Butterflys

[OwenInAZ]

I've been taking care of a guy's 90 gallon tank for a while now when he's out on contract in Washington. The tank has a lot of aiptasia, which I had been attacking with aiptasia X until I realized the futility of the exercise. Now I just keep the nano free.

I was thinking about a copper banded or a Klein's butterfly to put in there, because I've read they both consume aiptasia. However, I've also read that they can nip at coral polyps. There aren't very many corals in the tank -- long story involving months of neglect to the tank -- but there is an orange digi, a couple caps and a big hunk of acans. Will the fish pick on those types of corals? Thanks

 

[Eggs]

Klein's Butterfly works well for aiptasia, but will probably take a liking to the acans.

 

[Laddy]

I've heard good things about Klein's.

I agree with Eggs, the acans stand a chance to be nipped at.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I would do a kliens, but go into it knowing that it won't be long term - remove it when the aiptasia are gone because it may start picking.

 

[OwenInAZ]

Yeah, that's the problem. I don't want the thing to starve, but I imagine it won't get it all just because there will be one somewhere stuck in a crevice and it will all start again...

I'm thinking I ask to frag up the acans some. There are aiptasia on the hunk of LR the acans grow on, and I don't want to transfer them to another tank if I can at all avoid it. Think a butterfly will nip at SPS? Now that I think of it, there is also a euphyllia in there too.

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Any butterfly stands a chance of going after corals. If you (or he) is willing to loose a colony or two, by all means try one.

Otherwise, I would try a batch of peppermints first.

 

[OwenInAZ]

I've tried peppermints in his tank, but i only put in four for a 90... they were gone in short order (or at least I can't see them ) and I don't feed the tank very often so I'd think they'd have started chowing down by now. I think I'll frag up the acans and get them out of there and try a butterfly. I have the other corals in my tank so if he wants to get them back I'll just snip off a frag and he'll be set.

 

[discusone]

Im going to rant for just a second here.

Why not keep Bflys because we like them,instead of using them for pest control,and then curse them because they do what comes naturally to Bflys.?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14498609#post14498609 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OwenInAZ
I think I'll frag up the acans and get them out of there and try a butterfly.

for the Klein's this is what I'd do. If you add a CBB it probably won't bother the Acans but the Klein's is a surer bet to eat apes.

 

[OwenInAZ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14499246#post14499246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by discusone
Im going to rant for just a second here.

Why not keep Bflys because we like them,instead of using them for pest control,and then curse them because they do what comes naturally to Bflys.?

No one is cursing them. I'm not sure why you're ranting on that.

We have been discussing the likelihood that one will chew on corals.

One will be handy for pest control, but if it eats corals (what comes naturally) it isn't as desirable. What's there to rant about?

 

[discusone]

Well, from your OP,you tried aiptasiaX ,did not work,so you read CBB,klienis will eat aiptasia.
But, no mention of QTing a new Bfly,and what happens when the Bfly eats all of the aiptasia,then will not take prepared foods,and either starves,or begins to pick on corals,and other sensile inverts?
Most likely,any Bfly that will eat aiptasia are going to sample any corals,and those that are considered reefsafe,will not rid your friends tank of the aiptasia.
So,please dont get defensive,my post was just a general observation.I am just asking hobbyists to ask themselves a question, "if i didnt have a aiptasia problem,would i even consider a Bfly for my tank"?.And do i have the Bflys best intrest at heart,or do i need a quick fix to a pest problem?

 

[Eggs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14495795#post14495795 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LobsterOfJustice
I would do a kliens, but go into it knowing that it won't be long term - remove it when the aiptasia are gone because it may start picking.

This is exactly what I did. The Klein cleaned up the aiptasia problem really well, then I put him in a fish-only tank.
I wish I could have kept him in the reef, because the live rock looked so good.

 

[reefer31]

I had some baby aptasia growing in my 120 reef and i stuck in i think 6 peppermints..maybe it was 4 i cant remember. But anyways the aptasia are gone and i thought that my peps were gone too. However, the other night i saw 3 of them, they are pretty cryptic lil buggers so im sure they are still in there unless something ate them. Also if you dont see a decline in the #'s of aptasia try some more peps, I have always had success with these guys. I think the smaller the aptasia the better for peps, if they are mature and large aptasia I would think aptasia x them till they shrink down a bit. That has been my experience anyways.