Apstasia.... HELP!!!
- Thread starter Bofa
- Start date
What size tank do you have? I have a 75g and got some LR from another tank that was loaded with Aiptasia. I threw in about 4-5 peppermint shrimp and the Aiptasia was under control in about a week and gone in 2 weeks. I like the natural methods like peppermint shrimp and nudibranch Berghia's the best, but you have to be patient. If you want immediate results, I would recommend Aiptasia X. Check out the links below. The only downside that I can see with this is that once the Aiptasia has been killed, it will begin to decay in the tank. If your clean up crew will take care of it then no problem. Otherwise you might get a small ammonia/nitrate spike out of the deal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo3DZYdAD2Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGsk1-SC5D0&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo3DZYdAD2Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGsk1-SC5D0&NR=1
tspors
New member
This raises controversy but truely for no reason. Follow this and bye bye Apstasia:
Here is a a post I copied from another forum. I have use this and it is 110% sure fire. Use in moderation and it is safe.
2004 Post:
OK, here is my sure fire way, 100% success rate, never to return again method.
Use a saturated solution of Sodium Hydroxide (Drain Away, Draino, whatever you like to call it) and water. Using a syringe, squirt about 0.5 mL into the mouth of each aiptasia. This will kill even the stubborn foot tissue.
I initially used kalk paste like pies, by found that the success rate wasn't that great. Sodium Hydroxide is much more soluble than Calcium Hydroxide, and is more alkaline, completely nuking the aiptasia.
Again don't dose too much at one time. It is not harmful to your reef, unless you directly squirt it onto corals. Just a warning that Sodium Hydroxide will cause sever chemical burns if handled, you can tell if you have it on your hands 'cause they will feel "soapy" and slippery. If you feel your hands becoming slippery, wash with a LOT of cold water. Preferably wear gloves when handling.
As dangerous as the chemical sounds, it is really quite safe for your reef.
Draino is surprisingly pure sodium hydroxide, and is really no more dangerous to your tank than calcium hydroxide (kalk). Any tank with a reasonable alkalinity (greater than 2.6) should have no problems adding it. The hydroxide ion reacts relativly quickly with dissolved carbon dioxide producing, there are also other mechanisms for the neutralisation of the free hydroxide. Which reaction is most significant is determined by the pH.
2(OH)- + 2CO2 ---> H20 + 2(CO3)2-
The only difference between this and the kalk method is the spectator ion (Ca2+ as opposed to Na+).
Kalk will do the same thing to your hand as sodium hydroxide, at a much much slower rate.
If anything this method is easier on the fish, I had problems with fish eating, or trying to eat the white kalk paste. I for one wouldn't like a mouth full of kalk. The sodium hydroxide method is much safer in that it is completely soluble, such that any solution which doesn't make it into the aiptasia, is quikly netralised by surrounding water by the above reaction, and no solid remains to be eaten by fish.
I stuck the needle into the base and poof never to be seen again.
Here is a a post I copied from another forum. I have use this and it is 110% sure fire. Use in moderation and it is safe.
2004 Post:
OK, here is my sure fire way, 100% success rate, never to return again method.
Use a saturated solution of Sodium Hydroxide (Drain Away, Draino, whatever you like to call it) and water. Using a syringe, squirt about 0.5 mL into the mouth of each aiptasia. This will kill even the stubborn foot tissue.
I initially used kalk paste like pies, by found that the success rate wasn't that great. Sodium Hydroxide is much more soluble than Calcium Hydroxide, and is more alkaline, completely nuking the aiptasia.
Again don't dose too much at one time. It is not harmful to your reef, unless you directly squirt it onto corals. Just a warning that Sodium Hydroxide will cause sever chemical burns if handled, you can tell if you have it on your hands 'cause they will feel "soapy" and slippery. If you feel your hands becoming slippery, wash with a LOT of cold water. Preferably wear gloves when handling.
As dangerous as the chemical sounds, it is really quite safe for your reef.
Draino is surprisingly pure sodium hydroxide, and is really no more dangerous to your tank than calcium hydroxide (kalk). Any tank with a reasonable alkalinity (greater than 2.6) should have no problems adding it. The hydroxide ion reacts relativly quickly with dissolved carbon dioxide producing, there are also other mechanisms for the neutralisation of the free hydroxide. Which reaction is most significant is determined by the pH.
2(OH)- + 2CO2 ---> H20 + 2(CO3)2-
The only difference between this and the kalk method is the spectator ion (Ca2+ as opposed to Na+).
Kalk will do the same thing to your hand as sodium hydroxide, at a much much slower rate.
If anything this method is easier on the fish, I had problems with fish eating, or trying to eat the white kalk paste. I for one wouldn't like a mouth full of kalk. The sodium hydroxide method is much safer in that it is completely soluble, such that any solution which doesn't make it into the aiptasia, is quikly netralised by surrounding water by the above reaction, and no solid remains to be eaten by fish.
I stuck the needle into the base and poof never to be seen again.
jayk198030
New member
tspors
no s*** i would like to try since i have the same issuse...but am scared as h*** to try
no s*** i would like to try since i have the same issuse...but am scared as h*** to try
illsquaddotcom
New member
MY copperB B took care of my problem. Just spend sometime getting a healthy one locally. He picks at the rocks all day and quickly had my apstasia problem licked.
redhanded77
New member
hawaiian anemone hermit crab. i put one in my brothers nano that had over 50 aiptasia, and it was gone in a week and we havent seen 1 since. we also put him in other tanks, and watched him destroy aiptasia.
im not sure how well he will do with small fishes, snails or corals, but he is a known aiptasia killer.
im not sure how well he will do with small fishes, snails or corals, but he is a known aiptasia killer.
i had purchased a nice live rock from a lfs and come to find out that it had aptasia i tried everything but it always seem to come back so i filled a large pot with r/o water and got it boiling and dropped it in for an hour well i have no more aptasia and the rock is slowly turning back to live rock again.
That is what my next step is. Boiling water here comes a several hundred Aptstaia. I have a feeling the Berghia died but there a few snails that made it through the heater malfunction. Maybe the ammonia spike from the dead fish did it because I wasn't home for 2 days when this took place.
solitude127
Proud user of IO Salt!
I tried all the chemicals out there. I would always miss that one that was hiding behind the rock. I have a AP 12 and 90 gallon and I put 1 peppermint shrimp in each and it ate all the aptasia. I guess I got lucky and the shrimp I bought had a good appetite for them.
