How To Eliminate Aiptasia Anemones

[idgy]

Every time I try and get near one it retreats back into the rock. Are there any critters that will eat these for a meal?

 

[akunochi]

A copperband butterfly will eat aiptasia. GARF uses one in every tank. There have some great stories on their site. Watch your corals though as they may nip at some.

 

[idgy]

I think my tank is too small for a butterfly, I would love one though. It is a 29 gal.

 

[Bosco83]

I think my tank is too small for a butterfly, I would love one though. It is a 29 gal.

Peppermint shrimp will eat the small ones and you will just have to get the big ones yourself. The best thing I found get rid of them is this stuff you don't have to stick anything down their throats just squirt some on them and they will die works like a charm. I got rid of like 100 of them and this was the best stuff I found.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...Product~BL2111~idCategory~FIADAFLC~tab~4.html

Brian

 

[user 2204]

I've always had good luck with Joes Juice. Everything else I seem to try doesn't do the job.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[Mopar Reefer]

+1^^^^^^ Used it and have yet to have any more problems, (knocking on wood)

 

[Darthv247]

you just gotta be quick and inject it right into the mouth or stem of the apstasia. it sucks when they are tucked into the rockwork though and you cant get in to get em. can at least melt its outside though and it will stay tucked in awhile.

 

[user 26995]

Do you know if the Blue Life Aiptasia Control has any adverse affects on zoanthids or other coral? What is Joes Juice? Has anyone tried injecting lemon juice. I though I would give that a try if a peppermint shrimp wont take care of them.

 

[roscoe]

Don't you love aptaisa!!!! I have a bazillion of them in my 40b. I gave up on the battle with them. I've tried everything except a copperbanded butterfly. I have too many LPS that I don't want to be possible meals for it. Peppermints will eat the smaller ones, kalk paste, Joes juice, Lime juice, boiling hot water was all temporary fixes as they will come back 100x worst if you don't siphon every bit of them out after injecting them and it is nearly impossible to do that. Bergia Nudis work great for others but in my experience they didn't do anything for me.

 

[DonW]

The squirt in the mouth or injection only kills the parent. You need a good sized blob of kalk paste to prevent basel laceration. Meaning a good sized portion about the size of a nickle covering the surrounding area / covering the foot.

Don

 

[roscoe]

The squirt in the mouth or injection only kills the parent. You need a good sized blob of kalk paste to prevent basel laceration. Meaning a good sized portion about the size of a nickle covering the surrounding area / covering the foot.

Don

I've done that many of times and they come back in full force each and everytime. How does one completly wipe them out without worrying about the tiny tiny flesh that escapes and produces many more in another location??

 

[user 26995]

The squirt in the mouth or injection only kills the parent. You need a good sized blob of kalk paste to prevent basel laceration. Meaning a good sized portion about the size of a nickle covering the surrounding area / covering the foot.

Don

Does the kalk paste disintegrate over time? What affect does that have on the water quality or livestock if you are doing many of them at a time?

 

[DonW]

If you mix the kalk properly it will form a nice thick crust over the whole thing. The flesh is not how they spread. The asexual reproduction creates clones right at the base after they split from the parent they float off to their new home. You have to crust over the entire "colony" and kill the "babies". The crust should remain hard and in place for days killing of the youngsters. Of course you have to be persistant. I think each aptasia wil make 30 or so clones and so on and so on. They will not reproduce if their food source is taken away so obviously that is one of the biggest hurdles.

 

[DonW]

These are the ones you want the big one is the easy part.

 

[user 26995]

They will not reproduce if their food source is taken away so obviously that is one of the biggest hurdles.

And their food source is what..Water?:lol:

 

[DonW]

Their food source is light and all the nutrients like nitrates in the water.

Don

 

[roscoe]

Their food source is light and all the nutrients like nitrates in the water.

Don

Well that is nearly impossible for me since I have fish and corals to feed and my corals need light. I doubt I can leave my tank lightless long enough to rid of them. So I guess I can live with them for now and hopefully when I transefer the LS from the 40b to 270g DT none will hitch hike over! Which is wishfull thinking I guess:lol::lol:.

 

[DonW]

You don't have to go to extremes or get rid of lights. A littler persistance and a clean tank is all it takes.

Don

 

[roscoe]

You don't have to go to extremes or get rid of lights. A littler persistance and a clean tank is all it takes.

Don

Please show me the way GURU!!

 

[user 26995]

So what does everyone think about Aiptasia-X?

Or how about loaning out their copperband butterfly?