Save my Acros, Kill my Apitasia

gdemos

gdemos

New member
Hoping to get a quick casting poll here and proven masterful advice. I have a 6 month new 120g that will be stocked with acro that I am in the process of collecting and growing out in my separate frag system.

I'm posting this here because I do not want to risk the acros I intend to keep, and I can't seem to get a clear answer elsewhere on other forum categories.

I have an aiptasia problem. I have tried the "aptaser" (electrical current) wand, kalk paste, a CBB, and a 3W 495nm Laser. None have proven to be a desireable long-term solution capable of erradication. I have a limited line of sight to the aiptasia due to my in-wall setup.

I have 3 or 4 conceivable paths now:
1)matted filefish
2)peppermint shrimp
3)bhergia nudibranch
4)another CBB

I will likely try the bhergia, especially if they are aquacultured as I know they have a limited lifespan and I'd rather avoid any toxins upon demise.

I am hoping that I can find a healthy small CBB or matted filefish that is eating aiptasia at a LFS, but no such luck.

I have heard mixed thoughts on Peppermints. Many report they work, yet some suggest they will eat the Acros I will eventually put into this display tank...and that they are near impossible to remove from the tank.

Any validated reports that the peppermint will eat acros? What would you do?

Thanks,
 
Peppermints worked for me. Just make sure they're either wild atlantic or proven apt eating if tank raised.

i'm interested in the laser if you want to sell it.
 
so no problem with the peppermints grazing on your acro WayneL?
man i guess this is entirely hit or miss; some folks tell me to steer clear of peppermints for their ability to torture acro and inability to capture if so.
and from what I've read the specias of Peppermint is: Lysmata Wurdurmanii.

the laser is cool, but I just got it and it took a while to get it built, so not ready to sell it yet psidriven.

i've gone through some fairly extensive and expensive effort on this aiptasia issue and really want to erradicate them before i introduce my grow out frags to this display.
 
i've been quite aggressive on the aiptasia. this past weekend i even moved some rock a bit to nail the aiptasia that the laser and kalk syringe wand I us could not reach. but once i move the frags in i wont be able to do this again.

i believe the bhergia will be my next bet. dealing with a bit of NO3 at the moment and getting that down before i add the nudis.
 
Chris1292, that sounds great with the filefish, i presume matted filefish? did you observe him eating aiptasia at your LFS or just take a shot and grab one online?
 
I personally had no success removing aptasia manually or with kalk. A friend let me use his aptasia eating file fish and in one month there were none. It is not too hard to catch it sometimes hides in the upper corners of the tank.
 
i got a freeking laser beam for goodness sake, i'm serious about being aip free. would be so psyched if i could find an aip eating matted file fish. i don't want to get one just for the heck of it, i want one thats a proven aip eater.
 
I personally tried 1.2w laser, aiptasia X, Kalk, majano wand, calcium hydroxide, and Berghia. Berghia did it for me, although I have very few natural berghia predators in my tank. Majano wand and aiptasia X seemed to make the aiptasia spread, other chemicals seemed to become more difficult to control as the infestation got worse, and the 1.2w laser seemed to need about 2x the power.

Happy aiptasia free tank thanks to berghia here.
 
ThaBeast said:
I personally tried 1.2w laser, aiptasia X, Kalk, majano wand, calcium hydroxide, and Berghia. Berghia did it for me, although I have very few natural berghia predators in my tank. Majano wand and aiptasia X seemed to make the aiptasia spread, other chemicals seemed to become more difficult to control as the infestation got worse, and the 1.2w laser seemed to need about 2x the power.

Happy aiptasia free tank thanks to berghia here.
Click to expand...

x2 here as well........
 
Three Peppermint shrimp did the trick in my 109 gal setup and now they just hang out under a rock ledge and don't bother anyone. They've never bothered any corals and I can't say I've ever even heard of anyone having that problem with these guys. The kids think they are great.

Peppermint Shrimp
[SIZE=-2]Lysmata wurdemanni complex
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]
peppermintshrimp.jpg

[/SIZE]Do you have pesky aptasia anenome's taking over your tank?

 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD width="100%">Description: The Peppermint Shrimp is a smart addition to all reef aquariums because of its desire to eat nuisance glass anemones (Aiptasia). The body of the Peppermint shrimp is somewhat transparent with red stripes that run parallel along their body. Peppermint Shrimp are very easy to care for and prefer to be kept in groups. They should be fed daily and will not harm other shrimp. Peppermint Shrimp grow quickly and will molt. Leftover bodies are not dead shrimp, you are seeing the exoskeleton remains of what was shed, when the molt. In order for Shrimp to grow they need to shed their exoskeleton, a process called "molting", which allows them to remove their restricting shell and begin a new one. Often times in the home aquarium Shrimp will leave this translucent shell in full view so it can serve as a distraction while the Shrimp finds a hiding place and allows its new shell to harden.
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Safe: An excellent reef aquarium species
Diet: The diet of the Peppermint Shrimp may include Brine, live or frozen foods, pellet and flaked foods.
Reef Compatability:An excellent reef aquarium species, gets along well with tank mates
Approximate Purchase Size: 1" to 11/4"</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
I had tried about 30 pepper mints on Mayanos anemones and ended up getting a copper banded buter instead and it worked for me. The pepper mints might work on aphtasi but they killed my three rock anemones instead and would not touch my green majanos names.
 
Peppermints are pretty much hit and miss, Some have success with them, while others have not. Seems once they get a taste of frozen food it's game over.

Berghias are definately the best choice as that is all they will eat. Plus the fact they can get in tiny cracks and crevices....
 
I have always used concentrated lime juice. Just get a syringes with a small needle and inject away. Its the only thing that has ever worked for me and I have used since. Just dont do all at the same time if you have a lot. Split it like in 2 days. So half one day half next. Promise it works.. gl budd
 
I used a copperband butterfly to clean my tank ...my guy was a predator of aptasia he would come out right away when a rock w aptasia was dropped into the tank and its a large tank...then he died when I added a longnose butterfly and they finished the available food in the system.
 
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