How to prevent Aiptasia...I have so many now any suggestions
Aiptasia
- Thread starter Reef Rambo
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The only way to prevent it would simply be by never introducing it. This can be accomplished by buying corals from already-clean sources, and/or simply inspecting closely. Quarantining corals also helps to extend the inspection period.
Once introduced, the issue becomes removing it, and that’s the hard part! Have you already accidentally introduced it to a tank?
Once introduced, the issue becomes removing it, and that’s the hard part! Have you already accidentally introduced it to a tank?
I keep peppermint shrimp that I know will eat it in each of our tanks. Not all peppermints will - it's 1 species and even then they aren't guaranteed.
There honestly is not "do this and it works" solution to aiptasia - different solutions work for different people.
Can you move your rocks? What animals and corals are in your tank? Would you prefer a manual solution or a natural solution?
There honestly is not "do this and it works" solution to aiptasia - different solutions work for different people.
Can you move your rocks? What animals and corals are in your tank? Would you prefer a manual solution or a natural solution?
Yes...and also when I saw 1 i ask local fish store nimo he said it’s no Harm so dot worry...now he is like buy this fish this shrimp n this chemical n all...now they r so many so I m worried I have 125 gallon...so what is best way to prevent?
how to prevent - be careful and keep them out of the tank (this is tougher than it sounds)
Get rid of once you already have it - you have several options depending on what you are willing to do. You probably will never get rid of it completely.
You can try doing it manually by hand - if you have a couple this is easy, if you have hundreds or thousands this is tough, time consuming and can cause it to spread more.
You can try to find a copperband butterfly - but they can be hard to get acclimated and eating. If you luck out and get a good specimen he will eat all the ones he can get too.
Berghia nudibranchs - takes a while, expensive, can be hard to find, will starve to death once they can't eat all the ones they can access. They ONLY eat aiptasia but it can be challenging to get a colony established in your tank. They also take a while to make a noticeable change - a month or more.
Peppermint shrimp - work well if you get the right ones and they can get to it.
Filefish - might work might not. Mine won't touch the stuff.
Laser - BE CAREFUL, they're dangerous and can cause harm to you, your family and your fish if you are careless.
Tear the whole tank down and start over (I don't condone this BTW).
Ultimately it can be VERY difficult to prevent aiptasia and if it gets away from you can be hard to fix. Once you have it in your system it's doubtful you'll ever get rid of them 100%. They love to hide in your sump, plumbing, overflows etc.
Get rid of once you already have it - you have several options depending on what you are willing to do. You probably will never get rid of it completely.
You can try doing it manually by hand - if you have a couple this is easy, if you have hundreds or thousands this is tough, time consuming and can cause it to spread more.
You can try to find a copperband butterfly - but they can be hard to get acclimated and eating. If you luck out and get a good specimen he will eat all the ones he can get too.
Berghia nudibranchs - takes a while, expensive, can be hard to find, will starve to death once they can't eat all the ones they can access. They ONLY eat aiptasia but it can be challenging to get a colony established in your tank. They also take a while to make a noticeable change - a month or more.
Peppermint shrimp - work well if you get the right ones and they can get to it.
Filefish - might work might not. Mine won't touch the stuff.
Laser - BE CAREFUL, they're dangerous and can cause harm to you, your family and your fish if you are careless.
Tear the whole tank down and start over (I don't condone this BTW).
Ultimately it can be VERY difficult to prevent aiptasia and if it gets away from you can be hard to fix. Once you have it in your system it's doubtful you'll ever get rid of them 100%. They love to hide in your sump, plumbing, overflows etc.
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I have seen people post videos injecting them with aiptasia x, lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide with some success. This may be more practical if you have only a few and you are able to reach them.
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Thanks everyone for the response
The problem with Aiptasia is the gametes. When irritated they release millions of them. The best way to deal with them is to not introduce them. Once you have them the only two options you have are management or a complete restart by nuking and sterilizing the entire system. All glass/acrylic, piping... every surface of the system with water contact.
As I stated in another thread, management is best done in a multipronged approach. I don't like Aiptasia-X as every time I've used it I've had a population explosion within a few months. Acids like citric or lemon juice injected directly into the mouth is a good method as it kills it and the gametes. Kalk paste too for the same reason. H2O2 is effective as well but I'd recommend stronger than store bought 3%.
The laser works but only the ones where you can get them right in the mouth, then burn everything outwards from there. Lasers have several inherent dangers associated with them because you need a pretty powerful one. Without the correct protection permanent eye damage, up to and including blindness are not possibilities but certainties. Reflections off the glass can burn you too. You can also only use it after lights out when your fish bed down, but you still have to be careful as some fish like clowns may wander over to investigate. You can also only use the laser in short intervals to allow it to cool down or you risk frying the diode.
On the natural side. True Peppermint shrimp can work but you need do you're research to be sure you're not buying another shrimp that looks almost identical but will not eat Aiptasia. They often get mixed up in suppliers tanks. Then there all the other fish and nudi's listed above.
Whatever you do, short of nuking, make sure you implement two or three of these options.
As I stated in another thread, management is best done in a multipronged approach. I don't like Aiptasia-X as every time I've used it I've had a population explosion within a few months. Acids like citric or lemon juice injected directly into the mouth is a good method as it kills it and the gametes. Kalk paste too for the same reason. H2O2 is effective as well but I'd recommend stronger than store bought 3%.
The laser works but only the ones where you can get them right in the mouth, then burn everything outwards from there. Lasers have several inherent dangers associated with them because you need a pretty powerful one. Without the correct protection permanent eye damage, up to and including blindness are not possibilities but certainties. Reflections off the glass can burn you too. You can also only use it after lights out when your fish bed down, but you still have to be careful as some fish like clowns may wander over to investigate. You can also only use the laser in short intervals to allow it to cool down or you risk frying the diode.
On the natural side. True Peppermint shrimp can work but you need do you're research to be sure you're not buying another shrimp that looks almost identical but will not eat Aiptasia. They often get mixed up in suppliers tanks. Then there all the other fish and nudi's listed above.
Whatever you do, short of nuking, make sure you implement two or three of these options.
wait, what? they told you no harm in introducing aiptasia into your tank? sorry that you got such a terrible advice if that's the case.
avoid it like a plague.
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I agree, do everything you can to avoid them. But having them is not the end of the world. I would not nuke a tank over them.
Once you have them it becomes a management strategy. I have always had good luck with peppermint shrimp. Don't expect them to clear them out overnight. It may take weeks for the shrimp to get acclimated and find the Aiptasia. The other problem is that they can't always get to all of them. Like in the overflows and sump. They also have problems getting them in high flow areas.
I have had an Aiptasia eating filefish for about a year. It actually did a good job of getting some tough ones that the shrimp had not handled. It's a really cool fish and I enjoy it.
Both of these options can and will sometimes attack coral. I have found that feeding enough that they can get a meal mitigates this.
The camel shrimp is sometimes confused with and delivered as a peppermint shrimp. Camel shrimp will attack coral. I have only had this happen once.
I always add peppermint shrimp to the initial clean up crew of new tanks.
Once you have them it becomes a management strategy. I have always had good luck with peppermint shrimp. Don't expect them to clear them out overnight. It may take weeks for the shrimp to get acclimated and find the Aiptasia. The other problem is that they can't always get to all of them. Like in the overflows and sump. They also have problems getting them in high flow areas.
I have had an Aiptasia eating filefish for about a year. It actually did a good job of getting some tough ones that the shrimp had not handled. It's a really cool fish and I enjoy it.
Both of these options can and will sometimes attack coral. I have found that feeding enough that they can get a meal mitigates this.
The camel shrimp is sometimes confused with and delivered as a peppermint shrimp. Camel shrimp will attack coral. I have only had this happen once.
I always add peppermint shrimp to the initial clean up crew of new tanks.
@gainesvillereef is correct, they aren't the end of the world and the solution adds up to a lot of time. Its not a lot of time all at once but is more of a 10 minutes a week for a long time. I don't have any that I can see right now but they're certainly around since all of my tanks have had them in the past. When I had them pretty bad here's what I did.
- I would kill all that I could before my weekly water change using AptasiaX. I would treat that aptasia, set a time for 5-10 minutes and then siphon off the excess AptaiaX. For one or two spots I'd just let the AptasiaX dissolve into the water but for a bunch I'd siphon it out. In order to combat aptasia, I made smaller but more frequent water changes so I could kill the dang things.
- Peppermint shrimp have always done a pretty good job for me. Results may vary but I've always had success. They're never seen but I know they're around because once they die, I'll see an aptasia or two pop up.
- Feed less while getting the issue in hand.
Thanks for the advice guys..it’s great help I bought 1 file fish n aptesia x just use now coz I have cleaning day tomorrow...it’s hard to find paperment shrimp some spend 4 5 store yesterday but no luck..will try next weak hope will find..
How many papermint shrimp???
Can I keep fire and cleaner all togather or no?
Also planning to have hermit crab??is it ok to have all togather..
Take a look of attached pictures so u guys have n idea wat kind a coral I have..
I just have basic fish..plz advise
How many papermint shrimp???
Can I keep fire and cleaner all togather or no?
Also planning to have hermit crab??is it ok to have all togather..
Take a look of attached pictures so u guys have n idea wat kind a coral I have..
I just have basic fish..plz advise
Attachments
The true peppermints are usually more available in the winter. Check with Reefcleaners (.org) sometime in the next month or so and he will usually have them. He also guarantees they are true peppermints.
How many papermint shrimp??? - You really only need 1 IMO.
Can I keep fire and cleaner all togather or no? - I do not know the answer to that
Also planning to have hermit crab??is it ok to have all togather.. I keep peppermints, hermit crabs of several varieties and emerald crabs in our tanks. They probably are battling each other in some way or another deep down inside the rockwork at night - but it's not a big deal. They don't immediately start fighting and kill each other on sight. I generally replenish snails & crabs once a year or so.
How many papermint shrimp??? - You really only need 1 IMO.
Can I keep fire and cleaner all togather or no? - I do not know the answer to that
Also planning to have hermit crab??is it ok to have all togather.. I keep peppermints, hermit crabs of several varieties and emerald crabs in our tanks. They probably are battling each other in some way or another deep down inside the rockwork at night - but it's not a big deal. They don't immediately start fighting and kill each other on sight. I generally replenish snails & crabs once a year or so.
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