Aptasias

[dylpik27]

Just wondering what success stories are out there regarding the different ways to rid a reef of aptasias. I got an army of Peppermints awhile back that tore through them, but then they began on my frogspawn and clam so I had to remove them. The aptasias have since come back (or at least are starting to). I don't want to dump any Aptasia-X or kalk on them because some are so close to corals I fear I'll injure the corals as well. Anyone have other ideas?
Thanks

 

[jef4y]

Chemical treatment - aiptasia X, Joes Juice, etc.
Predator approach - shrimp, butterfly fish, filefish
Majano wand - $100'ish electrical zapper

All have their pros/cons.

Chemicals are cheap/easy but can harm neighboring corals (which will most likely recover) but aren't guaranteed to kill the pest anemones.

Predators can be effective but can be expensive and come with unwanted side effects like eating your corals/clams.

Zapper is very effective, but costly and you're limited to what you can see/reach.

 

[snowmansnow]

120 g tank.
7 peppermint shrimp = eradication

 

[KrisDeitz]

Heard good things about copper bands

 

[jimmystephens]

Aptasia x works great. Even on mojanas. (However u spell them. )

 

[stickx911]

14g and 3 peps worked finally for me. only 1 seems to have "made it" but in a week they had done their job pretty well. aptasia-x always seemed to make things worse for me.

 

[reef coffee & curly hair]

+1 on peppermint shrimp. Start with fewer peppermint shrimp starting with at least 3 (55 plus gallons) then add 1 or 2 every week (or chance you get) until the aptasia are no more. Maybe having just enough to work the tank might help. After the aiptasias are history, u could try feeding a little at lights out when they like to start coming out. I personally have had great success and no issues with them, but just like everything else in this hobby you may get a rogue situation depending on the individual, tank setup/livestock, and feeding habits of the tank owner. There are also two species of peppermint shrimp: L. Wurdemani and L. Rathbunae. The only difference I have ever been able to see is L. Rathbunae having a black tail fan. This is the one that supposedly ignores aiptasia. I have had both without incident.
I've had a copperband (who perished due to powder blue freak out) and matted filefish (who now resides in my sump). Filefish didn't do anything but I have some random button polyps growing and was hoping he would handle them for me. I'm still hoping.
I only used aiptasia-x to kill the bigger ones bc the ones the size of a quarter were able to eat the peppermint shrimp.
Molly Miller Blennies have also been know to eat aiptasia. Hope this helps.

 

[kf2008]

Part 1: I have tried peppermint shrimp and it worked in reducing (not totally eliminating) the aiptasia. That is until it went wild on my hammerhead, zoas, and frogspawn. Perhaps I didn't feed enough but those buggers, IMHO, can be destructive on corals. Once the shrimp is removed, the rebirth of aiptasia starts.

Part 2: Commercial/downright illegal-grade laser. I have a buddy with access to one, and he came over to zap some aiptasia. It melted the visible ones but the aiptasia won out as I had more outbreaks thereafter. Perhaps my knucklehead buddy was zapping aimlessly and didn't get the "core". Nonetheless, it failed.

Part 3: I am currently using aiptasia-x and it seems to be a win some/lose some battle...meaning, I'm noticing less growth and it's simply a matter of additional/incremental treatments. Fingers crossed....

Part 4 and so on: TBD

 

[superclown]

i dont know whats up with my peppermint shrimp. I got 10 of them in my 30g cube (they are small) but they are not really messing with the aptasia as far as i can tell

 

[dabo]

sometimes peppermint shrimp will not eat them if the shrimp is being feed regularly . they need to miss a couple of meals to have to go find the aiptasia to eat . but during this time you must keep an eye on them eating your frog spawn ,clams , ricordea , you know anything soft and fleshy . hope this helps

 

[superclown]

Yah I feed pellet every other day and the fish consume 90% of that

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[dylpik27]

Thank you all. I've tried a lot of what you guys recommended and I think I agree with the majority of you - peppermints are probably my best bet. I think I just overstocked my tank with them last time and they resorted to eating corals because of the competition. I think I'll pick up a few and see if they start thinning them out. Looks like my blue hamlet must go!

Snowman - I'll use your ratio and start with 3 (I have a 54 corner)

 

[superclown]

Good Luck let us know how it works out. I did notice a few of the aptasia are moving around in my tank a little more than normal. I also noticed a couple missing and some with chewed up tenticles :yay:

However I think i have let the problem go on for such a prolonged period that a file fish will most likely be added to the tank this weekend as well.

dylpik27;810904 wrote: Thank you all. I've tried a lot of what you guys recommended and I think I agree with the majority of you - peppermints are probably my best bet. I think I just overstocked my tank with them last time and they resorted to eating corals because of the competition. I think I'll pick up a few and see if they start thinning them out. Looks like my blue hamlet must go!

Snowman - I'll use your ratio and start with 3 (I have a 54 corner)