aiptasia (first time) in pico tank.

[Tham121988]

For the first time in my decade of being in the reefing hobby, I am just seeing my first aiptasia. With this being a pico tank... what can I do. I have located 2 anemones so far. I don't want it to get out of hand. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Thank you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

No sweat. Go to walgreens or Walmart Pharmacy and get yourself a syringe (Print and show them this response) Get some lemon juice or Kalk Powder . If powder, mix into a paste like solution and then inject into the core of the aptasia and watch it melt away.

 

[Billdogg]

Rather than lemon juice, I just use boiling water in a syringe. You can easily just cook the little buggers where they sit. I have had 100% success going that route.

Get them now before they spread!!!

hth!

 

[Peace River]

Another strong option is F-Aiptasia Killer.

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

I have had good luck with the boiling water as well.

 

[Jay Z]

Which ever option you choose, you tube some instructional videos on it. Some methods require the dead matter to be removed.

Don't worry, they are easy to get rid of. Plus 1 or 2 is not the end of the world, they won't over run your tank overnight.

Just handle them as they pop up. Don't get discouraged if 1 or 2 pop up after you remove the first, they do that sometimes. Just keep on them, will get them all.

My preferred method is Mrs wages pickling lime. Mix it with water into a loose toothpaste consistency, turn off all water flow, inject/cover (when they retract in the hole, I fill the hole). Use a piece of air tube to suck up any stray paste in the tank, it clumps and does not dissipate.

Probably a dozen or so methods to get rid of them, all of which work.

 

[Florida Sunshine]

Whichever method you choose, do it now! A couple can be handled without huge effort, but if you don't take care of them, they will spread quickly. Also know that when they are stressed, they send out babies to reproduce so you want to hit them right in the middle to have the best possibility of success.

 

[Tham121988]

Rather than lemon juice, I just use boiling water in a syringe. You can easily just cook the little buggers where they sit. I have had 100% success going that route.

Get them now before they spread!!!

hth!

So I tried to do the boiling water method and it basically disintegrated in the tank and I couldn't siphon it out. Whoops. I hope I didn't just spread it. I watched videos on how to do it correctly, but the one I was trying to get was in a very night spot and attached inside a small hole. Almost impossible to get to just the base. I guess we will see.[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

 

[Jvesche20]

if possible take out the rock and destroy it that way then put it back in so it cant spread in the water

 

[Tham121988]

if possible take out the rock and destroy it that way then put it back in so it cant spread in the water

I wish I could do that. I would have done that originally, but that is almost impossible as I would destroy the pistol shrimp and goby that reside underneath the rock. This rock is where they are burrowed and have been since introduced.

 

[Jvesche20]

The only luck I had was x- aiptasia but I couldn't keep up with them growing and hiding in the rockwork. I ended up getting a copper band and have never seen another one in my DT. In your case a copperband wont work. I just have 150+ lbs of rock to it was too hard to try and find every single one growing and kill it

 

[Tham121988]

The only luck I had was x- aiptasia but I couldn't keep up with them growing and hiding in the rockwork. I ended up getting a copper band and have never seen another one in my DT. In your case a copperband wont work. I just have 150+ lbs of rock to it was too hard to try and find every single one growing and kill it

Yeah, I imagine the copper band would be quite unhappy in the pico lol. Well I guess i'll just have to monitor it. I haven't seen any new ones yet so fingers crossed.