Are Aiptasia inevitable?

[arking_mark]

If you are actively trading and/or buying coral, are Aiptasia inevitable?

Since these pests can reproduce from a single cell, unless you QT for months and then only bring in the coral with a fresh mounting I'm not sure how they can be avoided.

I'm also pretty sure these guys can be dormant for longer periods of time than anyone suspects.

I have anecdotal evidence...

I had a tank for 7 years with no Aiptasia (I was not too actively trading). A year ago, I upgraded to newer tank. I started with new substrate and rock only bringing over some of my choice rocks and coral from the old tank. At some point one of my old rocks sprouted an Aiptasia...I pulled the entire piece it out and bleached it. After actively trading and acquiring coral, months go by and I find two more in the tank. I use Aiptasia X. Now it's been several weeks with no Aiptasia. While I'm careful with frags and usually remount them or put suspicious ones in my QT (which caught Aiptasia) I'm not perfect. However, I suspect that these buggers may have come from my old tank or a single cell from something added to the tank.

Are they inevitable? Is control the only option?

I certainly think so.

 

[Bj’s Reef]

That's a good question, I'm going to follow along to see what responses you get.

 

[Coxey81]

If you are actively trading and/or buying coral, are Aiptasia inevitable?

Since these pests can reproduce from a single cell, unless you QT for months and then only bring in the coral with a fresh mounting I'm not sure how they can be avoided.

I'm also pretty sure these guys can be dormant for longer periods of time than anyone suspects.

I have anecdotal evidence...

I had a tank for 7 years with no Aiptasia (I was not too actively trading). A year ago, I upgraded to newer tank. I started with new substrate and rock only bringing over some of my choice rocks and coral from the old tank. At some point one of my old rocks sprouted an Aiptasia...I pulled the entire piece it out and bleached it. After actively trading and acquiring coral, months go by and I find two more in the tank. I use Aiptasia X. Now it's been several weeks with no Aiptasia. While I'm careful with frags and usually remount them or put suspicious ones in my QT (which caught Aiptasia) I'm not perfect. However, I suspect that these buggers may have come from my old tank or a single cell from something added to the tank.

Are the inevitable? Is control the only option?

I certainly think so.

Following as well.

My used tank was set up with dry rock and I believe live sand. About a month after the move three very small aips popped up. Since I still have the rock loose I was able to remove them by zapping with vinegar after taking the rock out of the tank...

Been about a three weeks or so since then with no sitings... but how long until I can believe I'm aip free?

 

[Duncan62]

If you are actively trading and/or buying coral, are Aiptasia inevitable?

Since these pests can reproduce from a single cell, unless you QT for months and then only bring in the coral with a fresh mounting I'm not sure how they can be avoided.

I'm also pretty sure these guys can be dormant for longer periods of time than anyone suspects.

I have anecdotal evidence...

I had a tank for 7 years with no Aiptasia (I was not too actively trading). A year ago, I upgraded to newer tank. I started with new substrate and rock only bringing over some of my choice rocks and coral from the old tank. At some point one of my old rocks sprouted an Aiptasia...I pulled the entire piece it out and bleached it. After actively trading and acquiring coral, months go by and I find two more in the tank. I use Aiptasia X. Now it's been several weeks with no Aiptasia. While I'm careful with frags and usually remount them or put suspicious ones in my QT (which caught Aiptasia) I'm not perfect. However, I suspect that these buggers may have come from my old tank or a single cell from something added to the tank.

Are the inevitable? Is control the only option?

I certainly think so.

Unavoidable. Lol. Get something to eat them and super glue. I've got one in the middle of my favorite zoas. I'll nuke him with lemon injection I hope.

 

[Jekyl]

Unless using extreme quarantine methods I would say inevitable. However I also don't think they are an issue. Peppermint shrimp or manual removal are easy solutions. Most pests and hitchhikers are no where near the concern they are made out to be.

 

[Garf]

Yep. Only takes a tiny one to get in and hide in an overflow, pipes, sump or at the back of the rocks that you’ll never be able to get to (or even detect), without a total tear down.

 

[jfoahs04]

I'd say inevitable for the vast majority of reefers. I've never not had them turn up in my tanks. As has been mentioned, they'll grown on anything (literally anything, shells, rocks, snails, grains of sand, etc.) and can grow from a single cell. And it can take that cell more than a month or so to grow into something visible. So unless you're quarantining EVERYTHING for a month or more and looking over every millimeter of surface area with a magnifying glass (again, the vast majority of reefers aren't doing this), one is likely to slip by you at some point.

But takeovers from aiptasia are not inevitable. The superglue/putty method is the best, in my experience, at limiting the spread. Boiling water, lemon juice, kalkwasser, aiptasia-x, etc. all tend leave little bits behind that grow back in weeks or months.

 

[arking_mark]

So it's been about 2 months since my last Aiptasia...and I just found another one in my sump. Aiptasia X to the rescue - but I would now consider my tank no longer a clean tank.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

Inevitable

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I've been reefing since 2007 and have never had an aptasia issue. I've had a few pop up on live rock when I first got them, but acted quickly to kill/remove them and never have seen one since. In my experience, acting quickly and correctly is key! I've injected lemon juice, glued a rock or something over the nem with super glue and epoxy or just cut that section of the rock off.

I would say in 14 years, I dealt with them when I first started (easy kills since I jumped on it quickly) and one received a colony that had a single aptasia on it and just removed that part of the rock.

Edit: I do have ball anemones, but they are cryptic, and don't over take things. usually hang out under rock overhangs or in caves. They're quite nice.

 

[arking_mark]

I've been reefing since 2007 and have never had an aptasia issue. I've had a few pop up on live rock when I first got them, but acted quickly to kill/remove them and never have seen one since. In my experience, acting quickly and correctly is key! I've injected lemon juice, glued a rock or something over the nem with super glue and epoxy or just cut that section of the rock off.

I would say in 14 years, I dealt with them when I first started (easy kills since I jumped on it quickly) and one received a colony that had a single aptasia on it and just removed that part of the rock.

Edit: I do have ball anemones, but they are cryptic, and don't over take things. usually hang out under rock overhangs or in caves. They're quite nice.

So I go months between seeing one, and have done similar. However, I have to believe that with this 3rd recurrence it's endemic to my tank. There are too many nooks and crannies I can't get to or even see well.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I think once they start splitting, you’re screwed! lol. I think I’ve either been lucky or did a good job of inspecting when getting new rock. It’s been many years since I got ‘live’ rock so I don’t remember how diligent I was.

 

[Garf]

I had a 180g display connected to a 150g cryptic fuge full of rocks and barely lit (tiny led). Never saw one in the display but the cryptic was teaming with the little buggers.

 

[PeterC99]

Yes Aiptsia is definitely inevitable in most aquariums. That said they are some great ways to deal with it. Had an outbreak of Aiptsia recently and got a Copperband. I can’t find any Aiptsia in my aquarium now. They are beautiful, inquisitive fish!

 

[The JLP Experience]

 

[ZoWhat]

 

[BiggestE22]

Inevitable

The ones that come in on frag plugs can be tiny. That is the only time I have seen one. Puchasss a graf from a local store. Not my preferred one. Always remove the frag. When I did I was gonna keep the plug but saw the apraxia. No bigger than 1cm.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

yes

EDIT: but they're fun to kil

 

[arking_mark]

So I go months between seeing one, and have done similar. However, I have to believe that with this 3rd recurrence it's endemic to my tank. There are too many nooks and crannies I can't get to or even see well.

4th occurrence...two weeks ago...about a month after the last sightings...I eliminated them with Aiptasia-X again.

I now have several peppermint shrimps in the tank and a Copper Banded Butterfly on the way...maybe they will help.

The battle continues!

 

[Dkmoo]

Its a badge of honor and an rite of passage for all reefers to get aiptasia and get it under control.

Years ago when I had my first one I freaked out and considered tear down the tank. Now when I see a new one popping up I'm like "yay another tasty snack for my peppermint"