The problem with lasers or products you need to apply directly onto aiptasia is that you can only target those aiptasia you can see or reach. In most reef aquariums, the rockwork and sump equipment present areas where aiptasia can grow that you can never reach, and they can continue to reproduce unabated. The only solution I have found that works effectively to completely eradicate aiptasia is to use berghia nudibranchs. Yes, they can be expensive. And yes, they can take some time to show results. But they work. Eating aiptasia is the ONLY thing these creatures do.
My tank only had a couple of aiptasia that hitchhiked on a scoly coral. At first I tried removing the scoly and injecting the aiptasia with lemon juice. Within days they were back, and within another week I started seeing more around my tank. After about a month and at least 25 aiptasia, I bought a laser and started zapping them every chance I got. After a few more weeks, it seemed like the laser was working well. But then I discovered the aiptasia had spread to my sump and refugium. Then I started finding them behind rocks where I could barely get a line of sight, but not good enough to hit them with the laser. By this time (now about 2 months since the first aiptasia on the scoly) they were spreading like crazy and I’d have to zap about 10 new ones each day that I could get to. But I knew for every one I could see there were several hidden behind and in the holes in my rock work, plus in my sump and equipment.
I finally gave in and ordered a dozen berghia nudibranchs. It took about 3 weeks before I noticed that some of the prominent aiptasia that nagged me (because I could see them but not hit them directly with the laser to kill them) had disappeared over night. After 2 months, there was no sign of any aiptasia. Unfortunately, once the aiptasia are gone, the nudibranchs die off because they don’t eat anything else.
Bottom line, if I ever get another infestation, I’ll rely on the nudibranchs to do the work for me.
