Killing Horizontal Aiptasia

[Hugh Mann]

Title says it all. I've been nuking aiptasia every time I see one, usually once every week or two with Aiptasia Rx and it's been working pretty good, but like cockroaches, there's always more. Now they're starting to appear sticking out horizontally, making it nigh impossible to inject the stuff into their mouth-holes, as it only came with straight tips.

Fortunately it's not a dire emergency as they're small and mostly where my clown hangs out and they don't bother him.

Suggestions?

 

[92Miata]

Biological control. Peppermints or bhergia.


My experience with joe's juice and kalk paste and everything else is that it just makes them spread.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Peppermint are a no go, expensive eel snacks. I haven't seen a bhergia in any lfs in months. Hence the RX.

 

[92Miata]

Aiptasia eating file fish, or some butterflies are options too.

 

[John08007]

Seen a high powered laser used before, +2pts for coolness!

 

[artieg1]

Filefish
I tried everything. Filefish for the win.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Same with Aiptasia eating file fish, don't see them often. And unless they eat other things too, they'll starve to death. I have no more than a half dozen at a time. At least that I can see.

Have heard lots butterflies are a pain in the butt to look after, and I only have a 55 gallon, soon upgrading to a 230 I hope to keep pests out by using only dry rock.

Man, I'd love to use a laser while quoting Emperor Palpatine and Dr. Evil, but alas, like many things that are cool, totally illegal in Canada.

 

[artieg1]

Oh, and my filefish eats everything: pellet, frozen, and oh-so-yummy aiptasia. He's getting chubby. As with many fish, I think it helps to get them young before they get set in their dietary ways.

 

[fish farmer]

Can you cover them up with a little bit of aquarium putty?

 

[John08007]

Same with Aiptasia eating file fish, don't see them often. And unless they eat other things too, they'll starve to death. I have no more than a half dozen at a time. At least that I can see.

Have heard lots butterflies are a pain in the butt to look after, and I only have a 55 gallon, soon upgrading to a 230 I hope to keep pests out by using only dry rock.

Man, I'd love to use a laser while quoting Emperor Palpatine and Dr. Evil, but alas, like many things that are cool, totally illegal in Canada.

Lasers are illegal in Canada? Vid i just found they're using a 5w laser, looks like $100 on amazon

 

[Hugh Mann]

Lasers are illegal in Canada? Vid i just found they're using a 5w laser, looks like $100 on amazon

Well, not technically illegal to own. As with many of our backwards rules, it's complicated, prohibited to sell, import or manufacture. Pretty much to say if you didn't have one prior to the new legislation, you ain't getting one. Which is quite annoying. Could get something with a lower power output, but likely insufficient to zort aiptasia.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Can you cover them up with a little bit of aquarium putty?

That is possible. I've heard of people emtombing aiptasia with superglue and putty. How long does it take to kill them?

 

[Hermie]

That is possible. I've heard of people emtombing aiptasia with superglue and putty. How long does it take to kill them?

as quickly as the putty hardens

 

[Hugh Mann]

So how does that work exactly, just jam a wad of putty/glue down their throat, or encase them in it, King Tut style?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Can you just spray some boiling water near them? Turkey baster will work (or are those illegal in Canada too?)

Fwiw my aiptasia eating filefish never ate an aiptasia in its life

 

[mattzang]

great reason to get a butterfly

 

[Hugh Mann]

Can you just spray some boiling water near them? Turkey baster will work (or are those illegal in Canada too?)

Fwiw my aiptasia eating filefish never ate an aiptasia in its life

Fortunately I am allowed a turkey baster as long as I possess the proper permits and pass a rigorous safety course.

Just that easy? Boiling water, suck, squirt and call it good? Sounds almost too easy. But I can definitely do that. I had always heard injecting them with boiling water, not just blasting them with it.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Fortunately I am allowed a turkey baster as long as I possess the proper permits and pass a rigorous safety course.

Just that easy? Boiling water, suck, squirt and call it good? Sounds almost too easy. But I can definitely do that. I had always heard injecting them with boiling water, not just blasting them with it.

I'm sure injecting them is best but do what you can and hope for the best

 

[Mical]

Seen a high powered laser used before, +2pts for coolness!

Another plus for Filefish. Re: your laser idea - Aiptasia are a form of anemone, as with anemones if the get irritated enough they split. Laser aiptasia and you'll have dozens more in a matter of days. "Been there done that"

 

[John08007]

Another plus for Filefish. Re: your laser idea - Aiptasia are a form of anemone, as with anemones if the get irritated enough they split. Laser aiptasia and you'll have dozens more in a matter of days. "Been there done that"

There goes my laser idea, seems so cool. When I used AiptasiaX I remember needing to hit the mouth 1st because it did retract. Think I may have seen people using kalk also, not sure what the process is.