Good way to get rid of tiny Aiptasia?
- Thread starter Dratini
- Start date
Steve Canyon
New member
I haven't heard of that approach before. My first impression is "why not?" Frankly, it sounds like a winner. I can't wait to read what those-in-the-know have to write.
iamwrasseman
New member
when aiptasia's life is threatened it will combat this through releasing many ,many spores and thus spreading . stop aptasia works quite well if used properly as you have to stop all water movement first and for 15 minutes after use . when its applied you have to COVER THE ENTIRE MOUTH ORAFICE nothing less will work . less will kill the mother but she will release the spores that you will dread for years to come . if you have one pep shrimps may work and also a CBB will work if you can get him to live . i am lucky and have a resident CBB which i move from tank to tank monthly and he makes quick work of these pests but get some aptasiaX and READ the instructions COMPLETLY ! dont skimp on the stuff and kill that bugger off once and for all . smother it with aptasia X and he will be gone ! if you do it wrong and just sprinkle some around it you will find it will spread in self defense as i explained above .
i would think excess SG will only stress it in th ebegining and it too then will spread IMO .
good luck
i would think excess SG will only stress it in th ebegining and it too then will spread IMO .
good luck
iamwrasseman
New member
should work toddmh but it is much more reliable basically covering the entire mouth as i used to somewhat skimp and just feed a drop or two and they would close up and i was constantly battling it . after a couple years i started think back and it was killing the intended aptasia but down stream a bunch of babies would appear weeks later . then one day i actually read the instructions and they do want you to cover the entire mouth with it ,since then i kill one and there are no babies . between the aptasia x and my CBB its a rarity to find one in my tank but they are so tough to keep out 100% forever . anyone who states they have never had one is soooooooooo very lucky or simply not telling the truth .
iamwrasseman
New member
not a coral banded shrimp, copper band butterfly's are the best if you can get one to acclimate well . mine does great as i had mentioned .they are rather difficult to get 100% gone . peppermint shrimp work usually but be sure and get true pep shrimps
iamwrasseman
New member
your correct but i have been there too . when you pull out a rock with 38 heads of shrinking aptasia on it its impossible to get them all but yes you can try that too . still the natural way is best as if there is an animal in the tank that eats them they will be gone and you dont have to think about that anymore .
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
whatever you do
whatever you do
I'd make the move to eradicate quickly- before it hides or reproduces
whatever you do
I'd make the move to eradicate quickly- before it hides or reproduces
iamwrasseman
New member
very good point Gary !
Dave VG
New member
One of my goals for my 40B was to keep it free of aptasia and was doing a good job until like you I bought some Z and P corals on live rock from another reefer. Only mine were LOADED with them and I mean loaded and of course it took a few days for them to come out and when they did I about crapped myself right there on the spot. A two inch round frag with about 5 or 6 good sized aptasia and that was only one frag"¦ I had about 6 more frags the same way. Sorry for the rant and now my cure. I have been using straight lemon juice on them and it seems to work very well as long as you are sure to inject it into the aptasia. I use an insulin syringe the small needle works well. Do not skimp when injecting I think that's the key and the puff of lemon juice you will see must kill the spores if released as mine don't seem to be spreading. It's been a few months and I can finally say at this point that I have a very good handle on it. Not saying I'm aptasia free but I have not seen one in weeks. Hope I just didn't jinx myself lol. I have also had very good luck with aptasia X in the past. For the future I will now quarantine EVERY coral that goes into my tank for a week or two not just for aptasia but to be sure it's free of all pests. Good luck to you.
Steve Canyon
New member
CBB completely cleared my 150 on a matter of a few weeks.
Kleins took about 3 days to clear my 56.
Not a single one in either tank since. If one shows up in my 90, I put it in the 56 or a day or so. Problem solved.
The aptx, joes, lemon, etc was all temporary. They cost about the same, so why not go with the fish?
Some might say they acquire a taste for high end corals. I don't have any other than TT, so no worries for me on that concern.....
Kleins took about 3 days to clear my 56.
Not a single one in either tank since. If one shows up in my 90, I put it in the 56 or a day or so. Problem solved.
The aptx, joes, lemon, etc was all temporary. They cost about the same, so why not go with the fish?
Some might say they acquire a taste for high end corals. I don't have any other than TT, so no worries for me on that concern.....
MD Ocean Girl
New member
ABC Reefs should have it....that's where I bought mine from. Have used it multiple times with no bad results. Like others have said repeatedly, make sure to read the directions entirely and follow them completely. The only aiptasia I end up with now are if they come attached to a newly purchased coral frag or live rock.
Good luck!!!!
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