Massive Aptasia proble

[Dav2996]

I have an out of hand aptasia problem how do I deal with or massively reduce their numbers? I know it’s possible to contain. Would new rock be better?

 

[nick7948]

New rock may help temporarily and/or significantly cut down your numbers, but unless you decide to fully start over (ie. remove the water) there may be aiptasia in places you don't see, like the sump, drop-down, pipes etc.. I would try the berghia nudibranch route first but you'll need to be careful not to place them by any of those huge patches to avoid getting eaten. Also, high flow means you need larger nudibranch. As a secondary option you could try the species of butterfly and filefish that eat aiptasia. I wouldn't do that as a first option because both could be aggressive towards certain inhabitants that you may or may not have now and/or want in the future. If you get the right number and size of bergia nudibranch and follow the directions (ie. turn off flow until settled) I would think that would do it. What that said, I've never heard of someone trying with so many aiptasia so I don't know if it's likely that the nudibranch will get eaten by one aitptasia while it is eating another one, given how dense the patches are. If so you may just need more, although they are pricey.

 

[CoralB]

Peppermint shrimp is what I have success with for aiptasia.

 

[Gorillareefer76]

Had success with peppermint shrimp

 

[pomoev]

In my experience, peppermint shrimps won't eat fully grown aptasia, but they will take care of small ones.
Filefish ate all the aptaisia I had no matter what size.

 

[Gorillareefer76]

In my experience, peppermint shrimps won't eat fully grown aptasia, but they will take care of small ones.
Filefish ate all the aptaisia I had no matter what size.

 

[Gorillareefer76]

Why not try both?! Kill an ant with a sledge hammer

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Best bet is a gang of nudis but that's going to be spendy.

I'd go for a two pronged aptasia eating FF and nudi route personally.

 

[CoralB]

In my experience, peppermint shrimps won't eat fully grown aptasia, but they will take care of small ones.
Filefish ate all the aptaisia I had no matter what size.

Mine did !! It might be because I introduced 3 of them . Not sure but I’ve had good luck for years with them

 

[Sean Clark]

Diligence and time will be your best friends to see this through.

 

[OldRed1]

@scrappy35 maybe reach out to this person lol.

 

[Dav2996]

I tried kill it with aptasia x every time I kill them they pop back up. I have gone through 3 bottles of the stuff. I think I want to try nudibranch. My tank is 20 gallons. So I do not think large fish like butterfly fish can fit in here.

 

[Sean Clark]

@Eagle_Steve is it ethical to murder Aiptasia that you don’t want in your tank so long as you do it slowly? Would a faster method be more ethical? Just asking.

 

[Dav2996]

@Eagle_Steve is it ethical to murder Aiptasia that you don’t want in your tank so long as you do it slowly? Would a faster method be more ethical? Just asking.

I think it’s perfectly ethical they are a plague and kill fish and coral if they sting stuff enough.

 

[12pack]

really?

Meant for sean clark

 

[Sean Clark]

I agree to an extent. I am just pointing to another topic here. Where is the line?

 

[Griev]

Best bet is a gang of nudis but that's going to be spendy.

I'd go for a two pronged aptasia eating FF and nudi route personally.

Anecdotally, I'm pretty sure my filefish ate my nudis. On top of that he also refuses to eat the adult ones. Considering giving him away and getting more nudis honestly.

 

[Dav2996]

I agree to an extent. I am just pointing to another topic here. Where is the line?

There is many ethic theories can be used. I took healthcare ethics. I believe in ethical theory of egalitarianism or does the most good. It does the most good for the fish corals not to be stung by somthing daily in a cramped space they cannot escape. It does the most good because less pain is caused with them gone.

 

[Dav2996]

I agree to an extent. I am just pointing to another topic here. Where is the line?

Also when you take ethics no ethical theory is 100% correct they all go against each other. You could spend all day talking about ethics but that is where I stand.

 

[Sean Clark]

really?

Meant for sean clark

Really what? Is it ok to kill what you determine is a pest without concern while what you determine a pest someone else praises? Where is the line? Does that line have ctural boarders? Does that line have geological borders?