killing aptasia by tear down ??

[genzod66]

i have a 24 gallon fish alone w live rock tank,i have a ton of aptasia been battling forever,could i take the tank down for a cure ? i have another tank so i could switch fish ? or would turning lights off kill it ? how long for that ? or could i take the rock out and do something with that ? any ideas would be great , thanks

 

[worm5406]

Aptasia is the crabgrass of the lawn.

Do this...

Take out your camera/phone what ever you can use to identify where they guys are located.

Take a good picture of them, overall. That way you can look when you are done to see what you missed.

Get some aptasiax or even mix up some strong kalkwasser.
Take the rock out and litterally put a dab in each one of the sections that has Aptasia. (now do not make it a MOUND where it covers the entire rock. it will blast your PH off the chart.
Put it back in.

Light off - no luck

If you take the rock out you could BOIL it....

For me, worm, personally on this subject....

Is the rock beneficial. (Probably yes) How much will I loose if I BOIL the aptasia out... (A lot of good stars worms and bacteria)

SO... Take a turkey baster and cook each and everyone out.
Take some tank water or RO and put in microwave for like 3 minutes.
The water WILL boil yes...

Now be quick... suck some up in baster (DO NOT TURN UPSIDE DOWN) go straight to the tank, in the water, and short blast each and everyone. Keep in mind to not get boiling water on ANYTHING else (fish or yourself) and POP away at each one. Refill baster and reheat water as necessary. All you need is a quick burst DIRECTLY on each one. (put the baster actually on the rock do not try to blast from 3 inches away.)

Wait about 30 minutes (on a tank that size) and do a GOOD water change.


Ya know I think Ill make a video of this and post it up.

 

[worm5406]

Looking at this video:

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uWdKziAIUAg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You can see it work.. for me personally there is too much collateral damage by spraying and praying like this.

 

[java]

i had good luck with lemon juice in a syringe, stab them with the needle and squirt a little bit. never came back for me. may take a few times to get the ones that hide deep in the rocks.

 

[twf0369]

Have you tried a peppermint shrimp? Also a Copperband Butterfly, from what I've heard works well.

 

[sanchoy]

Peppermints are more miss then hit. Copper bands will usually eat them but starve afterwards due to their diet. Aiptasia filefish are usually your best bet

 

[genzod66]

yeah its everywhere ,i had a file fish, he ate it all, but died , then a few weeks went by and they were back just as bad, got a new file fish, he hasnt really touched it, its been going on for a long time,no corals so i may get extreme w it

 

[Humu Humu]

Peppermint shrimp have eliminated my aptasia. I needed 4 shrimp to get them going, but they really did the job. I have some in my 29 and will get a few more shrimp for that tank as well.

 

[Millticket]

I've used both the boiling water and kalk paste method with much success.

 

[Stickboy97]

Peppermint shrimp worked for me until my wrasse ate them.At least he waited until all the Aps were gone

 

[Tszat]

Manjo Wand

Manjo Wand

We use a Manjo Wand (google it). Works like a champ. We have also used it on neussance polyps and just for polyp control where needed.

 

[kreef82]

nothing will beat an aiptasia eating filefish.

 

[zachfishman]

Peppermint shrimp have eliminated my aptasia. I needed 4 shrimp to get them going, but they really did the job. I have some in my 29 and will get a few more shrimp for that tank as well.

+1 I am 3 for 3 with Peppermints. Just 1 in my old 29 cleared out my Aiptasia in 1 month. We dropped 20 into our 600g at work and they also cleared out our Aiptasia in ~1mo.

 

[sniper2be]

peppermint shrimp have worked for me in my frag tank

 

[Fryman]

Peppermints did not work for me. Berghia nudibranch however did the trick. Check your local forums, when they have finished eating your aiptasia some people pass them on.

 

[Ucyibd1]

Copperband butterfly here. Have had it for 4 months now.....got it eating frozen brine, and while checking the tank I noticed it had eaten all the aiptasia also.