Best aiptasia control

[kraken14]

I have noticed some aiptasia popping up in my tank recently. I have been killing them off manually, but I am looking for something to help control it. I have been looking at matted filefish and peppermint shrimp. I know they can be hit or miss, but which one is typically more effective and more reef safe?

 

[KrisReef]

With those two choices I’d look at your rock work and figure out which of them would be th easier to remove if they go rogue after the aptasia are gone. I’ve had about the same success with both.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

I've had good luck with Peppermint Shrimp. Never had issues after the aptasia are gone.

 

[Mozby]

I've had good luck with Peppermint Shrimp. Never had issues after the aptasia are gone.

I’ve heard/seen instances of peppermint shrimp going after euphyllias when the aiptasia is gone. Not sure how typical that is, but keep a look out for that.

 

[kraken14]

I had a few peppermint shrimp that went after my euphillia so they became a snack for my puffer. That’s why I was wondering if the filefish would be a better option

 

[116185]

I have both and neither even look at the Aptasia. I have heard both work on here. But never seen it in person. I just got a huge bottle to AptasiaX Im working on small sections at a time over a couple weeks. Seems by the time I get to the end I need to start over as the start popping back up.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

If you do not have wrasses in your tank. You can look at berghia nudibranch. I had probably 50 or so aptasia in my 10 gallon. after 2 months they are all gone. I first bought 2 berghias and now I have 40 or so. They are slowly dying due to them eating all of the aptasia. I tried peppermint shrimp. They did eat some of the aptasia but actually went after my purple stylo. They were quickly taken out of my tank.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

I just got a huge bottle to AptasiaX Im working on small sections at a time over a couple weeks.

The issue I ran into with aptasiaX was when they died they would shoot out all the little baby aptasias and after a few days I would have anywhere from 5-10 randomly pop up. Keep that in mind. If you only have a few. Just take some super glue gel and completely cover them up with it.

 

[laverda]

I have had very good results with both and the never bothered any of my corals.

 

[Snitch]

both work well - I'd go with peppermints myself, just because they'll be easier to catch if you need to - they're super greedy and go right into the old inverted bottle trap. If you go with peppermints, please make sure they're Caribbean - not Pacific. The Pacific one's won't eat them, only the Caribbean types will.

I've also used Calcium Chloride with good results. Concentrate it in a cup with some RO, and mix it up clear. Turn off the pumps and just lightly "drizzle" the aiptasia with a syringe. it will burn them and they'll contract into a ball, but not recede into the rock - then you can inject them.