Aptasia control in large tanks?

J

jgsensor

New member
Looking for ideas on how to control aptasia in large tanks. I have a 375gal reef tank that is 96x30x30 and seems to be a breeding ground for aptasia. Using kalk paste or joes juice is a bit hard in this size of tank. I have recently added 20 berghia nudibranch to the tank, but have not noticed much a difference after about three weeks. I have a CBB who could care less about the aptasia and past attempts at peppermint shrimp lasted a few days before they became tastey meals.

I currently have a ****** trigger, flame hawk, royal gamma and a diatema dottyback in the tank who most likely think the peppermints are treats. I have never caught them in the act, but the shrimp don't last long. Other fish in the tank are a few tangs, foxfaces, pygmy angel and some small wrasses which I don't think would bother anything.

Is there something else I can try to rid the tank of these pests?
 
I have a adult copperband already in the tank. I have had him for over a year now and he doesn't even look at the aptasia. Tried adding a second copperband to the tank, but the tangs and the current copperband would have nothing to do with that so I had to remove him before it was too late.

Don't know about the wrasses, one is an ornate wrasse and the other is a blue line cleaner.

I was thinking of maybe adding different butterfly or maybe a angel, but not sure if I want to risk that yet.
 
Auriga Butterfly

Auriga Butterfly

Also known as a Threadfin. I put one of these in my tank and bye bye aptasia. You may get one that will nip a little at SPS, but I didn't see anything in your tank that would be tempting for it. Actually, if you have as much aptasia as you say he may never bother any SPS.

95080butterfly.jpg
(Image courtesy of the owner: not mine)
 
peppermint shrimps! i would add a couple and in time should see some numbers go down! Got two for my 50holding tank in about a week times all gone!
 
I will have to check into the Threadfin and pearlscale butterflys, I have not looked at those. Like I said earlier, I was looking into a majestic or maybe even a raccon butterfly, but i have heard a few horror stories on them.

I already tried adding a new copperband, but I can't catch the old one who I have had now for over a year. When I tried adding the new copperband, the old copperband, a indian mimic tang and kole tang almost killed the new copperband. By the time I got to him I could put my hand in the tank and just pick him up. He survived, but he found a new home elsewhere.

Peppermint shrimp in the past were just expensive snacks for my hawkfish and gamma. Now there is also a trigger, dottyback and a ornate wrasse in the tank. I my try sneaking a few in the tank after all the lights have been out for a few hours, but don't hold much hope for that route.
 
jgsensor,

Give this a try, it worked for me.

I have a CBB that ignored aptasia. I mixed garlic with the food for about a week. I then started injecting the aptasia with garlic. After a couple of days, something starting to eat them.

I don't bother with the garlic anymore. My tank is now aptasia free.
 
pearlscales will readily adapt to other foods, copperbands often do not, and ultimately die once aptasia is cleared.

I shuttle my pearlscale between my tanks to keep aptasia at bay.
 
pwhitby,

i googled "pearlscale" and a goldfish came up as all the hits. please help the noob, what is the pearlscale family?
 
How is the threadfin, pearlscale or majestic with corals? I really like the looks of the threadfin and majestic, but still tempted to try a raccoon.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8071494#post8071494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgsensor
How is the threadfin, pearlscale or majestic with corals? I really like the looks of the threadfin and majestic, but still tempted to try a raccoon.
Click to expand...
I've never had problems with my Threadfin, at least that I can prove. I had only one SPS at the time when I added him to my display. Shortly after, it began to die off but I never saw the Threadfin pick at it (unless he waited till nightfall :lol: ). Otherwise softies, zoos, and small critters had no problems.
 
there ia also a nudibranch that relishes aiptasia and will not target your softies/sps....havin said this the exact name of it slips my mind. As soon as i remember i will post.

have to say i have never heard of a majestic angel eating aiptasia?? You guys sure
 
here it is: Berghia verrucicornis

these guys can be added to the tank directly or preferably into your sump with some aiptasia in their, then the larvae will release to the tank. Voila!
Have to say i have used this method, but i believe it works, but these nudis are difficult to get. But if you breed them in your sump then you will have a continuous supply to maintain control. It also wont matter if a few end as lunch to your trigger and/or other crustacea.
Good luck
 
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