn't have a syringe. I used a pipette and squirted at their mouths (heard it works too). We'll see tomorrow if it worked or not.

kuoka · 09/04/2007, 10:24 PM

Good luck jasonh... I tried using the pipette method at first but all it did was cause them to shrivel up and then come back later. I used a pretty diluted kalk solution though - a stronger dose of kalk (like the consistency of a paste) might work. Anyway I ended up investing in a $3 syringe and inject the base of them.

Lotus99 · 09/04/2007, 10:26 PM

Also, it's a good idea to quarantine or examine very thoroughly any corals you get. I found a couple on a zoanthid rock I bought. Luckily, I had quarantined the corals, and they were easy to deal with.

kuoka · 09/04/2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lotus99
Also, it's a good idea to quarantine or examine very thoroughly any corals you get. I found a couple on a zoanthid rock I bought. Luckily, I had quarantined the corals, and they were easy to deal with.

Good point! I found a hitchhiker on one of my corals too.

09/04/2007, 08:35 PM	#1
kevinohio Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: mayfield ohio Posts: 514	aiptasia I was hoping I would not get them, but saw and intected 4 today with a cacium hydroxide solution. they meltrf away, i just hope i killed thee whole thing. Do these things pretty much get into every tank? I have heard of so many people getting them. Any other ways to comabt them othr than the injection method? I assume its not the end of thw world, that you jusy have to stay on top of it? __________________ kevin Current Tank Info: 75 gallon FOWLR

09/04/2007, 08:56 PM	#3
cd77 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fishers, IN, USA Posts: 1,169	There must be a dozen open threads regarding Aiptasia: They're usually natural LR hitchhikers. Do not try to manually remove it -- even if you could get the little guy, you risk spreading it even more. Here are some other pics for you to reference: And here is (a re-compiled) list of possible cures for it from my own research fighting this nuisance anemone: There are a number of things people suggest -- some work, some don't. Concentrated Lemon Juice did the trick for me (so far). 1. Get a Copperband Butterfly. I wouldn't do this unless I had a serious breakout of aiptasia, and my tank was prepared for it. I've heard this fish can be difficult to maintain when the aiptasia is depleted. 2. Peppermint Shrimp. [Live Aquaria Link] From what I've read, for the most part they are reef friendly (I keep scarlet skunks and don't want to risk mixing them so I did not try this method) but I have heard of them eating feather dusters and even crabs. 3. Some people have claimed success with red legged crabs -- though this didn't work for me. 4. Concentrated Kalk paste mixture. Search through the forums for 'aiptasia' -- a lot of people have had success with this. 5. Berghia Verrucicornis Nudibranch. This place will have them in later this month. Again, I've read from some people that they'll die off when your aiptasia is gone unless special care is taken to feed them. 6. Concentrated Lemon Juice. Google this, or search the forums (I've posted about it elsewhere) This (so far) seems to have worked for me. 7. My LFS swears by Joe's Juice - http://www.joesjuice.com/ Try #6, and/or #7 first IMO-- after that you may have to get one (or more) of the natural predators I've listed. __________________ -Chris Current Tank Info: 70G Reef (Aug 2007), 45G Reef (Dec 2007)

09/04/2007, 09:19 PM	#5
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	Every tank is fair game for aiptasia unfortunately. Keep going what you're doing and you'll be fine. I have a couple of pep shrimps and I zap any I see with kalk solution. They will multiply so it's important to keep up on them. Good luck. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

09/04/2007, 10:26 PM	#8
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	Also, it's a good idea to quarantine or examine very thoroughly any corals you get. I found a couple on a zoanthid rock I bought. Luckily, I had quarantined the corals, and they were easy to deal with. __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

09/04/2007, 08:43 PM	#2
11bravo Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Greenville,S.C Posts: 29	I got them in my tank also, ive been doing research on them and they say berghia nudibranches take them out safely and effectively, but I havent tried them yet.

09/04/2007, 09:04 PM	#4
kcw1099 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: branford , ct. Posts: 60	They are a extremely common problem in a reef tank.I think everyone who has had a reef tank a one time or another has gotten some.The berghia nudibranches do remove them. The only problem with them is that they are hard to find and once they eat all the aiptasia in the tank they will usually starve to death. Copperband butterflys will sometimes eat them also. The easiest way to deal with them is to just inject them with the solution whenever you notice them and that kills them right on the spot. There are a few different products now that will safely remove them. I have used Joes Juice as well as the one by tropic marine and they both work great.

09/04/2007, 10:19 PM	#6
jasonh Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,365	I got some (two that I can see) on my first piece of LR, ever. I've just tried the lemon juice tonight, but I didn't have a syringe. I used a pipette and squirted at their mouths (heard it works too). We'll see tomorrow if it worked or not. __________________ Jason http://www.jasonhight.net Current Tank Info: Nothing right now. When I stop being poor, I'll set up another.

09/04/2007, 10:24 PM	#7
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	Good luck jasonh... I tried using the pipette method at first but all it did was cause them to shrivel up and then come back later. I used a pretty diluted kalk solution though - a stronger dose of kalk (like the consistency of a paste) might work. Anyway I ended up investing in a $3 syringe and inject the base of them. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse