aiptasia is taking over my tank

coryhupfer · 11/30/2014, 09:37 PM

so ive had a pretty bad aiptasia infestation and i have been using aiptasia x and some other products you squirt directly onto them and it works but there is just so much.I've heard Berghia Nudibranchs can help and will eat them or something but i have a frogfish and i was wondering if he would eat the nudibranchs just wanted to see if anyone knew before i buy them because they aren't that cheap

HirshE · 11/30/2014, 09:51 PM

I tried the nudibranchs after reading about others success with them. I put 8 in a 46 gallon tank and never saw them again. I patiently waited several months and the aiptasia problem only increased. Afterwards I tried peppermint shrimp with no luck. Aiptasia X also didn't work. Finally a tried kalkvasser. The aiptasia problem is now under control.

coryhupfer · 11/30/2014, 09:53 PM

alright i will have to look into that thanks for your input

MBK · 11/30/2014, 10:21 PM

I am not sure a frog fish would eat nudibranchs (depending on the size of the frog fish I guess). I think you have to worry more about things that "hunt" the rocks (dragonetes, wrasses, peppermint shrimp). The nudibranchs are nocturnal as well. I injected aiptasia with NaOH and it seemed to kill them but then my tank exploded with hundreds of little anemones. Berghia worked for me.

Sk8r · 11/30/2014, 10:37 PM

I'd say look more to either your rock composition (is it limestone?) or something else---and your water chemistry. When you have a big 'bloom' of one species, there's usually a surfeit of food for it.

The best remediation for aiptasia I've found, and never had a problem with is peppermint shrimp. Usually one in five will take to eating them, if you get the juvies, and one pep can patrol a 100 gallon tank.

Crusinjimbo · 12/01/2014, 05:18 AM

Berghias worked for me. Bought 5 (got 6) via Internet seller. It took about 2 months before there was a noticeable reduction in their mass. In another month or so they, and the Nudis where undetectable and I had hundreds and hundreds when the Nudis were inserted. Been almost a year, none have reappeared.

ghostman · 12/01/2014, 12:14 PM

Berghia never worked for me, they disappeared, and likely became an expensive meal for my fish. Peppermint shrimp worked, until I got some wrasses that ate them. My best bet was the matted filefish. It ate all my aiptasia and still was a model citizen, didn't even go after zoos. If the aiptasia are big, I Kalk them.

killinit123 · 12/01/2014, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBK

I am not sure a frog fish would eat nudibranchs (depending on the size of the frog fish I guess). I think you have to worry more about things that "hunt" the rocks (dragonetes, wrasses, peppermint shrimp). The nudibranchs are nocturnal as well. I injected aiptasia with NaOH and it seemed to kill them but then my tank exploded with hundreds of little anemones. Berghia worked for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusinjimbo

Berghias worked for me. Bought 5 (got 6) via Internet seller. It took about 2 months before there was a noticeable reduction in their mass. In another month or so they, and the Nudis where undetectable and I had hundreds and hundreds when the Nudis were inserted. Been almost a year, none have reappeared.

i also have a aptasia problem and have tried everything except berghia. I have done quite the research on them and they have very mixed reviews. my question is did you have to culture (breed) them in order to sustain a population of them or did you just simply put them in your tanks and let them do their thing? thanks in advance

coryhupfer · 12/01/2014, 05:32 PM

well i think im gonna try getting some big peppermint shrimp and hope my frogfish doesn't eat them.if he does i can try some berghias the aiptasia spot treatment removal has been thinning it out but i know it would be a lot of work doing it all by hand over time.thanks for the help still have to look into this kalkvasser too this could be a possible solution

Mark Bianco · 12/01/2014, 05:55 PM

I had a bad infestation in my frag tank I put in 3 peppermint shrimp and one file fish I have never seen any of them but all my aptasia is gone

mcgyvr · 12/01/2014, 06:39 PM

yep either filefish or pep shrimp..
I couldn't do pep shrimp as my diamond goby eats them instantly but the filefish I added took care of all of them.. I easily had 100+ aiptasia and it took him about 2 weeks.. I didn't notice anything the first week then bam... gone

coryhupfer · 12/01/2014, 11:14 PM

is there a certain type of filefish i have to get that will eat the aiptasia or can i get anykind? probably will go with this route thanks

btucker7587 · 12/02/2014, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

I'd say look more to either your rock composition (is it limestone?) or something else---and your water chemistry. When you have a big 'bloom' of one species, there's usually a surfeit of food for it.

The best remediation for aiptasia I've found, and never had a problem with is peppermint shrimp. Usually one in five will take to eating them, if you get the juvies, and one pep can patrol a 100 gallon tank.

My peppermint Shrimp always seem to disappear...quite literally. They just vanish and I never found them, even when I broke the tank down.

I didn't have anything that would have eaten them (Purple Dottie, Clown, Blue Devil, Blood Shrimp, Skunk Cleaner, Chromis) but they were gone. I chalked it up to a Bermuda-like scenario and figured they got taken by aliens.

btucker7587 · 12/02/2014, 12:38 AM

It posted twice...so deleted this one and here is an emoticon...

mcgyvr · 12/02/2014, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coryhupfer

is there a certain type of filefish i have to get that will eat the aiptasia or can i get anykind? probably will go with this route thanks

matted filefish aka aiptasia eating filefish

Crusinjimbo · 12/02/2014, 06:20 AM

I drip acclimated and sent the Berghias into the foray where they went totally stealth. One would occasionally wonder up on the glass at night and they are kinda cool to watch but mine were way to small to locate. Did the job though. There was not a single rock not covered with Aptasia at the start. I think the Filefish might be a more economical longer term solution. They live on.

phillrodrigo · 12/02/2014, 04:56 PM

I was given 2 berghia from a fellow reefer. Just those 2 made a huge dent in my aptasia. I thought they were dead one day I noticed the population was going down then I seen both of them alive. I'm pretty sure both died some how. My population of aptasia is coming back. I kalk paste some. Not sure why but it's coming back fast

coryhupfer · 12/02/2014, 10:49 PM

Well I plan on going to my lfs and getting a filefish tomorrow because I believe I saw one the the other day and if that doesn't work I'll buy a few berghias I need to get rid of all these things

coryhupfer · 12/02/2014, 10:50 PM

Thanks for all the input

Kentech5 · 12/02/2014, 11:43 PM

A few have fried the aiptasia with a strong laser. I have a friend who tried Berghia. He didn't see them again for a couple months. Then one day he looked in and all his aiptasia were gone. He then noticed that he was seeing more Berghia than he originally put in. So for him it worked well. I have read that you need a moderate to heavy aiptasia infestation for the Berghia to work.

johnike · 12/03/2014, 05:49 AM

I put a Kleini Butterfly in for a few months, wiped out every single Aiptasia and Majano.
Then traded him in.

CuzzA · 12/03/2014, 06:01 AM

One suggestion that is hardly mentioned and not in the instructions for Aptasia X is after treating the anemone you need to siphon that area from the tank or suck it up with a baster. Remove the anemone and any remaining product. This will help to stop the spread. Also you'll likely have better success if you inject the mouth with a hypodermic needle. Actually penetrate the anemones tissue.

mluntz · 12/03/2014, 09:56 AM

When I see an occasional aptasia, I just inject it with lemon juice in a syringe. Works like a charm!

Ztrain · 12/03/2014, 02:13 PM

The day after I got my first piece of live rock I noticed a little purplish tentacle thing reaching for the light out from under my live rock. I took the rock out of the water and took it off with a pair of pliers and paper towel. A week later it had already grown back. So pulled the rock out again and took a grill lighter too it. Knocking on wood I haven't seen it back or anywhere else in the tank. It would seem grill starter is greater then aptasia.

GilliganReef · 12/03/2014, 02:28 PM

I had an issue with aptasia, I tried all the injection things, aptasia x, lemon juice you name it nothing worked. I purchased 3 peppermint shrimp even though my LFS said it wouldn’t work. Now month later I see none in my tank. Even the large ones are gone.

11/30/2014, 09:37 PM	#1
coryhupfer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 79	aiptasia is taking over my tank so ive had a pretty bad aiptasia infestation and i have been using aiptasia x and some other products you squirt directly onto them and it works but there is just so much.I've heard Berghia Nudibranchs can help and will eat them or something but i have a frogfish and i was wondering if he would eat the nudibranchs just wanted to see if anyone knew before i buy them because they aren't that cheap

11/30/2014, 10:37 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I'd say look more to either your rock composition (is it limestone?) or something else---and your water chemistry. When you have a big 'bloom' of one species, there's usually a surfeit of food for it. The best remediation for aiptasia I've found, and never had a problem with is peppermint shrimp. Usually one in five will take to eating them, if you get the juvies, and one pep can patrol a 100 gallon tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/01/2014, 05:18 AM	#6
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	Berghias worked for me. Bought 5 (got 6) via Internet seller. It took about 2 months before there was a noticeable reduction in their mass. In another month or so they, and the Nudis where undetectable and I had hundreds and hundreds when the Nudis were inserted. Been almost a year, none have reappeared. __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

12/01/2014, 12:14 PM	#7
ghostman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Spring Hill, Florida Posts: 1,629	Berghia never worked for me, they disappeared, and likely became an expensive meal for my fish. Peppermint shrimp worked, until I got some wrasses that ate them. My best bet was the matted filefish. It ate all my aiptasia and still was a model citizen, didn't even go after zoos. If the aiptasia are big, I Kalk them. __________________ When you die, you don't know you're dead. It's only difficult for the people around you. It's the same when you're stupid. Current Tank Info: 40IM Fusion, 40lbs of rock, and 20lbs of sand. Just a few fish and corals....for now.

12/02/2014, 12:38 AM	#14
btucker7587 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 305	It posted twice...so deleted this one and here is an emoticon... __________________ Building a new one. 150g Reef Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon (60x24x24) Acrylic Reef Tank. Apex Controller, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer, Reefbreeder 48” LED Lights, 2x Jebao RW 15 Power heads, 2x 300w Heater (Kotobuku), 70 Gallon DIY sump, Jebao UV sterilizer, GFO and Carbon reactors

11/30/2014, 09:51 PM	#2
HirshE Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 24	I tried the nudibranchs after reading about others success with them. I put 8 in a 46 gallon tank and never saw them again. I patiently waited several months and the aiptasia problem only increased. Afterwards I tried peppermint shrimp with no luck. Aiptasia X also didn't work. Finally a tried kalkvasser. The aiptasia problem is now under control.

11/30/2014, 09:53 PM	#3
coryhupfer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 79	alright i will have to look into that thanks for your input

11/30/2014, 10:21 PM	#4
MBK Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: south OC Posts: 55	I am not sure a frog fish would eat nudibranchs (depending on the size of the frog fish I guess). I think you have to worry more about things that "hunt" the rocks (dragonetes, wrasses, peppermint shrimp). The nudibranchs are nocturnal as well. I injected aiptasia with NaOH and it seemed to kill them but then my tank exploded with hundreds of little anemones. Berghia worked for me.

12/01/2014, 05:32 PM	#9
coryhupfer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 79	well i think im gonna try getting some big peppermint shrimp and hope my frogfish doesn't eat them.if he does i can try some berghias the aiptasia spot treatment removal has been thinning it out but i know it would be a lot of work doing it all by hand over time.thanks for the help still have to look into this kalkvasser too this could be a possible solution

12/01/2014, 05:55 PM	#10
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	I had a bad infestation in my frag tank I put in 3 peppermint shrimp and one file fish I have never seen any of them but all my aptasia is gone

12/01/2014, 06:39 PM	#11
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	yep either filefish or pep shrimp.. I couldn't do pep shrimp as my diamond goby eats them instantly but the filefish I added took care of all of them.. I easily had 100+ aiptasia and it took him about 2 weeks.. I didn't notice anything the first week then bam... gone

12/01/2014, 11:14 PM	#12
coryhupfer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 79	is there a certain type of filefish i have to get that will eat the aiptasia or can i get anykind? probably will go with this route thanks

12/02/2014, 06:20 AM	#16
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	I drip acclimated and sent the Berghias into the foray where they went totally stealth. One would occasionally wonder up on the glass at night and they are kinda cool to watch but mine were way to small to locate. Did the job though. There was not a single rock not covered with Aptasia at the start. I think the Filefish might be a more economical longer term solution. They live on. __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

12/02/2014, 04:56 PM	#17
phillrodrigo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: quaker hill ct Posts: 2,433	I was given 2 berghia from a fellow reefer. Just those 2 made a huge dent in my aptasia. I thought they were dead one day I noticed the population was going down then I seen both of them alive. I'm pretty sure both died some how. My population of aptasia is coming back. I kalk paste some. Not sure why but it's coming back fast

12/02/2014, 10:49 PM	#18
coryhupfer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 79	Well I plan on going to my lfs and getting a filefish tomorrow because I believe I saw one the the other day and if that doesn't work I'll buy a few berghias I need to get rid of all these things

12/02/2014, 10:50 PM	#19
coryhupfer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 79	Thanks for all the input

12/02/2014, 11:43 PM	#20
Kentech5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Hudson Falls, NY Posts: 368	A few have fried the aiptasia with a strong laser. I have a friend who tried Berghia. He didn't see them again for a couple months. Then one day he looked in and all his aiptasia were gone. He then noticed that he was seeing more Berghia than he originally put in. So for him it worked well. I have read that you need a moderate to heavy aiptasia infestation for the Berghia to work.

12/03/2014, 05:49 AM	#21
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	I put a Kleini Butterfly in for a few months, wiped out every single Aiptasia and Majano. Then traded him in.

12/03/2014, 06:01 AM	#22
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	One suggestion that is hardly mentioned and not in the instructions for Aptasia X is after treating the anemone you need to siphon that area from the tank or suck it up with a baster. Remove the anemone and any remaining product. This will help to stop the spread. Also you'll likely have better success if you inject the mouth with a hypodermic needle. Actually penetrate the anemones tissue.

12/03/2014, 09:56 AM	#23
mluntz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Millersville, Md. Posts: 727	When I see an occasional aptasia, I just inject it with lemon juice in a syringe. Works like a charm! __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront, (1)Ocellaris Clownfish, (1)Carpenter wrasse, (1)Coral Beauty, (1)Kole Tang

12/03/2014, 02:13 PM	#24
Ztrain Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 327	The day after I got my first piece of live rock I noticed a little purplish tentacle thing reaching for the light out from under my live rock. I took the rock out of the water and took it off with a pair of pliers and paper towel. A week later it had already grown back. So pulled the rock out again and took a grill lighter too it. Knocking on wood I haven't seen it back or anywhere else in the tank. It would seem grill starter is greater then aptasia.

12/03/2014, 02:28 PM	#25
GilliganReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 379	I had an issue with aptasia, I tried all the injection things, aptasia x, lemon juice you name it nothing worked. I purchased 3 peppermint shrimp even though my LFS said it wouldn’t work. Now month later I see none in my tank. Even the large ones are gone.