aiptasia!!! Am I doomed?

degibson84

degibson84

New member
last weekend I bought a small rock that had to be split to transport down to me. One piece had one mushroom and the other had zoas and 3 mushrooms. As I was feeding the tank today I noticed 2 small aiptasia nems on the larger rock with only one shroom. So I reached in and pulled the rock out and took a dremel to cut the mushroom off. I put the new smaller piece back in the tank but now I am afraid that I am doomed.

what do you guys think?
 
i didn't tear at them. i removed the rock and cut off the part with the two I saw. The part of the rock with the aiptasia went in the trash.
 
Don't worry, you're not doomed! I was fighting them for a few months until I picked up a few $3 peppermint shrimp and put them in my display tank. The Aptasia has been gone for several months now but I keep the shrimp in the display tank just in case the Aptasia show back up. Give that a try and make sure your system is low in nutrients. I have read that these peppermint shrimp generally go after the aptasia more aggressively if they are hungry.
 
ReefKeeper64 said:
Don't worry, you're not doomed! I was fighting them for a few months until I picked up a few $3 peppermint shrimp and put them in my display tank. The Aptasia has been gone for several months now but I keep the shrimp in the display tank just in case the Aptasia show back up. Give that a try and make sure your system is low in nutrients. I have read that these peppermint shrimp generally go after the aptasia more aggressively if they are hungry.
Click to expand...
well it is a brand new setup only been running for less than 2 months now. I will have to see if my LFS has any pep shrimp
 
Being in the tank that short a period of time I don't think you are doomed to be honest since you cut out those pieces that had them on it. Just keep an eye on it all but I think you will be fine.
 
No need to panic anyway. Wait and see if they come back. If they do, pick up some peppermint shrimp.
 
I just noticed about a half dozen very small aiptasia in my tank. Would you recommend cutting the rock up to get them out? Drilling them out in a separate container? Scraping? Peppermint shrimp? Or berghia nudibranch? I know there are a lot of options, but its near a mushroom thats been struggling and I think they are to blame so I don't want to hurt my mushroom. In the same boat as OP. Advice is appreciated!!
 
Last edited:
Peppermint shrimp are hit an miss. Some will eat aptasia and some wont. The nudibrac's are a good option but when the aptasia are gone so are they. Thats the only thing they eat. I've had good luck with my copperband butterfly. No more aptasia and he eats frozen but leaves zoas and other corals alone.
 
I have a small nano reef (26 gal) and no fish in it. I'd be dooming the butterfly fish for such a small problem. I'd rather kill a nudi first I think, but once hes done his job I can give him away to my LFS. I'm sure they wouldn't mind. But I'm thinking of using a paste or some chemical warfare on them first. They are small and isolated so my problem is not out of control yet.
 
GreenSaltyOne said:
I have a small nano reef (26 gal) and no fish in it. I'd be dooming the butterfly fish for such a small problem. I'd rather kill a nudi first I think, but once hes done his job I can give him away to my LFS. I'm sure they wouldn't mind. But I'm thinking of using a paste or some chemical warfare on them first. They are small and isolated so my problem is not out of control yet.
Click to expand...

do not put a butterfly in a tank that small. If the LFS guy will let you bring back any livestock I would go that route. The only reason I asked was because it was just two and i dont want to have to add anything i dont want to . I will add peppermint shrimp or nudis if i have to but i have never dealt with aiptasia in my own tanks. I did use aiptasia X in my father in laws tank but it was only a 75 so i just shot up the ones i could see once a week until they were all gone
 
GreenSaltyOne said:
I have a small nano reef (26 gal) and no fish in it. I'd be dooming the butterfly fish for such a small problem. I'd rather kill a nudi first I think, but once hes done his job I can give him away to my LFS. I'm sure they wouldn't mind. But I'm thinking of using a paste or some chemical warfare on them first. They are small and isolated so my problem is not out of control yet.
Click to expand...

Didn't know the size of your tank. Nudi's are cool but I doubt you would be able to find them once they were done with their job. Aptasia-x or similar product is probably your best bet.
 
Try the peppermints first. They're easy to find (unlike berghias) and they've always worked for me. Even if they don't, they're good scavengers and they won't starve once the aiptasia is gone.

IMO&E, the problem with Aiptasia-X and similar products is that you have to find all the aiptasia. They sometimes grow where you can't see them. Until you get them all, they'll continue to reproduce in your tank. A hungry peppermint (especially if that's all that's in the tank) will track them all down.
 
I have had good luck with Kent's turbo calcium mixed in a strong solution and injected with a syringe. Now I have ten peppermint shrimp in their to clean up the left overs.
 
I've had aiptasia on 3 rocks. Upon first recognition,
I used the aiptasia x. Sometimes it might come
Back in te same spot if the X doesn't get it, so just apply it again when the aiptasia pokes its ugly self out, and it'll go away. As long as you keep it in
Check as soon as you see it, zap it. Four months and I haven't seen any.
 
In my experience, the best way to eradicate aiptasia is a Copperband Butterfly Fish...thanks Beefy!

My peppermints never did the job, but I had lots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Aquascape question?
2 3 4
Replies
73
Views
1K
Elmareefer
E
S
Tank is not cycling
2 3
Replies
44
Views
999
wvned
wvned
Niven
Am I allowed to bring live sand/live rock home from Mexico?
Replies
12
Views
324
Uncle99
Uncle99
R
LFS can order "red" or "blue" peacock mantis?
Replies
2
Views
173
game misconduct
G
Ab129
Replacing a clown
Replies
11
Views
531
Uncle99
Uncle99
Back
Top