Should I boil rocks?

drillsar · 10/05/2010, 12:12 PM

I have a couple of rocks that have AIptasia on them, can I boil these rocks to kill them? If I do boil the rock, will the rock come back to life? I have about 30lbs of rock, and I see about 3 rocks with aiptasia on them.

I tried about everthing to get rid of aiptasia.

only thing I didnt try was to use a syringe and inject drano into it's root instead of the mouth.

despot101 · 10/05/2010, 12:15 PM

That seems like overkill to me. What methods have you already tried?

stingythingy45 · 10/05/2010, 12:15 PM

Drano?

Have you tried Joes Juice?
Kalkwasser paste?(Mrs Wages pickling lime and water)

jaxspsreef · 10/05/2010, 12:30 PM

To get rid of aiptasia try getting some peppermint shrimp. Or you can also try boiling water and applying it directly to aiptasia with a syringe. If you boil rocks it will come back to life if reseeded, but I would boil rocks as a last resort.

Nanz · 10/05/2010, 12:38 PM

QT the rock in a small tank and inject the aiptasia with a mixture of Kalk+ Hot water. Leave the rock in the QT for a week and monitor the aiptasia.

aleonn · 10/05/2010, 01:15 PM

I use Aiptasia-X and it's great.

duramax · 10/05/2010, 03:15 PM

go with peppermint shrimp

drillsar · 10/05/2010, 04:44 PM

I will try to QT rocks to see what happens, Lights on are off?

todd141 · 10/05/2010, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonn

I use Aiptasia-X and it's great.

Me too.....it's taken a few bottles, but the stuff works.

drillsar · 10/05/2010, 04:58 PM

I tried Aiptasia-X it seemed to work but about a week later it got worse.

despot101 · 10/05/2010, 05:14 PM

Have you tried peppermint shrimp?

lordofthereef · 10/05/2010, 05:27 PM

I had really REALLY good luck just taking the rocks that I had with aiptasia (someone practically gave them away) and setting them in a circulating saltwater tub. I would look every day for where the pop out and just break that piece of rock off. Wire snippers were enough to do this (if it is natural rock is is all calcium carbonate and super soft). I did this on about 60 pounds of rock over a 3 day period, removing about 15-20 individuals. No aiptasia for me.

I am sure someone will say this isn't a sure fire way, and I could missed some. And I couldn't agree more! But visually removing what I am sure was the vast majority from the getgo sure didn't hurt! Adding in a natural predator (like a peppermint shrimp) is also a solid option after the fact.

lordofthereef · 10/05/2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drillsar

I will try to QT rocks to see what happens, Lights on are off?

won't matter (regarding the lighting)

JoeRonda · 10/05/2010, 05:28 PM

That aptasia X is too expensive $18 in LFS, $12 online, just buy Pepermint Shrimp and be done with it. Then when the aptasia is gone you still have a little scavenger that only cost $9.99

JoeRonda · 10/05/2010, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

I had really REALLY good luck just taking the rocks that I had with aiptasia (someone practically gave them away) and setting them in a circulating saltwater tub. I would look every day for where the pop out and just break that piece of rock off. Wire snippers were enough to do this (if it is natural rock is is all calcium carbonate and super soft). I did this on about 60 pounds of rock over a 3 day period, removing about 15-20 individuals. No aiptasia for me.

I am sure someone will say this isn't a sure fire way, and I could missed some. And I couldn't agree more! But visually removing what I am sure was the vast majority from the getgo sure didn't hurt! Adding in a natural predator (like a peppermint shrimp) is also a solid option after the fact.

Why would you waste some rock like this, aptasia isn't all that is it? Seems a little drastic, breaking off bits of LR.

drillsar · 10/05/2010, 05:37 PM

no i havent

drillsar · 10/05/2010, 05:38 PM

how many peppermints for a 29 gal?

JoeRonda · 10/05/2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drillsar

how many peppermints for a 29 gal?

Just one. He will take care of your aptasia, trust me.

DVA · 10/05/2010, 10:57 PM

Peppermint shrimp are the way to go. I will say that if the aptasia are too big the peppermint shrimp may not eat them. In this situation I usually try and cut them off or apart, be aware this will cause the aptasia to spread and you can end up with aptasia everywhere without the peppermint shrimp. Peppermint shrimp in general are great cleaners and scavengers.

As for Aptasia X, this is basically Kalkwasser powder mixed into a paste, which is much cheaper. Mix the Kalkwasser, a teaspoonful, with some of your tank water into a thick paste, the past should clump together and form a drop when released with a pipette underwater. Turn off your filters, use the pipette and squeeze the paste directly onto the center of the aptasia, being extremely careful not to get any on your corals. This will kill the aptasia instantly. NOTE that using this method will increase the temperature and PH of the water significantly in the surrounding area. So when using this method be careful not to over do it, and siphon the remaining paste and aptasia leftovers out as soon as possible.

crvz · 10/06/2010, 09:31 AM

adding a true peppermint shrimp to the tank is certainly the easiest solution, and if you havent tried it yet I'd say start there. Much less cost and overhead than any of the other ideas you're considering.

10/05/2010, 12:12 PM	#1
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	Should I boil rocks? I have a couple of rocks that have AIptasia on them, can I boil these rocks to kill them? If I do boil the rock, will the rock come back to life? I have about 30lbs of rock, and I see about 3 rocks with aiptasia on them. I tried about everthing to get rid of aiptasia. only thing I didnt try was to use a syringe and inject drano into it's root instead of the mouth.

10/05/2010, 12:15 PM	#2
despot101 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 1,937	That seems like overkill to me. What methods have you already tried? __________________ And the bottom line In all of this seems to say There's no right and wrong way Current Tank Info: 55g, 20L, 29g

10/05/2010, 12:15 PM	#3
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Drano? Have you tried Joes Juice? Kalkwasser paste?(Mrs Wages pickling lime and water) __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

10/05/2010, 12:30 PM	#4
jaxspsreef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville FL. Posts: 156	To get rid of aiptasia try getting some peppermint shrimp. Or you can also try boiling water and applying it directly to aiptasia with a syringe. If you boil rocks it will come back to life if reseeded, but I would boil rocks as a last resort. __________________ "Money won't make you happy... but everybody wants to find out for themselves". Zig Ziglar Current Tank Info: 210 gallon build on the way!!!

10/05/2010, 12:38 PM	#5
Nanz Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,389	QT the rock in a small tank and inject the aiptasia with a mixture of Kalk+ Hot water. Leave the rock in the QT for a week and monitor the aiptasia. __________________ S.G. = 1.025, Temp = 78.5, pH = 8.00 Ca = 550 ppm, Alk = 176 ppm (9.85 dKH), Mg = 1300 ppm NO3 = 0.97 ppm, PO4 = 0.07 ppm Nuvo 30, Razor Nano LED, Tunze ATO, Tunze 9004 skimmer, Vortec mp10,

10/05/2010, 01:15 PM	#6
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	I use Aiptasia-X and it's great.

10/05/2010, 03:15 PM	#7
duramax Moved On Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: florida Posts: 49	go with peppermint shrimp

10/05/2010, 04:44 PM	#8
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	I will try to QT rocks to see what happens, Lights on are off?

10/05/2010, 04:58 PM	#10
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	I tried Aiptasia-X it seemed to work but about a week later it got worse.

10/05/2010, 05:14 PM	#11
despot101 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 1,937	Have you tried peppermint shrimp? __________________ And the bottom line In all of this seems to say There's no right and wrong way Current Tank Info: 55g, 20L, 29g

10/05/2010, 05:27 PM	#12
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	I had really REALLY good luck just taking the rocks that I had with aiptasia (someone practically gave them away) and setting them in a circulating saltwater tub. I would look every day for where the pop out and just break that piece of rock off. Wire snippers were enough to do this (if it is natural rock is is all calcium carbonate and super soft). I did this on about 60 pounds of rock over a 3 day period, removing about 15-20 individuals. No aiptasia for me. I am sure someone will say this isn't a sure fire way, and I could missed some. And I couldn't agree more! But visually removing what I am sure was the vast majority from the getgo sure didn't hurt! Adding in a natural predator (like a peppermint shrimp) is also a solid option after the fact. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/05/2010, 05:28 PM	#14
JoeRonda Made in the U.S.A. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington,PA Posts: 694	That aptasia X is too expensive $18 in LFS, $12 online, just buy Pepermint Shrimp and be done with it. Then when the aptasia is gone you still have a little scavenger that only cost $9.99

10/05/2010, 05:37 PM	#16
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	no i havent

10/05/2010, 05:38 PM	#17
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	how many peppermints for a 29 gal?

10/05/2010, 10:57 PM	#19
DVA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Torrance, California Posts: 83	Peppermint shrimp are the way to go. I will say that if the aptasia are too big the peppermint shrimp may not eat them. In this situation I usually try and cut them off or apart, be aware this will cause the aptasia to spread and you can end up with aptasia everywhere without the peppermint shrimp. Peppermint shrimp in general are great cleaners and scavengers. As for Aptasia X, this is basically Kalkwasser powder mixed into a paste, which is much cheaper. Mix the Kalkwasser, a teaspoonful, with some of your tank water into a thick paste, the past should clump together and form a drop when released with a pipette underwater. Turn off your filters, use the pipette and squeeze the paste directly onto the center of the aptasia, being extremely careful not to get any on your corals. This will kill the aptasia instantly. NOTE that using this method will increase the temperature and PH of the water significantly in the surrounding area. So when using this method be careful not to over do it, and siphon the remaining paste and aptasia leftovers out as soon as possible.

10/06/2010, 09:31 AM	#20
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	adding a true peppermint shrimp to the tank is certainly the easiest solution, and if you havent tried it yet I'd say start there. Much less cost and overhead than any of the other ideas you're considering. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

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