aiptasia Start over or not

hyeclass · Apr 17, 2020

I am having aiptasia in my system what should I do

1. Kill the aiptasia
2. Start a new tank

Seems to me doesn’t matter how much you kill they still come back

tehmadreefer · Apr 17, 2020

Add berghia Nudibranch’s. They are the only thing that will eradicate them, as once the aiptasia are gone they starve and die.

AlexG · Apr 17, 2020

I would go with an eradication plan. Unfortunately even if you restart the tank it does not mean that they will not get reintroduced into your new tank. I normally use aiptasia X or F aiptasia for mild to light infestations which I am going through now. If you have a severe outbreak of aiptasia go with the berghia nudibranchs. In my 480 gallon reef one of my outbreaks got out of control so I tried the berghia nudibranchs and within a couple of months the aiptasia were mostly gone from the display. I only got 12 berghia nudibranchs with a mix of small, medium, and large ones and they multiplied on their own. I recommend introducing them at night near aiptasia so they are not picked off by fish and have an ample food supply near by.

hyeclass · Apr 17, 2020

Should I put the corals else where and starve aiptasia will they still come back

AlexG · Apr 17, 2020

hyeclass said:
Should I put the corals else where and starve aiptasia will they still come back

You can starve them but they are survivors and it only takes one for them to come back. If you have happy corals that are not being impacted by the aiptasia then I would not remove them from the tank. Cutting down on feeding helps but I would not impact the health of the other tank inhabitants to try and fight the aiptasia. Do you have any pictures you can share of your tank with the aiptasia infestation?

Mike N · Apr 17, 2020

Ask any LFS and if they are truthful, they will tell you that have aiptasia, they just manage it well. You shouldn't tear down a tank over it.
If you let it go to plague proportions, then I would consider a restart.
Otherwise, quickly act upon the ones you see.. removal/aiptasia-x/F-aiptasia/peppermint shrimp/berghia nudis, etc.

Wes10C · Apr 17, 2020

Bulk reef Supply just dropped a new video on aptasia. Its worth the watch

brunera · Apr 17, 2020

I was just going to say the same thing. I just watched the BRS video yesterday and found it very helpful.

Arricefe · Apr 17, 2020

I’m going through an outbreak in my 120. I watched the BRS video so decided to use Aptasia X then kalk paste and epoxy to cover the holes.

fragit · Apr 17, 2020

I gave FAptaisa a shot from Frank’s Tanks. It works if you follow the directions. It is a little unsightly for a week, but so far for me it works. I used Berghai with huge success when my tank was over run. But they lingered or I reintroduced somehow. Unless you are OCD careful with what and how you put stuff in your tank you WILL get it. I had it on snails it was so bad. In addition as BRS suggests you have to clean the system to eradicate not just the DT. We are talking replacing plumbing. In my opinion control is our only option once you have it. Don’t start over though.

nex64 · Apr 17, 2020

Aptasia is usually the reason why i have a CBB in all my tanks lol.

tehmadreefer · Apr 17, 2020

Wes10C said:
Bulk reef Supply just dropped a new video on aptasia. Its worth the watch

actually it’s not...

Sailingeric · Apr 17, 2020

I drained my sump a couple months ago, scraped off any I could see then really cleaned the glass. If I see any on the rock I pull the rock out and hit with a kitchen torch. I did find one monster sized one a couple days ago that involved me cutting it first and then torching the remaining bits. I did put a couple peppermint shrimps in the sump and I have seen any down there and I used to have one my DT and never saw any. I need to get a couple to go back in the DT so I don't have any more monster aptasia show up.

hyeclass · Apr 17, 2020

AlexG said:
You can starve them but they are survivors and it only takes one for them to come back. If you have happy corals that are not being impacted by the aiptasia then I would not remove them from the tank. Cutting down on feeding helps but I would not impact the health of the other tank inhabitants to try and fight the aiptasia. Do you have any pictures you can share of your tank with the aiptasia infestation?

i do have a pic,

hyeclass · Apr 17, 2020

I want a see which is a correct direction I can take back in December I last all my fish due to velvet waited 2 months end of February I put the fish in display before that I got a new fish put them in qt for 1 1/2 cooper them once the fish was in the display tank I notice two weeks later fish had iek took all the fish’s out and put them in 71 gal tank doing cooper they fine now now I find out I got a aiptasia in the tank 1. Should I empty the tank star over clean 2. Kill the aiptasia and wait 3 months? What should I do thank you for helping

hyeclass · Apr 17, 2020

i been using lemon juice to kill them, it works not sure if they going to come back, i was thinking get a boiling water and kill them with that, i decided to kill them with lemon

hyeclass · Apr 17, 2020

nex64 said:
Aptasia is usually the reason why i have a CBB in all my tanks lol.

what's the BBC ?

hyeclass · Apr 17, 2020

fragit said:
I gave FAptaisa a shot from Frank’s Tanks. It works if you follow the directions. It is a little unsightly for a week, but so far for me it works. I used Berghai with huge success when my tank was over run. But they lingered or I reintroduced somehow. Unless you are OCD careful with what and how you put stuff in your tank you WILL get it. I had it on snails it was so bad. In addition as BRS suggests you have to clean the system to eradicate not just the DT. We are talking replacing plumbing. In my opinion control is our only option once you have it. Don’t start over though.

i was the BRS they were suggesting so many things you can do, at the end they were you cannot kill them they always comes back. only way you can kill them is bleach the system, make sure you have a QT when you buy corals,

what said about this, i had a velvet and ick in my tank, now i end up with ick i put the fish in the QT NOT sure what the best way i can take this, bleach the system and start over or let it be

Cherub · Apr 17, 2020

Don't start over, you will endlessly start over like that. I had hundreds of them, maybe even a thousand. Nudibranchs worked. Just make sure to remove any wrasses or peppermint shrimp as they will eat them.