Purchased a 55g "reef" - Aiptasia & how to rebuild

Had a few Aiptasia pop-up on a rock with several feather dusters attached. Didn't wont to lose those dusters. Tried Joe's Juice. Two days later Aiptasia that I thought were gone returned with a vengeance. Now there were more than a dozen. Threw in 4 peppermint shrimp. They went to work within minutes. Aiptasia was gone overnight. it's been 6 months now and I haven't seen a single one raise its ugly head.
 
Had a few Aiptasia pop-up on a rock with several feather dusters attached. Didn't wont to lose those dusters. Tried Joe's Juice. Two days later Aiptasia that I thought were gone returned with a vengeance. Now there were more than a dozen. Threw in 4 peppermint shrimp. They went to work within minutes. Aiptasia was gone overnight. it's been 6 months now and I haven't seen a single one raise its ugly head.

Nuking all rock...

I plan on getting my Peppermints as soon as tank is up and running and chemistry allows. My 20g is a Red Cherry Shrimp/Harlequin Rasbora tank and I really enjoy so I wanted a few shrimp anyway...

Started with 18 RCS last Nov. and now I count over 80 at feeding time. Of course, I realize the Peppermints are quite different!
 
Ha! So when I bought this tank there was a "junk box" in the cabinet. I had pulled out some stuff but left some smaller items. I now see there are some hypo needles. Thus, they had been fighting Aiptasia, surely. Yep... nuking the rock!
 
So.. I just returned from my LFS and I checked out in detail the corals, polyps, etc. I look and I can't believe my eyes... there for sale at at "normal" polyp price is "Yellow Polyp" - Wow.. that looks like the "aptasia" I have that I need to "nuke." "Can't be," I think... "why would LFS be selling that stuff and why would it be in a tank with other beautiful corals and polys? Must be something else."

So I come home, look up "yellow polyp" and sure enough... Aptasia! Had I been thinking, I would have asked about it and seen if I was warned of it's dangers. If this stuff is so horrible why is it sold? (rhetorical - and yes, I know why)
 
So.. I just returned from my LFS and I checked out in detail the corals, polyps, etc. I look and I can't believe my eyes... there for sale at at "normal" polyp price is "Yellow Polyp" - Wow.. that looks like the "aptasia" I have that I need to "nuke." "Can't be," I think... "why would LFS be selling that stuff and why would it be in a tank with other beautiful corals and polys? Must be something else."

So I come home, look up "yellow polyp" and sure enough... Aptasia! Had I been thinking, I would have asked about it and seen if I was warned of it's dangers. If this stuff is so horrible why is it sold? (rhetorical - and yes, I know why)

Someone had posted a picture of a catalogue that was for LFS to stock their tanks for people to buy and Aiptasia was listed as a "hardy" coral. :lol:
 
I'm experimenting. Even though my 29g is a temp tank and it has the "bad" rock in it, all params are good. I picked up two peppermint shrimp... I want to see if they can make any noticeable difference. Though I'm not sure they were big enough to care about the aptasia. They are about one inch in length.
 
I'm experimenting. Even though my 29g is a temp tank and it has the "bad" rock in it, all params are good. I picked up two peppermint shrimp... I want to see if they can make any noticeable difference. Though I'm not sure they were big enough to care about the aptasia. They are about one inch in length.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
 
There is a type of zoanthid that is commonly sold as yellow polyp. I guess it does kinda look like aiptasia now that you mention it. But it isn't dangerous (unless you count palytoxin).
 
There is a type of zoanthid that is commonly sold as yellow polyp. I guess it does kinda look like aiptasia now that you mention it. But it isn't dangerous (unless you count palytoxin).

The Yellow polyp I saw at the LFS had a bright yellow "dot" in the center.. my "aptasia" does not else it looks the same. So not sure if its same or not.

This is all so interesting... really looking forward to my ups and downs in the reef world..... I enjoy my Freshwater tanks immensely and I am amazed at how fish react to different environments.
 
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