A little aiptasia problem

[NoahMMTV]

Hey everyone,

I just had a quick question, I had this medium-sized aiptasia growing right next to my feather duster, so I tried to take it down by shooting it with boiling water (kind of risky, being next to my beautiful feather duster), and it didn't do much, but I actually haven't seen it recently. Well fast forward to now, I'm starting to see tons of little tiny aiptasias growing all around my tank, not too many, but I can see them if I look close. This is a problem I've dreaded for a while, because I know that the best solution is berghia nudibranchs, but right now I am completely broke and can only afford to pay for maintaining the tank. Is there any other solution? I do have some lemon juice but I don't know if that'll help against all the tiny ones.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hey everyone,

I just had a quick question, I had this medium-sized aiptasia growing right next to my feather duster, so I tried to take it down by shooting it with boiling water (kind of risky, being next to my beautiful feather duster), and it didn't do much, but I actually haven't seen it recently. Well fast forward to now, I'm starting to see tons of little tiny aiptasias growing all around my tank, not too many, but I can see them if I look close. This is a problem I've dreaded for a while, because I know that the best solution is berghia nudibranchs, but right now I am completely broke and can only afford to pay for maintaining the tank. Is there any other solution? I do have some lemon juice but I don't know if that'll help against all the tiny ones.

Any help would be appreciated!

Kalk paste can work as well. When you do this, all pumps off for at least 15mims. Syphon out after that time and turn pumps back on. Repeat as needed.

 

[davocean]

Peppermint shrimp might be next inexpensive option, and if going that route I look for a site that gaurantees them and has them trained on aptasia

 

[lapin]

If you have a lot like you said, you will not get them all with Aptasia-X or kalk paste. Some but not all and you will need to work at it each day. The peppermint shrimp that eat aptasia is your best bet as stated above. They love the little ones and the bigger ones you can see and kill off.

 

[Fin]

The problem is finding the particular Peppermint Shrimp that will actually eat Aiptasia. I have seen them voraciously attack Aiptasia before, in someone else's tank. I have tried them 5-6 times and - nada. Never touched them. I do have a Copperband Butterfly that has worked well for me for a long time. Just remember, if you kill them, they will likely repopulate (like what you are experiencing now). Almost need something that will feed on them to totally eradicate them. I wish you luck.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Peppermints can work, but with caution. They have been known to go rouge on some Euphyllia corals. Not camelback shrimp, peppermints.

I have first hand seen this happen and others have witnessed the same behavior. If you have hammers, frogspawn or torches, be careful.

It’s hit or miss.

 

[Striperviper]

Peppermint shrimp will and do eat corals. Killed a few pieces of very expensive LPS on me. And did very little to control my aptasia. I used aptasia x but that just kills the ones u see and treat. It doesn’t resolve the issue. I finally was able to get my hands on nudis and they seem to have iradicated most of my aptasia. It took like 6 weeks but I recently realized I haven’t had to kill aptasia lately and I have seen the occasional nudi in my tank moving around. I have a 150 gallon display and I put in 15 medium nudis. It cost me $180. If I finally get rid of them it was money well spent. If u really can’t afford the nudis get a small aptasia x to hold u over until u can buy the nudis. Everything else just treats the problem. They get rid of it.