Aiptasia harvest time

[MADJABJOE]

I recently took a look behind my overflow chamber and discovered that I have a huge crop of Aiptasia growing behind there. I don't have any in my main tank but I am worried that they might migrate into my main tank soon. What would be the best way to kill all of them...can I fill the overflow chamber with freshwater and kill them like a freshwater dip. Any sugestions?

 

[papagimp]

Is it an external overflow box or an internal one?

 

[MADJABJOE]

Internal. I will have to shut down my system and drain out the saltwater and refill with fresh I guess.

 

[papagimp]

nope, just get a cap to cap off the hole in the overflow, then just work with that. You empty the whole system and fill with freshwater you'll kill off lot's beneficial bacteria, bacteria does colonize everywhere, not just on the rock and sand, and although the death probabaly won't be enough to cause any kind of ammonia/nitrite spike, it will be enough to turn back the time on the tank maturation to an extent. PVC cap would shut the overflow off from your sump and turning the return off will keep water from going into it, so wa-la, it's closed off from the rest of the system and could easily be worked with then.

 

[MADJABJOE]

SO, WILL FRESH WATER EVEN KILL AIPTASIA THEN?

 

[seapug]

I think an extended freshwater dip and thorough scrubbing would take care of them. just make sure you siphon out all the remnants.

 

[MADJABJOE]

I'm going to give it a try. Wish me luck!