Aiptasia Solutions?

E

Editour2

Frank
Okay everyone has this pest but how do you eliminate it? My tank seems to be on the uprise with these guys and it's taking up too much of my time. I generally use kalk paste to kill them however the problem is becoming more prevalent in my tank. I tried peppermint shrimp but that had no effect. I tried purchasing a copperband butterfly but after seeing him eat in the lfs he wouldn't eat in QT and I lost him before putting him in the DT. Per research there are berghia nudibranchs however they are approx $17 each and per the website I would need at least 12 (that's over $200 plus shipping). Anyone ever use these?
What is your remedy?
 
Frank, I have the same issues to a T. My Copperbanded died about a month after purchase and he was eating at the LFS. I Kalk the same Aptasias over and over again. they dissappear for a few only to return. I haven't tried Peps yet but my research on line indicates the Peps from Fla. are better than others. But I have no experience. I know Mike (MGNY) has had success with the Nudi's from reading his posts. I don't think he used that many though. The other issue with Nudis is if you have a lot of flow they have some difficulty upon introduction to the tank, so you have to kill all your poweheads and use a turkey baster to place them on your LR.

In any case, if you buy some Nudis I'd be interested in jumping in. I don't know what else to do. I only have a few, but they are getting large because they are in areas I cannot reach with Kalk.
 
James,
the nudis get cheaper depending on how many you purchase....shipping free w/orders over $300 but I'd like to hear some more on the subject.....maybe Mike can chime in. Get this: Peppermint shrimp are a predator of these nudis....isn't that a kick. Now how the hell do I get my peppermint out of the tank? I only see him once a month (thought he was dead and then saw him at night under the main rock I put him in originally). With my tank it's beginning to be a pia.....
Frank
 
Frank,

I should have a Bristletail filefish in my sump if you want to try? He ate all my manjanos I am pretty sure he would eat your aiptasia. I'll see if I can get him out tonight if you want?
 
I had a bristletail also that I purchased for my mujano problem...didn't know he ate aiptasia as well. Do they eat corals as well? I only had mine in my QT (had problems on my live rock in there).

Heard from one of the websites that sell Burghia nudi's:

Frank,

We have a great special running right now on the 1/4" berghia. Buy 5 get one free up to 3 free per order. If you want to do a group buy I will extend the special to buy 5 get one free with no limit on the free berghia (this is only while supplies last so it's best to hurry this along).
The price on the 1/4" berghia goes down to $9.49/ea. if you pay for 20 or more.

We offer free shipping on paid orders that total $300 or more, and we offer free shipping on any other livestock items added to the berghia order. So you pay for shipping it is on the berghia only and get corals, etc shipped along with them for free.
We include a free transfer pipette for everyone in the order.
The berghia are shipped in one bag to keep the shipping price down but they are easily split up, and I will explain the process if you move forward.
The order needs to be paid for in one payment.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Lisa
 
Editour2 said:
what genus?
Click to expand...

Frank

You are going to hear a million different stories about this filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) I use one in my 65g reef and he eats all nuisance anemones but also liked my sypodium and anthelia. He has not touched any sps, lps or zoo's. That's not to say he won't, but in my thinking if I don't get rid of the aiptasia they will kill everything eventually. In my opinion it has been the greatest thing to come along, but I also don't freak out if it decides to pick at a coral. It is the much lesser of two evils. JMO

Andy
 

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I had an Acreichthys tomentosus in my 180 about 2 years ago (when it was FOWLR). He devoured every pest anemone, BUT at the time, he was the only fish in the tank and I didn't feed him until the pests were gone. After I started adding other fish I had to get rid of him because he kept nipping my tassled filefish.
 
Andy,
is the sypodium the green and blue flower type polyps that many of us purchased from you? If so....mine is pretty big and I would like to keep it that way....did the fish destroy it or just occassionaly pick? I have to do something because the aiptasia is taking too much of my time to supress it (not eliminate it).
Frank

Walter,
is yours the same as this guy....it looks alot like the guy I had that ate the mujano.
Frank
 
Editour2 said:
Do they eat corals as well?
[/COLOR]
Click to expand...

They usually always eat the manjanos and aiptisia first. Then I have had some that ate zoa's and paly's then move on the sps and I've had some that would only eat manjanos and aiptisia. I'll sell you the one that eats everything for $20 the other one that eats only manjanos and aiptisia is $500 (Same price I paid)


Like Andy said everything is going to die anyway ;-) so what do you have to loose.

I'll call you if I find the one in my sump tonight.
 
Editour2 said:
Andy,
is the sypodium the green and blue flower type polyps that many of us purchased from you? If so....mine is pretty big and I would like to keep it that way....did the fish destroy it or just occassionaly pick? I have to do something because the aiptasia is taking too much of my time to supress it (not eliminate it).
Frank

Walter,
is yours the same as this guy....it looks alot like the guy I had that ate the mujano.
Frank
Click to expand...

Yes Frank, it is the same sympodium, he reallyyyyyyyyyyy liked eating it. I even moved it around, ha he always found it:headwally: He doesn't touch zenia or clove polyps which I find strange. Like I said, it is the best solution to the pest anemones that I have used. Copperband's die if you look at them wrong, the bergia nudi's are hard to keep from the oveflows and I recently read that the majano wand releases chlorine into the water. Another fish that would work is a Kleini butterfly( very hardy and cheap) but he will also nip at corals
 
I have had my bristle tail file for almost 18 months. He keeps the aiptasia at bay. He does not eat most of them, but he keeps them from expanding. If I remove him from the tank, aiptasia come back quickly. I love this fish.
 
Peppermints have never failed me. If they didn't touch the aiptasias within two days of adding them to my tank i would wound a couple anemones and the peppermints smelled blood. The wounded anemones would be gone the next day followed by the rest of the pests over the next month. I always try to keep at least a few peppermints stocked just in case. Can't remember the last time i saw an aiptasia in my tank. The wounding method worked for majanos as well.
 
I'm faceing the same problem with manjonos I had aptasia also but my copperband took care of them funny he doesn't touch manjono though .my problem is there hard to get to with my wand there in between all my sps .i tryied the nudis and for me they were a total waste of money I put them in lowered the flow and they just sat there then I seen them blowing around later on there can't hold on with current .I'm thinking of adding peppermints and a filefish.
 
Peppermints are the only way to go and zap the really big ones with the kalk paste
Someone said theres another type or area maybe south pacific the peps are coming out of now? Make sure you get carribean peps
 
reef bini said:
Peppermints are the only way to go and zap the really big ones with the kalk paste
Someone said theres another type or area maybe south pacific the peps are coming out of now? Make sure you get carribean peps
Click to expand...

Interesting.....any disinguishable characteristics?
 
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