Terrible surprise in the overflow box

[jeffmuse]

I had the day off today, and spent most of the afternoon working on a couple of tank projects. I took the canopy down to replace some bulbs, and thought that this would be a good opportunity to clean out the over flow box (I have my heaters back there and a Ph probe). I really haven't messed with the over flow in a long time as it is hard to get to with the canopy on, and my tank only has about 6 inches clearance from the wall. Well, I went to remove the heaters, and this is what I found:

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Aptasia... I introduced a coral about a year ago, and found that there was an aptasia on the rock that it came on. I killed it with epoxy and then bought a small army of peppermint shrimp, and NEVER saw one in my tank ever again.

As it turns out there where about 12 in the over flow, and I had no idea how long they have been there. I assume that the peppermints have stopped an outbreak in the tank, but it pisses me off that these things are in my system at all. Needless to say, I sent all of these things to straight to hell with epoxy and aptasia killer :thumbs: The only silver lining is that ALL of these things where right near the top of the overflow and where easy to reach.

My question, is there any way to stop something from growing in the over flow box? Anyone come up with any good solutions for covering the over flow or preventing light from getting back there?

 

[steve]

If you have peppermints in the display I wouldn't worry about them, IME they aren't photosynthetic and can live just about anywhere. Plus they are good filter feeders. I'd say leave em.

 

[sharkbait]

Heck I would toss a peppermint back there and let him go crazy

 

[rjrgroup]

Sounds like a good home for one of your pep for awhile...if you can catch one. I have a black acrylic cover that works nice but I still have the little buggers that grow in there too.

 

[gnashty]

Sharkbait;616929 wrote: Heck I would toss a peppermint back there and let him go crazy

He be in the sump pretty quick I imagine...lol

 

[sharkbait]

gnashty;616935 wrote: He be in the sump pretty quick I imagine...lol

Not if he has a strainer on the drain lines....

 

[rbredding]

what's the big deal?


I mean.. I understand if you don't want them.. but 12 of them in an overflow and a clear display isn't a "situation"..

 

[sprinklerman500]

Where do I get the stuff to kill it?I have some and need it gone,what do I do?

 

[rbredding]

there are lots of companies that sell stuff to kill Aiptasia.. Aiptasia X is one.. some people use joe's juice.. I've heard some that use lemon(or is it lime) juce or kalk paste..

 

[sharkbait]

Rbredding;616947 wrote: what's the big deal?


I mean.. I understand if you don't want them.. but 12 of them in an overflow and a clear display isn't a "situation"..

I think he is just worried about the possibility of them spreading into the DT and creating a problem. IMO I would just toss a peppermint back there and pull him out in a week or so.

Edit:

Rbredding;616963 wrote: there are lots of companies that sell stuff to kill Aiptasia.. Aiptasia X is one.. some people use joe's juice.. I've heard some that use lemon(or is it lime) juce or kalk paste..

Kalk paste IMO is the best to use. Never had a problem with it ever. I have also used Joe's juice with great success. I have heard of people having issues with Aiptasia X though...

 

[skriz]

Muse, you can shut down the return pump for a while or even a day. Make sure you keep the DT with plenty of circulation and surface agitation (and temp controlled). Fill the overflow with kalkwasser; I'd go ahead and nuke the sump too. With a ph over 12, you're going to kill EVERYTHING in the overflow (and sump, if you chose).

This leaves only your DT infected. If by chance it is clear, you've just rid yourself of aiptasia. If the DT isn't clear, then you're back to status quo.

Just make sure you drain the overflow and sump and flush them clean before restarting the circulation. Refill them with fresh SW and you have the same effect as a water change.

 

[rbredding]

I would assume to do this ^^ you'd remove anything that could prove more difficult to rinse (like filter socks/foam blocks/etc)

 

[hammcd]

ive used aptasia x..it does kill them but if you dont get the remains out they just grow back other places...from what ive read joe's juice doesnt require u to get the remains...it just kills them and they stay dead..havent used it yet though..i have a few very small aptasia i cant reach with the aptasia x..but also moving to a new tank soon so havent bothered to try the juice yet

 

[jeffmuse]

Sharkbait;616964 wrote: I think he is just worried about the possibility of them spreading into the DT and creating a problem. IMO I would just toss a peppermint back there and pull him out in a week or so.

Edit:

Kalk paste IMO is the best to use. Never had a problem with it ever. I have also used Joe's juice with great success. I have heard of people having issues with Aiptasia X though...

Yeah, I just don't want these things in the display. I went on an epoxy killing spree earlier, and will check the over flow over the next month or so to see if any of these things have returned.

I think dumping a peppermint (if I can find one in the display) would probably be the easiest way to prevent these things from coming back.

Edit:

Skriz;616967 wrote: Muse, you can shut down the return pump for a while or even a day. Make sure you keep the DT with plenty of circulation and surface agitation (and temp controlled). Fill the overflow with kalkwasser; I'd go ahead and nuke the sump too. With a ph over 12, you're going to kill EVERYTHING in the overflow (and sump, if you chose).

This leaves only your DT infected. If by chance it is clear, you've just rid yourself of aiptasia. If the DT isn't clear, then you're back to status quo.

Just make sure you drain the overflow and sump and flush them clean before restarting the circulation. Refill them with fresh SW and you have the same effect as a water change.

Heck yeah Raj, breaking out the big guns on the aptasia problem I never thought about using the Kalk, but it would have to wipe them out given the high ph.
I am going to wait and see how the peppermint does (these aptasia where all small)... If these things keep showing up, I will nuke the overflow/ sump with kalk.

 

[jennm]

Joe's Juice, Aiptasia-X.... they work in the same fashion. I've used both, I prefer Aiptasia-X because it usually gets them the first time if it's done right... turn off flow, leave it off for 15 minutes, cover the aiptasia sufficiently so it doesn't expel its gametes and let it burn.

OP if they are all on the standpipe, why not just pull that out and bleach it?

Jenn

 

[acroholic]

JennM;617047 wrote:

OP if they are all on the standpipe, why not just pull that out and bleach it?

Jenn

I was just about to post this and then saw that Jen beat me to it.

 

[enderg60]

JennM;617047 wrote: OP if they are all on the standpipe, why not just pull that out and bleach it?

Jenn

seconded, or thirded, whatever.

but yeah if you dont kill them EVERYWHERE they keep coming back!

 

[mockery]

Me being curious, how does aptasia spread? Is it by spores? If so wouldn't a good UV sterilizer in the sump kill the spores? Then it would just leave them in the overflow. Which IMO is a good thing because they are great at eating excess food in the water column.

 

[jennm]

They reproduce by fission and they can also spawn in the water column. I've had outbreaks where suddenly there are dozens of tiny ones on the glass or whatever.

They are animals - no "spores". Not sure if UV would kill off the larvae, but I doubt it. Those things are like the cockroaches of the sea... they'll be around after nuclear meltdown.

Jenn

 

[ralph atl]

JennM;617047 wrote: Joe's Juice, Aiptasia-X.... they work in the same fashion. I've used both, I prefer Aiptasia-X because it usually gets them the first time if it's done right... turn off flow, leave it off for 15 minutes, cover the aiptasia sufficiently so it doesn't expel its gametes and let it burn.

OP if they are all on the standpipe, why not just pull that out and bleach it?

Jenn

:up: