do i have an option to kill aiptasia?

joshPensacola · 08/04/2013, 06:29 PM

My tank is 300 gallons and has maybe around 800lbs of live rock.
I had bought a large amount of high end corals from a friend and much of the rock and colonies have aiptasia on them. I did not have a large enough tank to qt everything and there was a lot so I just added it. I now have lots of aiptasia. Here are my options but not sire the route to take.

1. Cbb... but I have clams and lots of ornamental worms
2. Peppermint shrimp.... but they usually suck and I have a lot of better stuff for them to eat so I doubt they will help.
3. Expensive and dangerous laser... but it is expensive and dangerous.
4. Injections and kalk paste. They are pretty much a waste of time since my tank is so large. I can't reach many of the aiptasia in my tank.

Are there any other things I can try? I don't have many aiptasia but just enough to let things get out of control if I don't quell this now.

RAG_83 · 08/04/2013, 06:41 PM

I have had peppermint shrimp work for me but I have been told they need to be from Florida and at least 5 for a 120g tank

ddiomede · 08/04/2013, 06:52 PM

You could also look into berghia nudibranchs. They only feed on aiptasia, but once your tank is fully exterminated it would be best to sell or give them to someone else with the same problem, as they will die from lack of a food source.

Poseidons frags · 08/04/2013, 06:54 PM

copper banded butterfly!!!

malady · 08/04/2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddiomede

You could also look into berghia nudibranchs. They only feed on aiptasia, but once your tank is fully exterminated it would be best to sell or give them to someone else with the same problem, as they will die from lack of a food source.

this is what i am doing

only problem is it takes 3-4 months for them to lay eggs and start eating

so i am patiently waiting...

leveldrummer · 08/04/2013, 06:57 PM

i would try a coral banded butterfly, AND a few peppermint shrimp, AND attemp to kalk paste all the ones you can reach, a tank that large has a big posibilty of them hiding and spliting everywhere.

and how do you fit 800lbs of rock in a 300 gallon tank? its got to be really packed!

Jakef150 · 08/04/2013, 06:58 PM

If there is few, then Use pure lemon juice. It works for me. You might need repeat twice then It ll done

Dapg8gt · 08/04/2013, 06:59 PM

Totally agree nudibranches will do the trick and totally exterminate them from what I've read. Fish usually leave some behind to regrow and are more like maintenance .. I have a laser and while fun at first it can become a pain and they still keep popping up so again it's like maintenance( if you want that route I have a builder that gives great deals compared to what others charge) large ones take a few treatments FWIW.. If you have problems getting them by hand a laser won't be any better..

unreal45 · 08/04/2013, 08:07 PM

Matted filefish.

alan.reef · 08/04/2013, 08:21 PM

18 peppermint shrimp on my 65 aitapsia gone in 2 days

joshPensacola · 08/07/2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

and how do you fit 800lbs of rock in a 300 gallon tank? its got to be really packed!

Yes it is very very full. You can hardly see any of the sand. it looks like a slab of reef was cut off and had glass box it in.

ca1ore · 08/07/2013, 11:45 AM

In your original post you say there are lots of Aptasia, then further down not that many. Not trying to bust your chops, but I have found mechanical treatment (kalk, lemon juice, aptasia-x) works fine if there are just a few, but once you get a lot of them a biological solution is required. Peppermint shrimp never worked particularly well for me, and the nudibranch's just seem like a pain, so IMO you are left with a fish option. Matted filefish is a good option. Copperband can be touchy. Asfur angel worked for me for both aptasia and majanos, but will also eat any zooanthid it can find.

joshPensacola · 08/07/2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

In your original post you say there are lots of Aptasia, then further down not that many. Not trying to bust your chops, but I have found mechanical treatment (kalk, lemon juice, aptasia-x) works fine if there are just a few, but once you get a lot of them a biological solution is required. Peppermint shrimp never worked particularly well for me, and the nudibranch's just seem like a pain, so IMO you are left with a fish option. Matted filefish is a good option. Copperband can be touchy. Asfur angel worked for me for both aptasia and majanos, but will also eat any zooanthid it can find.

i can probably only see 10 or so, which isnt a lot. however, left unchecked it will be a lot. too few for a berghia and i would have to hope it could find all my aiptasia before it starved. i use vinegar injection on ones i can reach. but i cant reach them all and the ones at the bottom of my tank and up under rocks are out of reach. i will post a picture in a minute

joshPensacola · 08/07/2013, 12:23 PM

in the blurry photo you can see an aiptasia center right... its huge but i cant get to it. those are the ones i am concerned with, i am afraid that i will always be dealing with aiptasia unless i can kill the ones like these.

08/04/2013, 06:29 PM	#1
joshPensacola Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 164	do i have an option to kill aiptasia? My tank is 300 gallons and has maybe around 800lbs of live rock. I had bought a large amount of high end corals from a friend and much of the rock and colonies have aiptasia on them. I did not have a large enough tank to qt everything and there was a lot so I just added it. I now have lots of aiptasia. Here are my options but not sire the route to take. 1. Cbb... but I have clams and lots of ornamental worms 2. Peppermint shrimp.... but they usually suck and I have a lot of better stuff for them to eat so I doubt they will help. 3. Expensive and dangerous laser... but it is expensive and dangerous. 4. Injections and kalk paste. They are pretty much a waste of time since my tank is so large. I can't reach many of the aiptasia in my tank. Are there any other things I can try? I don't have many aiptasia but just enough to let things get out of control if I don't quell this now.

08/04/2013, 06:58 PM	#7
Jakef150 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York - Suffolk Posts: 1,538	If there is few, then Use pure lemon juice. It works for me. You might need repeat twice then It ll done __________________ Biocube 29, AI SOL blue, Tunze 9002 skimmer, MP 10

08/04/2013, 06:59 PM	#8
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	Totally agree nudibranches will do the trick and totally exterminate them from what I've read. Fish usually leave some behind to regrow and are more like maintenance .. I have a laser and while fun at first it can become a pain and they still keep popping up so again it's like maintenance( if you want that route I have a builder that gives great deals compared to what others charge) large ones take a few treatments FWIW.. If you have problems getting them by hand a laser won't be any better.. __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =).

08/04/2013, 06:41 PM	#2
RAG_83 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 49	I have had peppermint shrimp work for me but I have been told they need to be from Florida and at least 5 for a 120g tank

08/04/2013, 06:52 PM	#3
ddiomede Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 32	You could also look into berghia nudibranchs. They only feed on aiptasia, but once your tank is fully exterminated it would be best to sell or give them to someone else with the same problem, as they will die from lack of a food source.

08/04/2013, 06:54 PM	#4
Poseidons frags Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: south of pittsburgh pa Posts: 57	copper banded butterfly!!!

08/04/2013, 06:57 PM	#6
leveldrummer Reefer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,831	i would try a coral banded butterfly, AND a few peppermint shrimp, AND attemp to kalk paste all the ones you can reach, a tank that large has a big posibilty of them hiding and spliting everywhere. and how do you fit 800lbs of rock in a 300 gallon tank? its got to be really packed!

08/04/2013, 08:07 PM	#9
unreal45 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 44	Matted filefish.

08/04/2013, 08:21 PM	#10
alan.reef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: new york Posts: 114	18 peppermint shrimp on my 65 aitapsia gone in 2 days

08/07/2013, 11:45 AM	#12
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	In your original post you say there are lots of Aptasia, then further down not that many. Not trying to bust your chops, but I have found mechanical treatment (kalk, lemon juice, aptasia-x) works fine if there are just a few, but once you get a lot of them a biological solution is required. Peppermint shrimp never worked particularly well for me, and the nudibranch's just seem like a pain, so IMO you are left with a fish option. Matted filefish is a good option. Copperband can be touchy. Asfur angel worked for me for both aptasia and majanos, but will also eat any zooanthid it can find.