Aiptaisa Control

[Schex]

My 12 gallon aquapod has been up for a couple of months. A few weeks ago I bought a peppermint shrimp to control aiptaisa. That was working well. Then last week I began to add coral: 1 candy coral, 1 sinularia leather, and 1 yellow polyp. Within a few hours the peppermint shrimp attacked and began to eat the yellow polyp. The shrimp's now living back at the lfs, but now I'm finding a new group of aiptaisa (all very, very small now). Any suggestions about what I can add to the tank that will control aiptaisa without trying to kill the yellow polyp?

Thanks.

 

[bertoni]

This thread has some notes I wrote:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=803632

 

[Mare100]

We have a terrible Aiptasia problem in our 120. The peppermint shrimp aren't working and we don't want to even attempt a Copper Banded Butterfly.

I've read alot of good things about a type of Nudibranch's (commonly known as Berghia.....but that's not the actual species name, which I can't remember right now). Anyway....they are a little expensive and soooooo tiny when you get them.

We just bought 8 of them for the tank and put them in about 2 weeks ago. I haven't seen ANY sign of them yet....but the guy I got them from says you might not see anything for about a month.

Unfortunately, we've got a Sally Lightfoot and some Peppermints in there and I am HOPING we didn't just serve them a $150 dinner.

Anyway....if you have a small tank with no predators to them, that might be an avenue to try.

M

 

[uscharalph]

Joe's Juice

 

[macronut]

The only way I got rid of mine was by using Joe's Juice, however, the applicator that came with the product was absolutely useless for me. I had to take a syringe and needle and inject into the gut and along the base of the aiptasia to get rid of them. It took six months of work to rid the tank. Berghia will work and a natural predator, I have used them. They are nocturnal. They work and are a little pricey. If you use them, becareful when adding to the tank as if they land or get on top of the aiptasia the aiptasia will kill the nudibranch. That happened to one of mine. I watched a $25.00 dollar (for 1) investment perish soon after. They attack the aiptasia at it's base and will consume all of it, even down inside the nooks of your rockwork.

 

[Aquarist007]

I agree Joe's Juice does a great job-no worry about nudibranches or perpermint shrimp etc

 

[Mare100]

Yes...I hear many people that have had good luck with the Joe's Juice. We actually have been using it for months....starting when there were only about 4 aiptasia's in the tank. We zapped them.....but a week later...there were about 10 more throughout the tank. Seems like everytime we get one...more come back. It's so frustrating.

Perhaps, as Macronut pointed out, using the tip that came with it just wasn't working. We didn't try using an actual syringe. Maybe that's the trick. Yes these Berghia's are freaking expensive and if these guys don't pan out for us...I doubt if hubby will let me buy more. Might have to try needle with the JJ.

M

 

[macronut]

The only way that worked for me was to use a syringe and needle. I feel that injecting into the gut and then along the base worked. Kinda like a double wammy. When I used this approach I started noticing results. Just make sure you clean your needle and syringe real good with freshwater between applications. The JJ can harden like cement inside a needle.

 

[Mare100]

I'm going to let hubby do the injecting. I'm such a squeamish whimp....even the thought of that gives me "the willies". As much as I hate the little [profanity], I'm such a goof about killing things. Hopefully these little nudi's will come through for me.

Yes...I'm the type that uses a live catch mouse trap and takes them out in the middle of the night. I admit it.

M