Aiptasia??

ThatPhillyReefer · Aug 11, 2022

What is this, they are spreading like crazy. How do i get rid if them. They look like Aiptasia?

Reef. · Aug 11, 2022

Looks like them to me, what size tank is it?

Uncle99 · Aug 11, 2022

If you touch one does it fully retract!
if so, yup.
I used Aptasia-x, battle a bit, but in the end worked.

dadnjesse · Aug 11, 2022

I have had a Reef tank for 14 years. I never had Aiptasia until about a year or so ago. Now I can't seem to get rid of them. I also use Aiptasia X but I keep finding more. I just bought 5 peppermint Shrimp but have yet to see them doing anything.

Uncle99 · Aug 11, 2022

dadnjesse said:
I have had a Reef tank for 14 years. I never had Aiptasia until about a year or so ago. Now I can't seem to get rid of them. I also use Aiptasia X but I keep finding more. I just bought 5 peppermint Shrimp but have yet to see them doing anything.

They don’t move much so their cleaning I found useless.
Make sure you have no LPS or Nems, they bug the crap out of them.

With Aptasia-X, you got to be persistent. You will win.

billyocean · Aug 11, 2022

I did all of the aptasia tricks. Just get some berghia nudibranchs..think they aren't working or alive for two months..then walk by your tank one day and see all aptasia is gone. Best solution.

Double monti 61 · Aug 11, 2022

Had and have a couple also a peppermint shrimp a few live in one of my small hang on back filters and one on the base of my power head they do not seem to grow very well in my system although it’s healthy and coral and invertebrates do well.

vetteguy53081 · Aug 11, 2022

Confirming aptasia. If you have patience, Using syringe, inject either lemon juice or better yet. . kalkwasser powder mixed with tank water into a paste the consistency of toothpaste and inject into the very center core and it will melt away

Rmckoy · Aug 11, 2022

To find a nudibranch would be the best and sure way to irradiate all of them .

I’ve used kalk paste many times and it works
I’ve tried peppermint shrimp , copper band butterflyfish , matted tilefish
None are for sure quite like nudibranch

Rmckoy · Aug 11, 2022

The hardest by far to get rid of is red flatworms .

even after adding 3 blue velvet nudi they seamed to take several months
but one day I walked by and noticed Every one of them was gone .

you might be able to find a local breeders .

ScionFRSguy · Aug 11, 2022

They look like aptasia to me. When choosing peppermints from LFS, ask the fish dude to feed them with some store aptasias or bring some yourself. They should be attacking/eating them like crazy. I mean they should be going bonkers for aptasia. Most of the ones I've seen myself are great at removing aptasias. The best part is seeing 2 shrimps going after an aptasia at once. Yeeeee! It's so satisfying to watch. Berghia nudibranchs works the best however but they are hard to find.

If you try to scrap them off manually, they will release cells into the water producing more tiny aptasia throughout your entire tank so have to be careful. If you decide to do that, you want to remove the rock into a large plastic container then go to town. Deep Deep scraping. Throw away all the water then rinse with more tank water. Do this at least 3 times, inspect the rock for any left over particles. Re comb the areas previous scraped and scrape again for good measure then rinse it a few more times. Use a powerful powerhead or return pump to remove anything that is still clinging on then do a few more rinses before adding back into tank. This is going to take hours of your day but it's not really the time I complain about, it's the fact that you're trying to remove them manually. This should be more like a super emergency last resort action. Good luck!

Double monti 61 · Aug 11, 2022

Photo

Double monti 61 · Aug 11, 2022

I think there are other reasons why aptasia may become more aggressive in some systems than others and it may be due to the fact that most systems do not have a diverse population of the small inhabitants that help keep the system in balance i believe the more the better.More mouths less food at one point a balance should be reached.

txmk4 · Sep 28, 2022

dadnjesse said:
I have had a Reef tank for 14 years. I never had Aiptasia until about a year or so ago. Now I can't seem to get rid of them. I also use Aiptasia X but I keep finding more. I just bought 5 peppermint Shrimp but have yet to see them doing anything.

Did your shrimp progress?

anthonygf · Sep 28, 2022

Make this device and suck out as many as you can reach, along with the other methods you will get most of them but you will never be rid of them. There will always be some that no one can get to them, I have the same problem but they are kept to a minimum with the help of my Filefish and shrimp.

Get a stainless steel straw 1/4 inch and a hose that will fit over it snug or a 1/2" hose with a rubber band to seal the straw in the hose. Suck them out when doing water changes, with this method there is no chance for them to release spores or chemicals into the tank. Good luck. This has worked for me even for algae and unwanted corals.

Crotalus · Sep 28, 2022

dadnjesse said:
I have had a Reef tank for 14 years. I never had Aiptasia until about a year or so ago. Now I can't seem to get rid of them. I also use Aiptasia X but I keep finding more. I just bought 5 peppermint Shrimp but have yet to see them doing anything.

Peppermint Shrimp did nothing for me. My first File Fish wouldn't touch them. The second File Fish plus Aptasia-X on the big ones has just about eradicated them. I just see one now and then.