Aptasia :(

[mikeyp1055]

As of right now I have only found one head of this jerk. I would have boiled the pr!ck but I have this zoa attached to the same piece of rock. What should I do?

 

[mikeyp1055]

What is this guy? He is on the same piece of rock as the aptasia

 

[onethirty5]

As of right now I have only found one head of this jerk. I would have boiled the pr!ck but I have this zoa attached to the same piece of rock. What should I do?

I have had good experience with Peppermint shrimp. They will a lot of the times eat the aptasia

What is this guy? He is on the same piece of rock as the aptasia

Cant really tell what you are talking about with this? Can you get a closer pic?

 

[HUNTER1]

I had a couple of small ones covered them with super still survived, just threw the small rock out with few zoas on it.

 

[mikeyp1055]

There are only 4 heads, they looks like a type of zoa but I'm still new to all this.
Shrimp won't work because I have a falko hawk fish and he will eat it. But I guess I would have to make a decision based on the best interest of the tank.

 

[Painted skin]

Yup shrimp would be an expensive lunch for the hawk fish. Not too sure if i'm looking in the right spot in the 2nd pic, but if you're referring to those green heads they look like polyps.

I use to use a zapper for those and majano. Butterfly fish will eat them, but may pick or eat at you zoas.

 

[Buzz1329]

I'd boil the rock. If $ is no object this will definitely work:

http://www.saltyunderground.com/index.php?cPath=6

I've no experience with them myself, but have read here that peppermint shrimp may eat coral.

Good luck.

 

[mikeyp1055]

I have a spare tank so I might just set it up and boil the rock and place it in there to prevent a mini cycle in the DT

 

[Painted skin]

How big is your tank? If it's a big tank then 1 small piece is not going to make any difference in your cycle.

 

[RonV]

Wow, I can't believe someone would tell you to boil the rock for one aptasia? There are a number of ways to kill it. Did you do a search? You could use Aptasia X or I could tell you how I kill them but the last time I posted how I done it many folks here thought I was a crazy old man so I don't post some of the old ways here.

 

[biggles]

I always injected them with kalk paste from a small syringe - they really don't like kalk and the very small amount you use will not cause any issues if you only need to kill 4 or 5.

 

[mikeyp1055]

I have a 75 gallon tank. The rock is about 3#s so it's a decent size. I have done my research online I just wasn't sure if there was a way to kill it using things found in your cabinets. Thanks for all the help, hopefully I can nip it in the but before it runs amuck in my tank

 

[jerpa]

Kalk paste or lemon juice can be used.

Relax, Aiptasia aren't the end of the world and like many "pests" they will only grow if excess food is available. Peppermint shrimp may keep them in check but some sub-species are more effective than others.

 

[Chief Hill]

I pulled a rock that had some on it and just scared it back into its hole. Then put CA glue (crazy glue around the area)
ALL gone now.

 

[DownwardDawg]

For just a few aptiasia, a lot of things work. Kalk mixed in a tiny amount of water to make a paste works great. Pull it up in a syringe, turn of your powerheads, and inject the paste all over the little bugger. If the rock is easy to take out, I like to burn them off with a small butane lighter. (the torch kind) If you ever get a big outbreak, the Berghia Nudibranch's are the only thing that has ever worked for me. I put 6 in a 30 gal tank and they completely wiped it clean of aptiasia. Peppermint shrimp have NEVER eaten an aptiasia in any of my tanks. They work for some people, but not for me and a lot of others.
The lighter trick is fun. My 13 year old son loves it!!!

 

[markaren]

I had the same single decision and am very glad after pondering...I grabbed a screw driver ...a hammer..and then took the rock out . With one placement of the screw driver I hit once and the junk was off with the tasia...all took about 20 seconds out of the tank.

 

[Painted skin]

For just a few aptiasia, a lot of things work. Kalk mixed in a tiny amount of water to make a paste works great. Pull it up in a syringe, turn of your powerheads, and inject the paste all over the little bugger. If the rock is easy to take out, I like to burn them off with a small butane lighter. (the torch kind) If you ever get a big outbreak, the Berghia Nudibranch's are the only thing that has ever worked for me. I put 6 in a 30 gal tank and they completely wiped it clean of aptiasia. Peppermint shrimp have NEVER eaten an aptiasia in any of my tanks. They work for some people, but not for me and a lot of others.
The lighter trick is fun. My 13 year old son loves it!!!

I like using propane touch too to burn them and watching them melt, but in sensitive spots near corals I like using my zapper.

 

[dmh41532]

products like Aipstasia X do not really seem to be effective. I've heard many people injecting near boiling R/O water into the mouths and that will kill them. Another solution if you have a good amount is Berghia nudibranchs. They only eat aiptasia. I haven't tried peppermint shrimp. Many people have told me they will only eat aiptasia as juveniles.

 

[inigomontoya]

Wow, I can't believe someone would tell you to boil the rock for one aptasia? There are a number of ways to kill it. Did you do a search? You could use Aptasia X or I could tell you how I kill them but the last time I posted how I done it many folks here thought I was a crazy old man so I don't post some of the old ways here.

Agreed, that is a bit of overkill. If you get stressed about it that easy this is going to be a long road for you. Kind of like torching the yard to kill one weed rather than busting out the ortho. Aptasia X or kalk paste should get it. Now if your rock has 50 on it, bleach, muriatic acid or boil it (though NOT if you have zoas on it).