Another aptasia question...with FIRE!

rayn · Feb 24, 2015

Say someone had a major aptasia infestation. Like MAJOR large rocks completely covered and they are taking over the tank infestation.

Say that same someone took their rock and just blasted it with a propane torch, burnt the little buggars to death.

Would the rock go into a full cycle, or would it be usable for a tank with fish in it? :xd::laser: < sorry closest to we got to a flame thrower

Reefing Madness · Feb 24, 2015

Yup. You'd be killing all the bacteria on that said blasted rock. It would need to grow it back. But if you did one rock at a time, yes, you could rinse the rock off and put it back, providing your nuking HUGE pieces of rock. Minor rock sizes would not put you back into cycle.

rayn · Feb 24, 2015

Be something like this

Vaughn17 · Feb 24, 2015

Once, I zapped one with a cigarette lighter. It was so unsubstantial that it instantaneously went poof. The difficulty was in not burning my finger. A propane torch would work better. I do not believe that you would need to "blast" the entire rock, just spot blast each individual aptasia specimen (it shouldn't take much). I think that it would not prove detrimental to all the bacteria, especially not the anaerobic ones.

FYI: felt like crap for killing a creature that way and will not do again.

rayn · Feb 24, 2015

This tank is coming down and I have the 180 going up. Was thinking of moving the fish in here into that tank.

Was hoping to reuse the rock and not have to cycle it again or get all new rock and go through the cycle. May have to though if it is to much.

Reefing Madness · Feb 24, 2015

If your going that big, get a Copperband or a Matted Filefish, they'll clean that up in a matter of a week or 2.

Vaughn17 · Feb 24, 2015

Reefing Madness said:
If your going that big, get a Copperband or a Matted Filefish, they'll clean that up in a matter of a week or 2.

Won't they spread it, in the same manner that an emerald crab spreads bubble algae?

rayn · Feb 24, 2015

They like be a ongoing treatment type thing. Once they have it gone, they will just maintain it being gone.

Copper and I have tried in the past, never had one live through QT to get to the tank. Matter filefish will not touch my tank again. Bad experience with one. I know each fish is different, but they are grazers or pickers.

bobstir · Feb 24, 2015

get some berghia nudibranches, they work. And w/ that many aiptasia, you can probably breed a generation or two.

Vaughn17 · Feb 24, 2015

rayn said:
They like be a ongoing treatment type thing. Once they have it gone, they will just maintain it being gone.

Copper and I have tried in the past, never had one live through QT to get to the tank. Matter filefish will not touch my tank again. Bad experience with one. I know each fish is different, but they are grazers or pickers.

Gotcha...thanks!

mikey_p · Feb 25, 2015

i have a copper band now in my tank he took care of the aptasia i had in a matter of days and started eating frozen the next day being introduced to system

Reefing Madness · Feb 25, 2015

Vaughn17 said:
Won't they spread it, in the same manner that an emerald crab spreads bubble algae?

No, they don't spread the same way as Bubble Algae does.

zesty · Feb 25, 2015

Get a "fricken laaazer" and it doesn't need to be mounted to a shark's head. Just needs to be powerful enough :xd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Ag2JtOpZk

rayn · Feb 25, 2015

zesty said:
Get a "fricken laaazer" and it doesn't need to be mounted to a shark's head. Just needs to be powerful enough :xd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Ag2JtOpZk

Fricken laser! What does that do to the tank itself or fish if they get hit?

reef life · Feb 25, 2015

+1 on the Berghias!

djr7879 · Feb 25, 2015

Where did you get your laser? That looks like a great solution!!

zesty · Feb 25, 2015

djr7879 said:
Where did you get your laser? That looks like a great solution!!

This isn't my video, just a friend's video of his eradication. I have seen these lasers on amazon. If you wanted the beefiest of beefy laser, you could go Spyder 3 Arctic Blue Handheld Laser

rayn said:
Fricken laser! What does that do to the tank itself or fish if they get hit?

I would avoid them.... This is not my video, but a friends. I would be VERY careful about using this laser and pointing it near anything that you hold near and dear. Including your eyeballs.

but, it works for aiptasia, take the good with the bad. You can try some inverts (I have 2 lazy peppermints) or a wicked laser!