Aptasia :( Help!

princesuhaib · 05/31/2009, 03:08 PM

I just looked into my tank and notice what seem to be 4 little corals or w/e they are of Aptasia. They seem to be 1/4 inch high if that.

They are on a rock where I have some corals on it so I d'ont want to take the rock out for a few days cause it will kill the other coral I have in my tank. Should I just cut them out with a Razzor blade? or buy a fish that can eat them or what is the best method that you have done or would do?

Thank You

Superstretch18 · 05/31/2009, 03:27 PM

Don't cut them off, as they will just regrow. If it were me, I'd just get a couple of peppermint shrimp and be done with it. You can also target kill them with a syringe and kalkwasser or boiling water. There are products like joe's juice that you can buy specifically for that purpose too. Take care of it now, before they get out of control...

gooyferret · 05/31/2009, 03:34 PM

I used Aiptasia X and seemed to work great no signs of them in a week! I had about 6 of them on 2 pieces of rock, and within a minute they were dead! Just make sure to follow the instructions and coat them really good. HTH

princesuhaib · 05/31/2009, 03:41 PM

The thing is i have a nice sized colony of corals around them and dont want to damage any of the corals. any suggestions?

princesuhaib · 05/31/2009, 04:34 PM

anyone?

princesuhaib · 05/31/2009, 07:12 PM

bump

Kdocimo90 · 05/31/2009, 07:18 PM

I tossed in 6 tiny tiny tiny peppermint shrimp (probably like .5" each) in my 210g tank that has ~150+ VISIBLE aptasia polyps (im sure there was a ton under the rocks). Within a week the aptasia was COMPLETELY gone. I havent seen 1 polyp for the year that I've had my tank.

Some say it is a hit or miss with peppermint shrimp, but that was the first time I tried them out and they worked like champs for me.

princesuhaib · 05/31/2009, 07:23 PM

hey i am going to the store tomorrow to by a few maybe 5, my tank is a 75gallon, but does the size of the peppermint shrimp have effect on how much they eat and how hungry they are and what not? or do smaller or larger shrimps do better job?

Kdocimo90 · 05/31/2009, 07:25 PM

I'm not sure. Stores usually have larger peppermint shrimp. I would try 2 or 3 peppermint for your 75g at first and see how that works out for you. Just dont over feed your tank, or the shrimp will most likely eat what you're feeding the fish and ignore the aptasia. If anything, underfeed just a bit.

princesuhaib · 05/31/2009, 07:33 PM

no worries i only have 2 fish in there anyway, a green chromis and a yellow tang

Kdocimo90 · 05/31/2009, 07:42 PM

ok well good luck.. keep us (me) posted

cnaegler · 05/31/2009, 07:46 PM

You also could pull out the rock, inject them with a kalkwasser paste from a needle, wait a few minute for it to kill the aiptasias, rinse off the spot with a little fresh water to remove any planula's and put the rock back in. I've done this and the few minutes the coral are out won't hurt them at all.

Kdocimo90 · 05/31/2009, 07:55 PM

well depending on how much aptasia you have.
If you only have very few aptasia polyps, manually removing them yourself is probably your best bet. But take a look around and underneath some rocks. If you see alot, then your best bet is probably peppermint shrimps

josephv · 05/31/2009, 08:01 PM

Aiptasia X works great

tonywong121 · 05/31/2009, 08:01 PM

I did have these things in my tank too but I read somewhere that inject them with concentrated lemon juice work wonders. So I did and it disappeared in seconds. Cheap and safe.

saltjohnswharf · 05/31/2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tonywong121
I did have these things in my tank too but I read somewhere that inject them with concentrated lemon juice work wonders. So I did and it disappeared in seconds. Cheap and safe.

Missing aiptasia does not mean dead aiptasia. They have an incredible ability to duck and cover.

ReeferChick85 · 05/31/2009, 11:06 PM

They do duck and cover quite well lol! I use Aptasia X and it works great on the brownish looking aptasias but i have this one that is some type of clear tube aptasia that pops out from under my sand bed and it won't die no matter how much i have used on it. Other than that it works great lol

Superstretch18 · 06/01/2009, 06:57 AM

If you do decide to get some peppermint shrimp, get the smallest one's that you can (unless you have fish that will eat them). Size is a fairly good indicator of age in any shrimp and because their natural lifespan is only a couple of years, larger shrimp are going to be closer to their natural demise.

FWIW, I've had peppermint shrimp in almost every tank I've ever owned and they do their job 90% of the time. Don't expect to see them very often though...

Superstretch18 · 06/01/2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReeferChick85
...i have this one that is some type of clear tube aptasia that pops out from under my sand bed and it won't die no matter how much i have used on it. Other than that it works great lol

This sounds almost like a cerianthus or tube anemone. They do look like aiptasia at times, but they get larger and do not proliferate in the tank like aiptasia. If it were me, I'd probably start feeding it, in the hopes that it will turn orange or purple!

Lightsluvr · 06/01/2009, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReeferChick85
They do duck and cover quite well lol! I use Aptasia X and it works great on the brownish looking aptasias but i have this one that is some type of clear tube aptasia that pops out from under my sand bed and it won't die no matter how much i have used on it. Other than that it works great lol

If you have an Aiptasia that is in the sandbed, you can usually suck them out, base and all, with a large turkey baster. I have a few of these in my tank, and they wind up as food for our Berghia Nudibranchs...

From several years experience, I have found that boiling water, lemon juice, kalk paste, Joe's Juice, and yes, even my favorite Aiptasia-X are only temporary solutions...the buggers always come back, and usually in greater numbers. That's why I bit the bullet sometime ago and started a colony of Berghia Nudibranchs. The Nudis eat the entire Aiptasia - not just the visible part (like Peppermint Shrimp). For more info - try an RC or online search.

JMHO.

Good luck.

LL

cnaegler · 06/01/2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lightsluvr
If you have an Aiptasia that is in the sandbed, you can usually suck them out, base and all, with a large turkey baster. I have a few of these in my tank, and they wind up as food for our Berghia Nudibranchs...

From several years experience, I have found that boiling water, lemon juice, kalk paste, Joe's Juice, and yes, even my favorite Aiptasia-X are only temporary solutions...the buggers always come back, and usually in greater numbers. That's why I bit the bullet sometime ago and started a colony of Berghia Nudibranchs. The Nudis eat the entire Aiptasia - not just the visible part (like Peppermint Shrimp). For more info - try an RC or online search.

JMHO.

Good luck.

me too. They just take forever to become established!

LL

runningnreefing · 06/01/2009, 08:24 AM

I also have aiptasia in my tank. I have three fire shrimps so am I able to put peppermint shrimps in without any problems.

ReeferChick85 · 06/01/2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Superstretch18
This sounds almost like a cerianthus or tube anemone. They do look like aiptasia at times, but they get larger and do not proliferate in the tank like aiptasia. If it were me, I'd probably start feeding it, in the hopes that it will turn orange or purple!

Yea i thought it could be some type of tube anenome as well but after all the researching and mulitple pictures i saw, i got confused on what it was so i just left it. I actually have used Apatsia X on it twice and it went straight in its mouth but a few days later I would see it pop back up at the same spot. It does not look like any of the other aptasias i have in my tank either so maybe it is a tube anenome of some sort. I have actually seen him catch some of the food when I feed my tank,does aptasia eat food as well? It never really bothered any of my corals so far on my sand bed but i would like to know what it is exactly. It has clear tips but near the mouth it has some orange and black and definitely has a white tube that is probably attached on the bottom of my tank. I'll try to get a pic of it. Thanks for the info

ReeferChick85 · 06/01/2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lightsluvr
If you have an Aiptasia that is in the sandbed, you can usually suck them out, base and all, with a large turkey baster. I have a few of these in my tank, and they wind up as food for our Berghia Nudibranchs...

Good luck.

LL

I have actually tried the turkey blaster method several times but it just retracts real fast in my sandbed and then it'll pop back up later. I'm starting to think this may be some type of tube anenome but i'll do more research on it. Thanks

Superstretch18 · 06/01/2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReeferChick85
... It has clear tips but near the mouth it has some orange and black and definitely has a white tube that is probably attached on the bottom of my tank. I'll try to get a pic of it. Thanks for the info

There are a bunch of pictures of cerianthus anemones if you follow this link. They are the first few pictures on the page:

http://www.diverosa.com/categories/Anemones.htm

From your description, it definitely sounds like what you have. They are strong stingers, so don't let them touch any corals on the substrate. They don't move or multiply though, so as long as nothing grows into them, they should be fine. Nice freebie if that's what it is!

05/31/2009, 03:08 PM	#1
princesuhaib Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wadsworth, Akron Area Posts: 618	Aptasia :( Help! I just looked into my tank and notice what seem to be 4 little corals or w/e they are of Aptasia. They seem to be 1/4 inch high if that. They are on a rock where I have some corals on it so I d'ont want to take the rock out for a few days cause it will kill the other coral I have in my tank. Should I just cut them out with a Razzor blade? or buy a fish that can eat them or what is the best method that you have done or would do? Thank You

05/31/2009, 03:27 PM	#2
Superstretch18 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 571	Don't cut them off, as they will just regrow. If it were me, I'd just get a couple of peppermint shrimp and be done with it. You can also target kill them with a syringe and kalkwasser or boiling water. There are products like joe's juice that you can buy specifically for that purpose too. Take care of it now, before they get out of control... __________________ -Shaun- ...like making a pen that works in space. Yes, you spent $1 billion NASA and got it to work, good job. But totally impractical when the Russians spent a few cents and simply used pencils... Current Tank Info: TBD

05/31/2009, 03:34 PM	#3
gooyferret Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MN Posts: 599	I used Aiptasia X and seemed to work great no signs of them in a week! I had about 6 of them on 2 pieces of rock, and within a minute they were dead! Just make sure to follow the instructions and coat them really good. HTH __________________ I smell something Fishy! Oops excuse me! Current Tank Info: 180gal Mixed Reef

05/31/2009, 07:18 PM	#7
Kdocimo90 Superior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 6,175	I tossed in 6 tiny tiny tiny peppermint shrimp (probably like .5" each) in my 210g tank that has ~150+ VISIBLE aptasia polyps (im sure there was a ton under the rocks). Within a week the aptasia was COMPLETELY gone. I havent seen 1 polyp for the year that I've had my tank. Some say it is a hit or miss with peppermint shrimp, but that was the first time I tried them out and they worked like champs for me. __________________ ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) VISIT MY HOME PAGE (¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸ ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) TO SEE MY 210G TANK (¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸ -Kevin Current Tank Info: 210 Gallon Softy/LPS Reef Tank

05/31/2009, 07:25 PM	#9
Kdocimo90 Superior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 6,175	I'm not sure. Stores usually have larger peppermint shrimp. I would try 2 or 3 peppermint for your 75g at first and see how that works out for you. Just dont over feed your tank, or the shrimp will most likely eat what you're feeding the fish and ignore the aptasia. If anything, underfeed just a bit. __________________ ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) VISIT MY HOME PAGE (¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸ ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) TO SEE MY 210G TANK (¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸ -Kevin Current Tank Info: 210 Gallon Softy/LPS Reef Tank

05/31/2009, 03:41 PM	#4
princesuhaib Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wadsworth, Akron Area Posts: 618	The thing is i have a nice sized colony of corals around them and dont want to damage any of the corals. any suggestions?

05/31/2009, 04:34 PM	#5
princesuhaib Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wadsworth, Akron Area Posts: 618	anyone?

05/31/2009, 07:12 PM	#6
princesuhaib Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wadsworth, Akron Area Posts: 618	bump

05/31/2009, 07:23 PM	#8
princesuhaib Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wadsworth, Akron Area Posts: 618	hey i am going to the store tomorrow to by a few maybe 5, my tank is a 75gallon, but does the size of the peppermint shrimp have effect on how much they eat and how hungry they are and what not? or do smaller or larger shrimps do better job?

05/31/2009, 07:33 PM	#10
princesuhaib Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wadsworth, Akron Area Posts: 618	no worries i only have 2 fish in there anyway, a green chromis and a yellow tang

05/31/2009, 07:42 PM	#11
Kdocimo90 Superior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 6,175	ok well good luck.. keep us (me) posted __________________ ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) VISIT MY HOME PAGE (¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸ ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) TO SEE MY 210G TANK (¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸ -Kevin Current Tank Info: 210 Gallon Softy/LPS Reef Tank

05/31/2009, 07:46 PM	#12
cnaegler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sylva, NC-Western North Carolina Posts: 960	You also could pull out the rock, inject them with a kalkwasser paste from a needle, wait a few minute for it to kill the aiptasias, rinse off the spot with a little fresh water to remove any planula's and put the rock back in. I've done this and the few minutes the coral are out won't hurt them at all. __________________ Craig _________________________ ATL "Superman" acro, Vivid's Rainbow Delight acro wanted You can want in one hand and crap in the other and see which one fills up first!! Save the reefs! Buy captive bred fish and aquacultured corals! Current Tank Info: Downsizing to a 120 BB SPS tank, 6205 &6305 Tunze on 7095 controller, Current USA extreme 8 x 54 fixture

05/31/2009, 07:55 PM	#13
Kdocimo90 Superior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 6,175	well depending on how much aptasia you have. If you only have very few aptasia polyps, manually removing them yourself is probably your best bet. But take a look around and underneath some rocks. If you see alot, then your best bet is probably peppermint shrimps __________________ ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) VISIT MY HOME PAGE (¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸ ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) TO SEE MY 210G TANK (¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸(¯´•.¸ -Kevin Current Tank Info: 210 Gallon Softy/LPS Reef Tank

05/31/2009, 08:01 PM	#14
josephv Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: wesley chapel fl Posts: 1,102	Aiptasia X works great

05/31/2009, 08:01 PM	#15
tonywong121 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5	I did have these things in my tank too but I read somewhere that inject them with concentrated lemon juice work wonders. So I did and it disappeared in seconds. Cheap and safe.

05/31/2009, 11:06 PM	#17
ReeferChick85 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 894	They do duck and cover quite well lol! I use Aptasia X and it works great on the brownish looking aptasias but i have this one that is some type of clear tube aptasia that pops out from under my sand bed and it won't die no matter how much i have used on it. Other than that it works great lol

06/01/2009, 06:57 AM	#18
Superstretch18 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 571	If you do decide to get some peppermint shrimp, get the smallest one's that you can (unless you have fish that will eat them). Size is a fairly good indicator of age in any shrimp and because their natural lifespan is only a couple of years, larger shrimp are going to be closer to their natural demise. FWIW, I've had peppermint shrimp in almost every tank I've ever owned and they do their job 90% of the time. Don't expect to see them very often though... __________________ -Shaun- ...like making a pen that works in space. Yes, you spent $1 billion NASA and got it to work, good job. But totally impractical when the Russians spent a few cents and simply used pencils... Current Tank Info: TBD

06/01/2009, 08:24 AM	#22
runningnreefing Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago (60626) Posts: 1,450	I also have aiptasia in my tank. I have three fire shrimps so am I able to put peppermint shrimps in without any problems.