Aiptasia HELP!

[bakbay]

Ive never seen them go near stony corals. I not only have one but sold many at my LFS and they are great fish.
If there is an interest with SPS- It would be polyps but never saw that either and the couple complaints, I see is specifically zoa.

Ok — I’ve scored a rare Klein’s Butteflyfish. LFS said it was caught in Africa - super gorgeous fish nevertheless! Let’s hope it will massacre my aiptasia “garden”…

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok — I’ve scored a rare Klein’s Butteflyfish. LFS said it was caught in Africa - super gorgeous fish nevertheless! Let’s hope it will massacre my aiptasia “garden”…

I know it will

 

[bakbay]

I know it will

My last hope really — tried almost everything else! lol

I’ve also bought the “Molly Miller Blenny” (never heard of it) but LFS said that it’s been known to eat aiptasia as well. I’ve put him in my second tank with a very mild aiptasia infestation (20ish)

 

[IKD]

Have you looked at kuekenthali shrimp yet? Great at aiptasia control, they come out at night so you can target feed corals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My last hope really — tried almost everything else! lol

I’ve also bought the “Molly Miller Blenny” (never heard of it) but LFS said that it’s been known to eat aiptasia as well. I’ve put him in my second tank with a very mild aiptasia infestation (20ish)

Never heard of molly miller eating aptasia but will be interesting to hear f your experience

 

[Xanthurum]

Kleins are hands down the best bet for aptasia. If you really want to ensure you get rid of all aptasia you will need to rotate your rocks every couple of days. That way there aren’t any hiding in places the butterfly can’t get to.
I would also suggest a complete cleaning of your system once there are no more visible ones. Since your tank is small you can get a storage bin and temporarily move everything out of your tank and clean it out. Then you can put everything back in the tank.

 

[bakbay]

Kleins are hands down the best bet for aptasia. If you really want to ensure you get rid of all aptasia you will need to rotate your rocks every couple of days. That way there aren’t any hiding in places the butterfly can’t get to.
I would also suggest a complete cleaning of your system once there are no more visible ones. Since your tank is small you can get a storage bin and temporarily move everything out of your tank and clean it out. Then you can put everything back in the tank.

I’ve been zapping them with Kalkwasser paste. However, since my tank is now overgrown with SPS (First World Problem) I can’t reach some areas.

Not sure about the OP but I don’t think it’s practical to rotate rocks (for corals on them) or take everything out for my tank.

 

[Xanthurum]

@bakbay probably not lol. But the Kleins will eliminate every aptasia they can possibly get their lips on. They have a tendency to eat a lot of LPS as well but you can always have a buddy keep any corals they are nipping at until the aptasia are gone, or at least under control.

 

[thecitadel]

I just got a kleini the other day and my dude is putting in work. I did have issue with my Convict Tang not being friendly, mirror trick fixed that until I could catch him and cast away to the sump for the time being. Plenty of room, 120 gallon sump with a 70 gallon Refugium section he is in.

Since putting in the kleini, I've been watching him and all he does is pick at aiptasia all day. Hasn't touched Corals yet but I've got so much aiptasia that he has awhile before he thinks about it. Also seems my filefish has joined in finally and is also eating up the aiptasia.

I also started hitting bigger ones with Aiptasia X and it's amazing to see rock again and coral that was getting stung is growing back. Kleini for the win.

 

[SaltyB24]

My last hope really — tried almost everything else! lol

I’ve also bought the “Molly Miller Blenny” (never heard of it) but LFS said that it’s been known to eat aiptasia as well. I’ve put him in my second tank with a very mild aiptasia infestation (20ish)

Please keep us posted on your experience!

 

[bakbay]

Please keep us posted on your experience!

So far, no complete aiptasia eradication yet but will definitely update this thread on progress.

 

[bakbay]

Well - here are the good & bad news.
Good news: it's a healthy, beautiful fish!
Bad news: it's not eating any aiptasia, just normal pellet & frozen brine shrimps!!

 

[thecitadel]

Well - here are the good & bad news.
Good news: it's a healthy, beautiful fish!
Bad news: it's not eating any aiptasia, just normal pellet & frozen brine shrimps!!

Now, I've heard rumors, but the guy at my lfs said this isn't true. Did you get a blue headed kleini or a black headed? From what I've read, only the blue heads do. He had one. Thats what I got and that's what has been clearing my tank. He says that's completely false and generally, the males get blue heads. That's all. Again. Idk who to believe lol. For me, he's working.

 

[bakbay]

Now, I've heard rumors, but the guy at my lfs said this isn't true. Did you get a blue headed kleini or a black headed? From what I've read, only the blue heads do. He had one. Thats what I got and that's what has been clearing my tank. He says that's completely false and generally, the males get blue heads. That's all. Again. Idk who to believe lol. For me, he's working.

My Kleini's head is in fact blue, as pictured. It's eating normal food, including nori. Perhaps I just need to starve the tank to force it to eat? Don't want to go this route since tangs may be "hangry", like my lovely wife!

 

[bakbay]

Wonderful — the butterfly is now nipping at corals, including SPS! I have yet to see it eat a single aiptasia though.

Now I need a good fish trap — what do you guys recommend?

 

[thecitadel]

Wonderful — the butterfly is now nipping at corals, including SPS! I have yet to see it eat a single aiptasia though.

Now I need a good fish trap — what do you guys recommend?

What I can recommend not to get is that nyos one. Never worked for me lol. The one that's a giant "invisible" dome that my fish look at and go uhhh no lol. Left it in for a month, putting food in daily. No one went to that side of the tank the entire time.

 

[MnFish1]

I'm at the point in my young cube of the ocean sitting on my kitchen counter where I need a way to eliminate (or at least control) aiptasia. I have spent far more time on this forum than I could possibly assign an accurate time to. And in my time searching, doing my do dalliance, Peppermint shrimp seem to have more negative reviews than positive, the same with emerald crabs. My tank is only 25 gallons, so I believe that eliminates any fish options. I currently have two Zoas & a GSP. I'm interested in mostly softies & LPS corals & 4 or five fish. Is there something that will take care of this? I want/need to make a purchase SOON but don't want to introduce one problem while trying to eliminate another. I've read & read but can't seem to find an answer. Any help would be so greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

Berghia nudibranchs.

 

[MnFish1]

The problem with 'toxic powders, etc' - is that they don't get every one - and the ones that escape - cause more problems. Berghia. Every time

 

[MnFish1]

Kleins are hands down the best bet for aptasia. If you really want to ensure you get rid of all aptasia you will need to rotate your rocks every couple of days. That way there aren’t any hiding in places the butterfly can’t get to.
I would also suggest a complete cleaning of your system once there are no more visible ones. Since your tank is small you can get a storage bin and temporarily move everything out of your tank and clean it out. Then you can put everything back in the tank.

Perhaps - I don't think so - but perhaps. Then they attack the rest of the tank.

 

[bakbay]

Perhaps - I don't think so - but perhaps. Then they attack the rest of the tank.

That's my case right now - it started nipping on my echinophyllia chalices. Except for the Rainbow, JF My Miami, and OG Mummy Eye that I had for years, I didn't care. However, I saw it took a little flesh off the Rainbow so it has to go, even it can eat aiptasia! Last night, it nipped the WWC Yellow Tips -- that explains all the tiny white spots on the colony!

Anyway, I'm determined to take him out and pronto! Kleini Butterfly may work for others but didn't work in my case