Aptasia Multiply Upon Death?

[Noobeef]

OK. So I'm having a major problem. I have aptasia taking over the tank. It started small enough, so I used Aptasia-X on the few that I had. They seemed to die, but upon dying 2-3 days later 4-5 more showed up for every one that I killed. It's as if by killing them they sent out spores to create more. (Maybe they do this and I'm just a dummy.) I've used lemon juice and the same thing happens. The more I kill the more appear. Peppermint Shrimp aren't really an option because I have a Flame Hawk who will undoubtedly annihilate them.
I have a 120 gallon tank and I would say no less than 200 aptasia at this point. I really don't know what to do.

Every other thread gives the same advice of Joe's juice/aptasia x, lemon juice, peppermint shrimp, copperband"¦It just seems like the more I kill, the more they multiply. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[JoJoTheClown]

I am experiencing this right now with Joes Juice.. I started with one big one, its gone now but I have around 8 or 9 small ones that have recently popped up. I have read that Kalk mixes work extremely well, though they can leave a unsightly residue on your rocks.. imo the residue is worth it if the problem goes away..

I am a noob tho.. maybe some more experienced reefers will have better info.

 

[disc1]

They do put out spores when they are dying. I've seen a lot of people cover them up with reef putty to try to prevent that from happening. Wait a few weeks and remove the putty and hopefully everything under it is dead.

 

[jimmy_beaner]

I've been using boiling RODI freshwater on them, squirt out the entire "marinade injector" full of water to kill the aiptasia and any spores it might release inside the 30 seconds you're shooting out the water. Thus far, I kill one or two every 10 days. This is in the Biocube 29. They seem to pop up somewhat randomly, not an exponential growth like you're describing.

 

[Lina5910]

i had the same problem but then i came across an article from reefkeeping magazine that talked bout using kalk paste. it worked like a charm, i havent seen aptaisa in my tank in over a year

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/33-reefkeeping-101-

 

[Create]

+1 for kalk paste. I have killed about 5 this way and they never came back.

 

[Noobeef]

Thanks Ill try the paste. Unfortunately, the stuff is everywhere. :furious:

 

[Create]

BTW, the easiest way I found to put kalk paste on these guys without getting it all over my rocks/corals on the way down was to use a 1-2 foot hard airline tube connected to soft airline tube connected to a medicine syringe (like the kind you can get to give baby's tylonal) .

You then use that to suck up the paste, wipe the top of the hardline after to get excess paste off.. then you can use the hard air line to get the paste where you want it.

 

[Lina5910]

i actually use a syringe with a needle, that way I shoot the paste inside the mouth of the aptasia.

 

[badwolf]

get some berghia nuds that is all they eat so once the aiptasia has gone they die but they do take care of the problem. I had a infestation got the berghia and they just dissapear until there are none was clear for about 10 month then I saw one come back so killed it with aiptasia x. I still get the odd one come every now and then but I use the aiptasia x as soon as I see one and it isn't a problem

 

[dagon138]

Honestly, the only thing that has ever worked well in my tank has been peppermint shrimp. Little buggers clean house quick!

Maybe get a shrimp, and transplant or isolate your flame Hawk for a short-time?