How to eradicate apstasia? Fish? Cut? Med?

Michael43 · Mar 14, 2017

Used to only gave one or two but now they're starting to spread and I need to find a way to take care of it. I was thinking if getting a copper band but afraid it will eat zoas too. It's a mixed reef. Literally has everything in it. Is there a member of a cuc that eats them? A reef safe fish? A reef safe med? Pic for fun

NeuroticAquatics · Mar 14, 2017

I've heard Berghia Nudibranchs work great.

Best Fish-Jake · Mar 14, 2017

Peppermint shrimp are tried and true... going to be your safest livestock option. Another more risky option would be a klieni butterfly. Berghia nudies would work but they don't like a whole lot of flow

Best Fish-Jake · Mar 14, 2017

Otherwise, shoot some ph down into their mouths via syringe

Michael43 · Mar 14, 2017

When you say shoot ph you mean like some alkalinity or something. I thought peppermint myself but not sure how some of my fish would react to them. Have a few wrasse

Florida Sunshine · Mar 14, 2017

If you only have a few, super glue gel works great. Otherwise I have had good luck with Aiptasia-X. I have a tank full of peppermints that I have never seen go near one so they are not a sure thing at all.

donnievaz · Mar 14, 2017

In my experience peppermint shrimp are hit or miss. If you get a good one he'll plow through them like candy, others couldn't care less.

JBradford · Mar 14, 2017

Aiptasia-X worked wonders in my tank. And it's fun watching them blow up.

Crna · Mar 14, 2017

I've used Berghia Nudibranchs, and they work perfectly. Aiptasia is literally the only thing they eat.

MounteeFrag · Mar 14, 2017

Filefish worked for me.

Philt56 · Mar 14, 2017

I had a tank wipe out due to disease and now I have tons of apitasia. None of the fish were known to eat these, no wrasses or butterflies. So not sure why these sprang up out of nowhere so suddenly? I would have a couple that I would blast with apitasia-x and that's it. I did do the fluconazole treatment recently for briopsis.

The only thing I thought was my lawnmower blennie was always scraping the rocks and kept them at bay although not eating them, they couldn't get established. Now I have rocks covered with them.

I recently bought some Berghia, not clear if they are helping or still in the tank. Maybe hermits got them? Might try some peppermints if no improvement soon.

Aquaboys · Mar 14, 2017

Apitasia x!!!

reef life · Mar 14, 2017

Berghias! They will take some time to reproduce and munch on the Aptasia. They worked great for me years ago.

Nosaj82 · Mar 14, 2017

I'm a newbie and posted on the same topic a few weeks ago cause I was having the Apitasia issue. Actually at that time I didn't even know what was growing in my tank but thanks to the great peeps on this form I found out it was apitasia. Anyways sorry for the rant but I was told to try a syringe with vinegar and nail them in the mouth. Seems to be working good for me so far. Good luck

Michael43 · May 4, 2017

I'd like to bump this. Problem is getting worse. Got apstasia x. It worked but they came back even fuller than they were. Sucks. Tried a copperband and unfortunately the fish didn't make it. I guess maybe some peppermints or nudis next??

MounteeFrag · May 5, 2017

Filefish, bought one for $20 left him in the tank for about 6 months and gave him back to the LFS. I have no apitasia.

Michael43 · May 5, 2017

I'm thinking filefish but I have a lot of high end zoas and lps. Worried might also eat them

IxTCxI · May 5, 2017

Berghia Nudibranchs worked for me.

psirex · Jan 13, 2018

I had previously used nudibranchs....

Matted Filefish.... My tank was OVERRUN with apstasia. Put in the file fish and for about 2 months he did nothing then all of a sudden over a 2 week period it cleared the WHOLE TANK.. I have one pop up every so often but it doesn't last long....

Tank is 300 gallons.....