Aiptasia in sump

[Kimmi2413]

Topic says it all. How should I go about getting rid of them? I got a peppermint shrimp in there to see if it touches them other wise how should I go about getting them out and will they get into the DT? Thanks in advanced

 

[Florida Sunshine]

Yes they will make their way into the main tank.
If possible remove all rock containing aiptasia and hope it hasn't spread yet.
Only Berghia Nudibrach will work for complete removal. Peppermints may keep them in check, but they generally don't go for the larger ones and often ignore them completely.

 

[RobZilla04]

Chances are if they are in the sump they may already be in the DT and you just don't see them. Try a pair, or three, peppermint shrimp in the sump for starters. Typically they will be gone in a day or two. The shrimp can be netted and removed or placed into the DT once eradicated.

Second option if unsuccessful is Red Sea Aiptasia X. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-aiptasia-x.html?msclkid=869acc8580461ca9080690afc8e942a8&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search>Brand>Red-Sea>Exact (MAP)&utm_term=aiptasia x&utm_content=aiptasia x

 

[BranchingHammer]

Hello,
Your peppermint shrimp may eat them, but if they don’t you can use kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide) and make it into a paste with water, then inject them with a hypodermic needle. It is the poor man’s/more convenient aptasia X.
Also, a more expensive option is laser removal, inappropriate reefer and melevsreef both talk about this option.
I agree with others that posted in that the aptasia are probably already in your DT.
+1 on trying to remove the rock with them before it spreads too much.

 

[Kimmi2413]

There on the walls and probes of the sump and on my return pump. I’ll try and get more shrimp but the ones on the return pump are pretty big so I’ll try one of the other methods thanks

 

[RobZilla04]

There on the walls and probes of the sump and on my return pump. I’ll try and get more shrimp but the ones on the return pump are pretty big so I’ll try one of the other methods thanks

If they are on a removable piece of hardware, the best option is to remove that piece and clean it.

 

[Orko]

Chances are if they are in the sump they may already be in the DT and you just don't see them. Try a pair, or three, peppermint shrimp in the sump for starters. Typically they will be gone in a day or two. The shrimp can be netted and removed or placed into the DT once eradicated.

Second option if unsuccessful is Red Sea Aiptasia X. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-aiptasia-x.html?msclkid=869acc8580461ca9080690afc8e942a8&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search>Brand>Red-Sea>Exact (MAP)&utm_term=aiptasia x&utm_content=aiptasia x

Olly problem with Aiptasia X is if you do not get it in the mouth the first time they will spit out spores and there will be 100 instead of 1.

 

[Kimmi2413]

I removed all equipment and cleaned it with vinegar and hot water mixed also the few that were stuck on the glass of the sump I used a credit card to remove them hopefully that won’t make them spread

 

[Mical]

Also, a more expensive option is laser removal, inappropriate reefer and melevsreef both talk about this option.
I agree with others that posted in that the aptasia are probably already in your DT.
+1 on trying to remove the rock with them before it spreads too much.

Don't bother with laser. Aiptasia is a form of anemone, when irritated they split/multiply. A laser will only make your population double. Nudis or a filefish will cure your dilemma

 

[Orko]

Your display tank could end up looking like this and one of your face frags getting stung to death Aiptasia's are a pain in the a__

 

[Kimmi2413]

Your display tank could end up looking like this and one of your face frags getting stung to death Aiptasia's are a pain in the a__

Definitely trying to avoid that! I heard copperbands are also good for it.

 

[Orko]

Copperbands and certain file fish are good ys but not all of them will eat them is a crap shoot.

Definitely trying to avoid that! I heard copperbands are also good for it.

 

[Swoody]

As stated above the Bergia Nudi’s are absolutely incredible at removing Aiptasia.....one note about the original post, I had Aiptasia in my sump on my previous tank for over a year and never once saw one in my DT.

 

[Kimmi2413]

Bumping this post. I bought some nudis and haven’t seen them since I put them in the tank not even at night. Is that normal? Has been a few weeks since I got them

 

[WVNed]

Bumping this post. I bought some nudis and haven’t seen them since I put them in the tank not even at night. Is that normal? Has been a few weeks since I got them

Yes it is normal. Mine finally ate all the aiptasia but it took a few months and I only ever saw 1 of them at night.

 

[jd371]

Yes, it was about 3 months after I put them in that aptasia were finally gone. What happens is they are munching away at the aptasia that's deep in the rocks and once they finish start to venture out.

 

[Kimmi2413]

Oh ok nice thanks guys. I wasn’t sure if they died or got eaten or what

 

[Jay Z]

My 3 peppermint shrimp took care of mine. It was only 3-4 that i could see that I couldn't get to myself. They seem to eat things like that at night and are real effective if you don't feed them for 2-3 days. Unfortunately they tend to eat anything when they run out of food. Hungry peppermint = evil peppermint

For the one I could get to I used pickling lime, water, and a syringe. Mix it like sloppy tooth paste and load up the syringe. Turn off all water flow, then try to inject them until it comes out, if they retract in the hole, just fill the whole. Use some air line tubing to suck out any extra of the mix, just leave a pea sized glob on them. It hold together real well when you turn the water flow back on.

I tried a majano wand. Uses a electrical current to produce hydrogen that disintegrates them. Its pricey, time consuming, can only get what you can reach with it, and fun!. Have to turn all water flow off, then touch them with the probe. They just melt apart and pieces float to the top. You then need to remove the pieces from the surface. Downside on this is you can only use it so long (in the minutes category) before the hydrogen gets to high in the tank. My 45 I get 4-5 minutes run time, which can stretch out to 10 minutes or so. There is a button you hold to turn it on and off, so it doesn't run the whole time. Plus if you don't get all of the foot off the rock, it will grow back.

Last thing I dabbled in was boiling water in a syringe with a piece of air tube on it. Just boil water, put in syringe, spray aptasia closely and slowly. Do this 2-4 times. Then with syringe empty, put the airline on the syringe over the aptasia and suck it up. If done right it will release from the rock and go into the syringe.

To me, the best one I had luck with was the pickling lime (kawk paste) and a syringe. Just cover them and forget it.

Probably another 20 ways to treat beside these, but I don't have personal experience with those but others have and have had success also.