copperbands and zoas?

[Kurtneb9]

i have a 180 reef that has recently had an outbreak of aiptasia. I have too many to use Joes Juice or anything like that and my livestock doenst allow for me to have peppermint shrimp. I am thinking about getting a copperband to take care of the aiptasia but i have alot of zoas and have heard a few people say that they may eat them. Has anyone had an issue with this?
Kurt

 

[MUCHO REEF]

I see there are no replies, I wouldn't wait for one either. This is something you need to get under control ASAP. I have never owned a CBB, but from everything I have read about them years back, they are iffy at best with zoanthids. Some say they are safe, some have said absolutely not.

Have you Googled Copperband Buttergly fish and zoathinds? I would also search this forum and the reef discussion forum. I am sure there are numerous threads which can be of some assistance, but don't wait for the answers to come to you on this. When aptasia gets out of control, it can go from bad to worst quick. Good luck my friend.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1132203&highlight=copperband+butterfly

Mucho Reef

 

[A. Grandis]

All my Copperbands in the past had to go after a while.
To tell you the truth, all Angels and Butterflies I've tried before nipped on my zoas sooner or later.
I would just forget about the Copperband.
Besides that, they are kinda hard to feed in a closed system.
Beautiful fish!
After a while, if you decide to remove the fish, the Aiptasias will come back anyway.
Sorry.

Grandis.

 

[Kurtneb9]

im going to remove my harliquin tusk and add some peppermint shrimp and hope that works, i have heard mixed reviews on them eating aiptasia. Have you had luck removing aiptasia that way?
thanks

 

[8-ball]

It maybe easier to get a Berghia Nudibranch, once it eats all the aiptasia bring it to the LFS or see if someone elese can put it to use.

peppermint shrimp are give and take sometimes work, sometimes eat your coral

 

[650-IS350]

Berghia best use of control if you don't have any potential predators of the berghia like Wrasses or other fish that would gobble up the berghia's.

I had good results with file fish killing all aipts but right after, he went after all my expensive Z's first.... He seemed to love protopalys like Nuc Greens, PD's and capt. Americas.

 

[wireefman]

im going to remove my harliquin tusk and add some peppermint shrimp and hope that works, i have heard mixed reviews on them eating aiptasia. Have you had luck removing aiptasia that way?
thanks
in my experiance pepermint shrimp when added to the system in the begining are great at controlling them.. however once an outbreak is noticed then they are added ive had 0 luck

It maybe easier to get a Berghia Nudibranch, once it eats all the aiptasia bring it to the LFS or see if someone elese can put it to use. peppermint shrimp are give and take sometimes work, sometimes eat your coral


this is a great idea, not only that but if there is a big supply of them they will reproduce... here in mn our local club has a pair that we exchange through out the club when they are needed..

ive never had an issue with peps eating coral that was HEALTHY

Berghia best use of control if you don't have any potential predators of the berghia like Wrasses or other fish that would gobble up the berghia's.

I had good results with file fish killing all aipts but right after, he went after all my expensive Z's first.... He seemed to love protopalys like Nuc Greens, PD's and capt. Americas.


Another good one is the filefish however as stated they will go after polys once the aptasia is eradicated

 

[daewon]

i have a 180 reef that has recently had an outbreak of aiptasia. I have too many to use Joes Juice or anything like that and my livestock doenst allow for me to have peppermint shrimp. I am thinking about getting a copperband to take care of the aiptasia but i have alot of zoas and have heard a few people say that they may eat them. Has anyone had an issue with this?
Kurt

I've had really good luck with peppermint shrimp getting rid of my aiptasia. It's a bit hit or miss though. You'll see that some people on the board say it works, whereas some like me it has worked like a charm.