Eliminate unwanted Visitors to our reefs?

[jack220]

Lasers Would be perfect for the job, do any of them really work? I have had poor to minimal results from a 3 watt I bought from China. I want mainly to remove palys, zoas, sarcophytons,bio stars, and the dreaded aiptasia. We have tried aiptasiaX, the 3watt laser, and kalkwasser. No matter what we do, they grow right back. I am about to start two major renovations of my SPS and LPS 220 gals, and in we want to eliminate these pests ASAP

 

[CC13]

Lasers Would be perfect for the job, do any of them really work? I have had poor to minimal results from a 3 watt I bought from China. I want mainly to remove palys, zoas, sarcophytons,bio stars, and the dreaded aiptasia. We have tried aiptasiaX, the 3watt laser, and kalkwasser. No matter what we do, they grow right back. I am about to start two major renovations of my SPS and LPS 220 gals, and in we want to eliminate these pests ASAP

You will never get rid of them all with lasers and they will come back.

Buy some berghia nudibranch. All they eat is aiptasia.

 

[Subsea]

Are you sure you want this thread in macroalgae forum?

Not impressed with lasers. Aptasia is not that big of a deal. I use 35% hydrogen peroxide. A syringe needle or a toothbrush will oxide those bad boys

 

[CC13]

I use 35% hydrogen peroxide. A syringe needle or a toothbrush will oxide those bad boys

Both those are very good ways of killing them. OP has a 200+ gallon system.

From my experience with larger systems, it’s extremely difficult to rid the tank of all of them without something like a berghia also in your corner. The tank is simply too large for you to inspect and see all the aiptasia hiding spaces.

 

[Subsea]

Peppermint Shrimp worked in my 120G tank. Shrimp eat small Aptasia, peroxide killed big boys.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/wet-salty-for-christmas-2017.428100/

 

[jack220]

Thank you subsea, I was not sure where to post this. Just trying to find The aiptasia in a 220 full of live rock, corals, and fish is impossible. It is a full time job just keeping them from causing serious damage. I just lost two large, gorgeous, sand based corals. I could not understand why they were showing serious tissue recession until I found the aips in the sand bed just underneath the corals. They had been stinging them into oblivion. I will try the nudies and h2o2 tomorrow. I will also find a more appropriate thread. I was a little panicked earlier when I posted this. I am just a bit overwhelmed earlier.

 

[Subsea]

Thank you subsea, I was not sure where to post this. Just trying to find The aiptasia in a 220 full of live rock, corals, and fish is impossible. It is a full time job just keeping them from causing serious damage. I just lost two large, gorgeous, sand based corals. I could not understand why they were showing serious tissue recession until I found the aips in the sand bed just underneath the corals. They had been stinging them into oblivion. I will try the nudies and h2o2 tomorrow. I will also find a more appropriate thread. I was a little panicked earlier when I posted this. I am just a bit overwhelmed earlier.

For Aptasia in sand bed, I vacume them out and discard as nutrient export. If on rock that can’t be removed then take peroxide to them. A tooth brush dipped on 3% peroxide is an effective Aptasia zapper. Reapply peroxide to toothbrush every 60 seconds.

 

[jack220]

Hello subsea, I was just rereading this post and I ended up on your site. I am fascinated by your “old school” approach to reefing. I found three “volunteers” who love finding those nasty aiptasia, and watching them die what we hope are painful deaths[emoji4]. Peppermint shrimp have also helped reduce the aip population. Where do you find 35% H2O2? Everywhere I found it for sale sells it in diluted form only. You have just become one of my most respected reefers. How has your transition to tangs coming? I never thought it possible to have that many tangs in a macro tank. Thanks for your wisdom and knowledge.

 

[Subsea]

Hello subsea, I was just rereading this post and I ended up on your site. I am fascinated by your “old school” approach to reefing. I found three “volunteers” who love finding those nasty aiptasia, and watching them die what we hope are painful deaths[emoji4]. Peppermint shrimp have also helped reduce the aip population. Where do you find 35% H2O2? Everywhere I found it for sale sells it in diluted form only. You have just become one of my most respected reefers. How has your transition to tangs coming? I never thought it possible to have that many tangs in a macro tank. Thanks for your wisdom and knowledge.

At my age, the more I learn, the more I realize how complex nature is to have evolved from primeval slime of 5 billion years ago to where we breath oxygen and bacteria convert nitrogen gas into nitrate in a process known as “nitrogen fixation” in which planet Earth is kept green because of these Cynobacteria.

The tangs are doing great. I have much Bortacladia from macro production tanks. When I catch up with other chores, I will get a tutorial on making a video.

Twin 55G production tanks. Bottom tank is Red Grapes, Amphipods and baby mollies.

 

[Subsea]

Hello subsea, I was just rereading this post and I ended up on your site. I am fascinated by your “old school” approach to reefing. I found three “volunteers” who love finding those nasty aiptasia, and watching them die what we hope are painful deaths[emoji4]. Peppermint shrimp have also helped reduce the aip population. Where do you find 35% H2O2? Everywhere I found it for sale sells it in diluted form only. You have just become one of my most respected reefers. How has your transition to tangs coming? I never thought it possible to have that many tangs in a macro tank. Thanks for your wisdom and knowledge.

Thank you for your kind words.

I ordered & received 35% hydrogen peroxide 10 months ago on amazon. I now see that 35% is diluted to 12% for shipping. After using 35% hydrogen peroxide, I can not caution people enough to the caustic nature at that strength. Three percent off the shelf is adequate and much safer.

 

[jack220]

TY