Aiptasia? What? How?

ReeferBob · Dec 22, 2017

I just looked at my tank and saw this thing. I have not added a single thing - not a fish, not a coral, no ornaments, nothing at all accept food into my tank for at least 3 years. Where in the hell did this guy come from? Can they come from dormant eggs? I will take this entire piece out and clean it off.

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NowGlazeIT · Dec 22, 2017

Wow I’m very curious for this answer because I added a frag that Didn’t appear to have any aprasia but I did fight some off a couple years back and after the frag was in my tank a few days I notice a baby aptasia was born!

TheEngineer · Dec 22, 2017

They can be there even if you don’t see them. Doesn’t take much of one to survive for it to eventually spread. Best to nip that one in the bud quickly.

NowGlazeIT · Dec 22, 2017

Yea I threw the new frags away! I tried kalkwasser I tried taking it out of the water and dropping straight salt on it and tho it may have killed one or shrieked it down but then another one appeared!! I got them in a trade only around 10 polyps but I tossed em

just not worth it and I don’t want to add any peppermint shrimp Because I’m actually trying to break this tank down hahah

rockstarta78 · Dec 22, 2017

If you have only one, I'd just either do kaulk paste or cover it with epoxy. I hate those things.

ReeferBob · Dec 22, 2017

I just took out that rock and saw a bigger one on the rock next to it so took that one out too. I looked everywhere but couldn't find anymore. But I cannot imagine there are no more in the tank. I had an aiptasia infestation in another tank 5 years ago and ended up having to nuke the tank. I fear that this tank is on its last days. I remember trying to kill them I put one large rock covered by around 150 of them in a quarantine tank and tried everything to kill them. I turned up the heater on max for a month but nothing. Left the tank alone with no light for 6 months and they were still alive. You just can't kill these jerks.

NowGlazeIT · Dec 22, 2017

That is so crazy thank god for peppermint shrimp in my last run in with aiptasia

rockstarta78 · Dec 22, 2017

Have you tried nudibranch? @saltyfilmfolks can tell you better, but have a look at this site.

http://saltyunderground.com/

ReeferBob · Dec 22, 2017

rockstarta78 said:
Have you tried nudibranch? @saltyfilmfolks can tell you better, but have a look at this site.

http://saltyunderground.com/

Those are such a ripoff and impossible to keep once and if they kill the Aiptasia. I'll see what happens and if the tank is lost, I'll nuke it. Honestly I am not that attached to it. I'll get some Peppermints and a Copperband Butterfly if I see anymore pop up.

revhtree · Dec 22, 2017

My daughter started killing some in her tank yesterday and she had to stop because she felt too bad! She's 19.

rockstarta78 · Dec 22, 2017

ReeferBob said:
Those are such a ripoff and impossible to keep once and if they kill the Aiptasia. I'll see what happens and if the tank is lost, I'll nuke it. Honestly I am not that attached to it. I'll get some Peppermints and a Copperband Butterfly if I see anymore pop up.

They do die once all your aiptasia are gone.

HiddenUser · Dec 22, 2017

If you can, just pull that rock out and burn that thing with fire...or super glue / epoxy over it and let it sit out for a bit.

Do you make your own SW or buy it from a store?
Did you recently get any used gear from someone?
Maybe there's been Aiptasia hidden somewhere this entire time, but it finally decided to spread.

HiddenUser · Dec 22, 2017

rockstarta78 said:
They do die once all your aiptasia are gone.

You can always shine a flashlight around at night when they're searching for food, catch them with a pipette and sell them to a LFS or pass them along to a friend who may need them. Otherwise, yes, they will starve once they've eaten everything.

ReeferBob · Dec 22, 2017

ChukeeR said:
If you can, just pull that rock out and burn that thing with fire...or super glue / epoxy over it and let it sit out for a bit.

Do you make your own SW or buy it from a store?
Did you recently get any used gear from someone?
Maybe there's been Aiptasia hidden somewhere this entire time, but it finally decided to spread.

I make my own and also use RO/DI water. I did replace my pump in October but it was a new one from Amazon (Jebao). I wonder if that could have been a return?

HiddenUser · Dec 22, 2017

ReeferBob said:
I make my own and also use RO/DI water. I did replace my pump in October but it was a new one from Amazon (Jebao). I wonder if that could have been a return?

Even if it was used, if it was dried out it would be unlikely. I don't think I've seen those things come back from being completely dried out yet.

When I built my current system I started with all new rock, sand, etc...Shortly after adding my CUC I saw a little baby Aiptasia stuck to a snail. I pulled the snail, but it was already to late. 2 years later...still dealing with it. I finally caved and got some Berghias as it's starting to get out of control and I can't reach half the places where I see the Aiptasia.