Bleach them all.....

[fishgate]

Since no one here could tell me how to kill Aiptasia I just have been experimenting. The best method I found is to soak the entire rock in a mild bleach solution for 3 days. I did that and the rock looked new again. I put it in my new tank and so far no signs of any life at all. Interesting when I took out a rock that was covered in Aiptasia I found no signs of them anywhere. Maybe they dissolved in the bleach solution?

As a bonus the rock comes out nice and white!

 

[mcgyvr]

Since no one here could tell me how to kill Aiptasia

There are only hundreds if not thousands of posts here on how to deal with Aiptasia.. :worried:

Soaking in bleach for 3 days is absolute overkill IMO..
But if you are happy with the outcome then thats all that matters. :beer:

 

[Sk8r]

It's no longer live rock, but hopefully it will acquire life again. One peppermint shrimp would probably have done it, but good luck.

 

[Ztrain]

I had one on my one and only live rock that I used to seed my dry rock in my tank. I took it off with pliers and scraped it with paper towel. It grew back in a week I was amazed. Next I torched it with a grill lighter. Knocking on wood I have seen no aptasia in my tank in over 4 months. Seemed to kill it and only the torched spot on the live rock affected.

 

[OnceTrueFalseBr]

Since no one here could tell me how to kill Aiptasia I just have been experimenting. The best method I found is to soak the entire rock in a mild bleach solution for 3 days. I did that and the rock looked new again. I put it in my new tank and so far no signs of any life at all. Interesting when I took out a rock that was covered in Aiptasia I found no signs of them anywhere. Maybe they dissolved in the bleach solution?

As a bonus the rock comes out nice and white!

peppermint shrimp.

 

[fishgate]

I don't think a peppermint shrimp can take care of 2000 Aiptasia.

 

[toothybugs]

but 10 of 'em could.

30 bucks at the LFS and your 125 has a neat addition to the clean-up crew.

 

[mcgyvr]

I don't think a peppermint shrimp can take care of 2000 Aiptasia.

Sure will.. It will just take longer..

My filefish took care of hundreds in 1 week or so.
Some as large as 4+" long

 

[risin]

In the future, when you are dealing with a manageable number.... I do apstasiax, cover the aiptasia for 10 minutes, siphon it off, if the anemone didn't detach, inject it with vinegar immediately. I have had 100% success with this. I tried just injecting vinegar before and it kills the aipsrasia, but I end up with babies around the area.

 

[OnceTrueFalseBr]

I don't think a peppermint shrimp can take care of 2000 Aiptasia.

if you have 2,000 Aptasia spawns, you're not paying enough attention....

:wildone::uhoh2:

:bounce2::crazy1:

 

[fishgate]

if you have 2,000 Aptasia spawns, you're not paying enough attention....

:wildone::uhoh2:

:bounce2::crazy1:

Best response here!

And I plan on doing just that the next go-around. I have Aiptasia that I can't get to in weirs and behind a rock wall siliconed to the tank. The only hope for this tank is a complete tear-down. So I am removing what rock I can, bleaching it, and putting it in my new 120 gallon setup. Once enough rock is in, I'll move the live-stock and tear the rest down. Future plans include better husbandry and never ever gain to do a stupid rock wall. What a mistake!

 

[Sk8r]

Mmmm Silicon in a tank---I wonder if that could have been a problem, too. Silica is, and I wonder if silicon is somehow unstable in salt water. Sometimes when you have an unusual problem it's worth asking 'what's unusual in this setup?' The rock wall, silicon.http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/silicon/silicon-and-water.htm

Phosgard states it does pull silica from the water. And silicon is unstable in water. Wonder if a reactor might help that situation. Have NO idea whether silica would be a factor in an aiptasia bloom...just chasing a factoid I've not run across before.

 

[fishgate]

No - I have silicone! Not silicon!

 

[Sk8r]

AH. Superglue. THAT is stable. Hokay!! I only do words for a living. Should have figured that one.

 

[itche_scratche]

Copperband butterfly fish will take care that 2000 in a week. I got thousands of them, 1st month my copperband won't touch it. but after it get comfortable and eating food regularly, all mine gone within a week.

 

[itche_scratche]

nuke it with bleach only temporary remove it. it will come back after awhile. My tank start out with fully cook cured rock 3 years laters, thousand of them. after introduce the copperband butterfly have not see a single Aiptasia for 6 months now.

 

[fishgate]

The bigger issue is this rock wall I need to get rid of. It totally prevents any real maintenance being done in the tank. I do love Copperband Butterflys. If they come back in the new tank I will get one. Might get one anyway.