Aiptasia. Are berghia really deadly to a tank?

[FireViper]

Hi all,

We've a small aiptasia outbreak; about six or eight in different spots of the tank that most likely hitchhiked on the LFS live rock we picked up.

The LFS suggests marine epoxying them to death, though one is embedded amongst some zoas and that might be tough. He also recommended highly against berghia, as when the aiptasias are gone, the berghia will starve, and die. When the bodies dissolve, they release all sorts of toxic chemicals into the tank.

Saltyunderground, apparently the online source for the little guys, swears they are entirely and completely safe, and from reviews seem reputable.

What's the scoop? We probably only need a few for our 55 gallon tank, and are hoping to eradicate the issue before it gets out of hand.

Thanks for any help!

 

[billwill]

Have you seen the size of a berghi nudibranch? Unless you're running a 1/2 gallon system, you will do nothing but benefit from adding them.


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[Anemone]

Berghia are completely safe for your tank. Not sure where your LFS gets that they die and give off toxic chemicals (I mean, unless you are talking hundreds of berghia in a 15 gallon tank).

Be warned, if you go the Berghia route, it can take several weeks to a couple of months before you really see any response; then seemingly overnight, your aiptasia will disappear. And unless you watch your tank at night with a flashlight, you may never see the berghia again.

Kevin

 

[Crusinjimbo]

There difficult to eradicate chemically. The Berghia work well but patience is required. I put 5 small Berghia in a 60G that had 400+ (conservative estimate) of the aiptasia critters everywhere. Six weeks later their numbers began to noticeably diminish. Gone in 10 days. Cheaper than chemicals. Reef safe. Not a quick cure. Good luck.

 

[mcgyvr]

IMO unless you have a serious issue Berghia are just expensive solution to the problem..

Your local fish store should have Peppermint shrimp which "can" be an alternative as well as simply using boiling hot water or lemon juice or kalk paste in a syringe or even off the shelf products like Aiptasia X or Joes Juice

You can even just pull the rock out of the tank and burn them with a lighter/torch and put the rock right back in the tank..

Other options are a Matted Filefish or Copperband butterfly,etc... (<--not a good idea for such a minor problem either but options for others with bigger aiptasia problems)

55G tank with just a few then syringe/lighter is best.. then peppermint shrimp..

 

[kevin21]

I have tried the boiling water in a syringe and had no luck with that. I have heard of others having success with it though.

 

[FireViper]

Thanks for the help!

I've read that some peppermint shrimp will eat coral as well, especially some soft corals. Be a bummer, as we've just added a few.

 

[sde1500]

Only risk is spending the money on them and having a fish that would consider them a tasty treat. Such as the risk I have in my tank thanks to my melanurus wrasse. Otherwise they seem fantastic.

 

[FireViper]

Only risk is spending the money on them and having a fish that would consider them a tasty treat. Such as the risk I have in my tank thanks to my melanurus wrasse. Otherwise they seem fantastic.

Only a few gobies and clowns, so I think we're okay. Good to know as we add fish.

 

[swiftvision]

Here is your answer:

https://www.amazon.com/Majano-Wand-Mojano-Zapper-PSI/dp/B0052ZK6WK

Your welcome.

 

[swiftvision]

Thanks for the help!

I've read that some peppermint shrimp will eat coral as well, especially some soft corals. Be a bummer, as we've just added a few.

I have never heard or read that before. It is not my experience.

 

[FireViper]

I have never heard or read that before. It is not my experience.

I saw several posts in online reef forums claiming peppermints are eating their corals. If it's on the internet, it has to be accurate, right?

 

[devimik]

I have never heard or read that before. It is not my experience.

I had some Peppermint Shrimp that went to town on my Frogspawn and destroyed a Torch coral too.

I tried Berghias too - they didn't make a dent. Problem is you need to get a lot of Berghias and get them to breed in order for them to work, but they are very expensive and there's no guarantee. Plus, many fish eat them as they are tiny.

I have a Majano wand too and it works, but isn't practical on large outbreaks.

I've used Aiptasia X - works well too, but not too practical on large outbreaks either.

I got a Matted Filefish and within a week, all my Aiptasia were gone, despite the fact that I never saw it eating any. Hasn't harmed my coral, but I suppose they could.

If you only have a few, the lighter trick would do it as would the wand or Aiptasia X.

 

[FireViper]

Well, a few berghia will be arriving tomorrow, as well as a couple new corals. We shall see how it goes. We don't have too many aiptasia, so I hope for a natural solution over a few weeks.

 

[Anemone]

Well, a few berghia will be arriving tomorrow, as well as a couple new corals. We shall see how it goes. We don't have too many aiptasia, so I hope for a natural solution over a few weeks.

Turn off your water movement and place the Berghia near one or more Aiptasia. Wait for the Berghia to attach and begin crawling around before you restart your circulation.

Kevin

 

[FireViper]

Turn off your water movement and place the Berghia near one or more Aiptasia. Wait for the Berghia to attach and begin crawling around before you restart your circulation.

Kevin

Thanks for the tips. Four of the five attached safely. The fifth floated off right when the powerhead fired back up after the feed timer expired. Stopped the pump quickly, so hope it landed somewhere safe--it was headed towards the backside of the rockpile and away from any corals. . . .

 

[ReefWreak]

You've already gone the berghia route, but I can't emphasize enough how simple the kalk paste treatment is, with tools you already should have (every good reefer has kalk powder, right?). You just make a thick paste of the kalk, and either with a finger apply it to the aiptasia, or make the paste a tiny bit thinner, so you can suck it up into a syringe, and then apply it to the area on top of the aiptasia. So simple, so effective, and with how few you had, IMO it's the best way to approach it. Very minor pH impact, adds calcium and alkalinity to the tank, and successful result if you're liberal in application.

I hope the berghias work before they spread into your plumbing!