Aiptasia question

[rrusch24]

Quick question, is there an easy fix to handle aiptasia in a new tank that has just begun cycling?

The cube has been setup for about 4 days now and I am curing the rock in the tank, no livestock except the sand and rock. I just noticed 2 fairly large stocks of aiptasia in 1 piece of rock. The easy fix is to either remove the rock or hit it with JJ. Are there any other ways to kill this aiptasia off before the tank cycling is complete? Every fix I read is for when there is livestock in the tank. The thought of just pitching the rock at this point seems like the easiest and most reliable form of removal.

 

[briankmarsh1980]

I just boil some water and squirt them with a syringe a couple times..... mmmmm boiled anemone lol

 

[rrusch24]

That'll work. I am a fan of the cheapest method possible!

 

[Rippinfrags]

I do not believe that will completely eradicate them. I would look for a different solution. Maybe add a file fish that specifically eats aiptasia as your first fish(once your cycle is complete). After all of the aiptasia are gone, trade the file fish and begin your reef....

 

[briankmarsh1980]

It works great!!! I do use a large syringe its for flavor injecting meat... I used it when I first set up my tank but havnt had any aptasia in years

 

[Rippinfrags]

Nice! I'm really surprised you didn't continue to have little aiptasia babies pop up everywhere. IMO, they are like weeds and spread even after they are killed.

 

[rrusch24]

I am really thinking about ditching the rock since it isn't too big of a piece. The rock it is in seems to have a greenish tint to it. Maybe this is the most economical and trouble free approach.

 

[briankmarsh1980]

You can't touch them or they will drop babies but with squirting them with the boiling water kills the babies as well and if you have shrimp they love boiled nem as well

 

[briankmarsh1980]

I wouldn't ditch the rock

 

[rrusch24]

You can't touch them or they will drop babies but with squirting them with the boiling water kills the babies as well and if you have shrimp they love boiled nem as well

Talking about peppermints, right? I like them lil boogers and I always like to make the nuisance pay!

 

[criticalencore]

If all your aiptasia is on one rock Definetly ditch the rock.

 

[briankmarsh1980]

Once the nem is dead any shrimp will eat the remains but some peppermint shrimp will eat aptasia as well.

 

[azjohnny]

Peppermints, Filefish, and Butterflyfish can be hit or miss. My best luck has been with Berghia Nudibranch

http://www.saltyunderground.com/index.php?gclid=COT0xYPjrb4CFQZcfgod-IIAKA

 

[4Hummer]

Aiptasia X works great.

Tried Boiling Water, and Lemon Juice. Problem with this method is if even a tiny piece lives, it will multiply like CRAZY, They also trend to retract as soon as you start squirting the liquid, than spit out a Million Spores. :headwallblue:

The Aiptasia sees Aiptasia X as food and gobbles it right up, Than IMPLODES. BOOM. no more Aiptasia. Extremely fun to watch

 

[rrusch24]

Peppermints, Filefish, and Butterflyfish can be hit or miss. My best luck has been with Berghia Nudibranch

http://www.saltyunderground.com/index.php?gclid=COT0xYPjrb4CFQZcfgod-IIAKA

I've seen a few old threads where people were passing around the nudis. Last I heard you need 5-6 of them to ensure at least one of them will chew on it.

 

[rrusch24]

I also go some Aiptasia X and want to try that.

Would it be better to leave the rock in the tank or move it to a bucket and apply from there?

 

[Rippinfrags]

Berghias will work and you only need two. However, your tank will need to be fully cycled and some. Berghias are fairly sensitive inverts and will need a stable environment. Make sure you add the berghias first, they have many predators.

An easier route than berghias, would be peppermint shrimp. Of course you would have to finish your cycle. People complain that peppermint shrimp are hit or miss, but I do not believe this to be true. Peppermint shrimp are hit or miss in an established reef tank. In a reef tank they get to much good stuff to eat, so aiptasia is ignored. Since you don't have to feed you tank, you can starve the little buggers until they eat all of your aiptasia!

 

[tdp22]

Take out rock for a few days and then put it back in. Two extra days of cycling is WELL worth not battling Aptasia. TRUST ME! ha!

 

[rrusch24]

An easier route than berghias, would be peppermint shrimp. Of course you would have to finish your cycle. People complain that peppermint shrimp are hit or miss, but I do not believe this to be true. Peppermint shrimp are hit or miss in an established reef tank. In a reef tank they get to much good stuff to eat, so aiptasia is ignored. Since you don't have to feed you tank, you can starve the little buggers until they eat all of your aiptasia!

I had some peppermints before but since the tank had plenty of food they never migrated to the aiptasia. This seems like a solid approach even if I were to try a chemical treatment first. Worst case scenario would be I disrupt the stalks and they throw babies and then I have to toss in a pair of peppermints. Seems like a good way to go.

 

[TRK]

I threw 10 peppermint shrimp in my tank a week or so after i started it up and the have eaten all of them now. took them a couple weeks but there isn't one in sight. I didnt feed the tank at all and waited until they were gone to add fish and food