aptasia suggestions?

[CStrickland]

Matted filefish is another name for leatherjacket, so you guys agree on that anyway. Seems presumptuous to accuse someone of starving their fish and coral without even knowing how much they feed.

In any case, offering a variety of solutions: not over feeding, predator fish and shrimp, chemical stuff (idk about drano but stranger things have happened) seems like a good way to give op all the tools to make their own choice. Always good to point out the down sides too: filefish nipping coral, drano being scary af etc.

 

[rBlair]

I use a syringe w/ needle and vinegar (maybe 1 ml for each). I watch them carefully so I know exactly where they go in, then stick the needle right into the hole and squirt. I'm careful not to do too many at once so I don't upset the chemistry of the tank.

 

[Sk8r]

My matted filefish got the largest one. Exemplary citizen with LPS so far, maybe not with nems and zoas. Certainly easy to catch.

 

[davocean]

My experience is w/ most solutions like aptasia X it appears to wipe it out, but often that one you think you killed ends up popping up a bunch of little ones.
If you are diligent and continue to hit those too you may take care of it that way.
In big outbreaks I did have to resort to something that eats it, and I had luck w/ copperbands a few times, and I've had a few that did not eat it or even eat at all, and they are fairly sensitive fish.
Matted file fish is one that many seem to have good luck, easier to care for, easier to catch as well, and sometimes when that aptasia is gone you may need to catch it as some will begin to nip corals.
Our local club here passes a few around for this reason.

 

[vic8361]

Assuming you prefer not to use the natural way............ May I suggest this option it works also if you only have a few and I have used it...... Napalm them.

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, Red Lye, 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.

In all the years of killing these pest this is what has worked the best for me.

 

[johnike]

Raccoon Butterfly and Matted Filefish in my FOWLR, Peppermint Shrimp in my reef.
Pickling lime sludge in a big syringe for spot killing big uns.

 

[Duke4life]

I'm either headed toward nudibranches or removing rock. Aip X is worthless IMO and my filefish or peppermint shrimps haven't done a thing, the shrimp just like to have babies it seems.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Phillip, only the Matted File fish will eat aiptasia and the shrimp having babies is good free food for your corals and fish. Depending on the fish you have they might eat your nudibranchs. Aiptasia X works perfectly if you follow the directions to the T. I used it on my bigger ones because my Matted file fish wouldn't touch them and I had no issues. The MFF is now eating the big ones too, IT takes about a month maybe less for the MFF to start eating them, but in most cases they will eat them. So do you have a Matted File fish?

 

[Duke4life]

Phillip, only the Matted File fish will eat aiptasia and the shrimp having babies is good free food for your corals and fish. Depending on the fish you have they might eat your nudibranchs. Aiptasia X works perfectly if you follow the directions to the T. I used it on my bigger ones because my Matted file fish wouldn't touch them and I had no issues. The MFF is now eating the big ones too, IT takes about a month maybe less for the MFF to start eating them, but in most cases they will eat them. So do you have a Matted File fish?

Yes I do, have had since early November 2015 roughly, posted a pic to verify I was getting the right 1. Not complaining because I'm going to attempt raising peppermints since I seem to have 2 different 1s with babies as I had a group last Monday and Friday (this has been like clockwork and I can mark on my calender when it will happen for months now). Maybe that's what I'll do is work on my big ones with the aip X because I've seen spike cruise that area when the blues go on.

 

[pauls]

Pests

Pests

I have read and read and read different solutions for Aptasia after buying a rock from a tank break down.

The guys that recommend a syringe and lemon juice ( the plastic bottles) win. Buy a syringe with a small needle and a bottle of lemon juice. Put the syringe directly on the pest and inject SLOWLY. When you see what looks like a puff of smoke STOP, as not to kill any neighboring corals. I would also turn off any power heads etc. to keep it centralized.

 

[Temeraire]

i bought 7 peppermint shrimp and my aiptasia was gone in under a week. GL