Massive Aiptasia issue

Dr. Peter Venkman

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Hey all. I went to Europe and when I came home my tank was all Aiptasia's. I'm not joking when I say that I counted 107 of them this morning, and it's only a 40g tank. Any tips on what to do? Should I buy like 20 peppermint shrimp?
 
Peppermints may or may not eat Aiptasia. Buy some berghia nudibranchs or use AiptasiaX! I actually just demolished some Aiptasia in my frag tank with it:


Link: https://amzn.to/3xPXV3z
 
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If none of the above work, as a last resort you can try a small Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) They eat 'em up. But you'd probably want to re-home after it grows some. I'm actually gonna have one of these in my upcoming tank. It's a good utilitarian fish.
 
Peppermints may or may not eat Aiptasia. Buy some berghia nudibranchs or use AiptasiaX! I actually just demolished some Aiptasia in my frag tank with it:


Link: https://amzn.to/3xPXV3z

Thanks for the feedback. Where can I buy some berghia nudibranchs? The stores online that I use don't have any, and my LFS said "what's that?" When I called and asked if they had any lol.
 
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FYI I had a few aiptasia in my tank and used F Aptasia. I also had a bigger one and last week, I got 2 peppermint shrimp and yesterday it appeared that the big one is gone. The little one is still there so im probbably going to nuke it with F Aiptaisia today.
 
Berghia Nudibranchs - know up front that if they survive predation (wrasse, peppermint shrimp, other) they will die off once they clear out all of the aiptasia. Also they are a bit expensive in my opinion.

Matted filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) - may nip at soft corals like Xenia and random zoa's. They may be mistaken for eating other corals like a corky sea finger gorgonian as they clamp their mouth or bit it to stay steady while sleeping. Mine does this and also uses my green star polyps - without damage. I have one from Biota and it does wonders.

Peppermint shrimp - opportunistic eater in my opinion. Work better with numbers but may bother some other fleshy corals that eat like an Elegance. I've had two shrimp try and peel back the polyp when it was eating to steel the food.

My personal preference is the Matted filefish as I've used them a few times with consistent results. They will also eat prepared foods be it frozen or pellet so no worry about starvation when pest is controlled. More so with captive bred as they are already eating both. However my recommendation is to buy the fish because you want it and utility being a plus/bonus.

Note - with all above and mentioned in the thread they will take time. You won't notice it over night but you will over the course of week 1, week 2, etc. Also if you have Aiptasia now you more than likely will always have it as it will be in your sump, plumbing, overflow, etc. Another reason why I like using fish.

Note 2: my opinion, works for me, my experience, your mileage may vary - have a great day.
 
Two peps completely rid my tank of them in 2 days.
They work well in tandem. They can go rouge. I overfeed just for them.
Nudis are great but die when their food source does.
Little sad for me.
And their a bit pricy.
Filefish are hit or miss, lovely timid fish.
May eat them, may eat your corals.
The huge ones I injected with boiling water, let the peps finish them up.
Just my experiences.
 
If none of the above work, as a last resort you can try a small Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) They eat 'em up. But you'd probably want to re-home after it grows some. I'm actually gonna have one of these in my upcoming tank. It's a good utilitarian fish.

Matted filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) - may nip at soft corals like Xenia and random zoa's. They may be mistaken for eating other corals like a corky sea finger gorgonian as they clamp their mouth or bit it to stay steady while sleeping. Mine does this and also uses my green star polyps - without damage. I have one from Biota and it does wonders.

My personal preference is the Matted filefish as I've used them a few times with consistent results. They will also eat prepared foods be it frozen or pellet so no worry about starvation when pest is controlled. More so with captive bred as they are already eating both. However my recommendation is to buy the fish because you want it and utility being a plus/bonus.
File fish work VERY well for aiptasia, but do be aware they will likely eat coral as well.
I have personally used them in 2 of my 5 reefs and they are extremely effective and efficient.
With that being said, I lost $$ in LPS once they had eradicated the unwanted pests. They were more than happy to eat several cynarina, torches, and hammers.
Best of luck!

I've had excellent luck with a Copperband Butterfly
 
File fish work VERY well for aiptasia, but do be aware they will likely eat coral as well.
I have personally used them in 2 of my 5 reefs and they are extremely effective and efficient.
With that being said, I lost $$ in LPS once they had eradicated the unwanted pests. They were more than happy to eat several cynarina, torches, and hammers.
Best of luck!

I've had excellent luck with a Copperband Butterfly
Ohhhhhh. Didn't see that coming. I could have sworn I had looked that up!!!
 
Ohhhhhh. Didn't see that coming. I could have sworn I had looked that up!!!
Before file fish.
18210.jpg

After file fish.
1000000689.jpg



edit: After realizing I was losing many beautiful coral to the file fish, they were promptly escorted off the premises.
 
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I've used berghia 2x and with wrasse. Both times cleared them.
I only recommend them if you have a lot of aptaisia. They work well, very well.
Pack hunters, buy 10 at min.
Release at lights out. Let them crawl out of the container not on, but next to an aptaisia. Do not use any other methods while using berghia.
 
I've used berghia 2x and with wrasse. Both times cleared them.
I only recommend them if you have a lot of aptaisia. They work well, very well.
Pack hunters, buy 10 at min.
Release at lights out. Let them crawl out of the container not on, but next to an aptaisia. Do not use any other methods while using berghia.
I hope other people see this message.
 
If none of the above work, as a last resort you can try a small Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) They eat 'em up. But you'd probably want to re-home after it grows some. I'm actually gonna have one of these in my upcoming tank. It's a good utilitarian fish.
I will beg to differ, both work and work well. I sold and traded my nudibranch when they were done. I started with 4 then sold 10 to 15 at a time, traded for a bunch of acro and was able buy supplies. My peppermints are still keeping aptaisia at bay in my smallest tank
 
Nudis cleared my tank out and now I have little ones crawling all over my glass. It’s a shame. I posted in local reef group and no one needed them. Poor nudis. Sure hope they got all the aptasia I would prefer it doesn’t come back!
 

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