pest anenome. Need help in erradication

[Reefermike]

Hey all i have a 90 gallon reef. It has become infested with aptsisia . To the point i was contemplating downgrading to either a 40 breeder or 60 cube. Most of the reason for this is the pest,but as life has become so busy i find myself doing less and less water changes. So that leads me to the question what to do about the pest. I have a lot. Some time i think i would be better served to start from scratch new rock and sand . this rock has been with me now for some 6-8 years. Ideas?
there are quit a few rocks like this

 

[ngvu1]

If you can get some peppermint shrimps that eat them, you can fix the issue. However, they do eat your rock or small nems also. I was told they will change diet if you feed them pellets so maybe do not feed the shrimps....

 

[Reefermike]

i have tried Klein Butterfly but it was harassed by my Purple Tang till it died. So it looks like i may try Bergia Nudabrach or a File Fish

 

[trio91]

a few options

1. take the rock out and cut your losses....

2. cover the aptasia infested rock with epoxy....though it may take a ton of the stuff given the size

3. buy a laser and Zap em....(they are pretty pricey but cool)

4. you can use Kalk Paste....mix kalkwasser with some RO to the consistency of like toothpaste...inject paste in a syringe, shove syringe into each of the mouths and blast em (note...use caution when and if you consider doing this as the kalk will cause your PH/CAl to spike up) i have done this method and #2 in the past and both have worked for me

5. peppermint shrimp...i tried this in the past and wound up having 2 pep shrimps and aptasia in my tank (this did not work for me but has worked for others)

 

[Mike_J]

Aiptasia-X works very well

 

[bobstir]

try the berghias... they do work. Get a bunch of em (more than 10). If you just get one or two, they seem to eat a bit slower. In my experience (and i breed them), they seem to know when there is competition for their resources and swarm to the aiptasia when introduced (as opposed to eating and then going into hiding for a while).

I only trade locally so, unfortunately, if you wanted to purchase some, I can't help you.

 

[Reefermike]

my local fish store said they can get them for 10 a piece

 

[dbl]

I've added a Copperband Butterfly recently after reading several suggestions as a possible solution. Research will show they can be a challenge to get them eating and some never opt to eat aiptasia. Well I got lucky and it started eating right away in QT and now in the DT.

Now I will wait patiently to see if it develops an appetite for aiptasia. If not, I guess I've added a beautiful fish that I'm hoping won't develop a taste for corals.

After a bunch of reading, next step will be the berghias. Good luck with your eradication.

 

[Reefermike]

if it weren't for a few corals that have really covered rocks i would be inclined to take most of the rock out and let the little turds sit in the mississippi sun for a while.

 

[bobbyM]

if it weren't for a few corals that have really covered rocks i would be inclined to take most of the rock out and let the little turds sit in the mississippi sun for a while.

Cut the corals off the rocks and do it!

 

[twilliard]

Take that rock and soak in peroxide for 5 minutes
Its cool!

 

[ESVAreefer]

Reminds me of how the 380gallon system up the road was

 

[ESVAreefer]

Used berghias and vacuumed them off the sand with a large suction hose they're almost all gone now. I'm growing aiptaisia now and berghia nudis

 

[mchute85]

I have 3 peppermint shrimp in my 72g reef and they took care of my aptsisia problem. I only had 20-30 aptsisia in my whole tank though.

 

[twilliard]

Reminds me of how the 380gallon system up the road was

Now thats called letting it go!

 

[ESVAreefer]

It is the DT at the local high school not mine lol and the principle asked me for a week straight how long it would take for the aiptaisia to be gone

 

[ESVAreefer]

Peppermint shrimp ate my first plate coral [emoji22]

 

[ESVAreefer]

Aiptaisia grow out

 

[twilliard]

Ya so many people suggest peppers but dont truly understand what they can do to coral.
If they are hungry, they will eat.
Its their nature to rip things up

 

[HiddenUser]

Berghia Nudibranchs! You just have to give them time to do their job though. Aiptasia X will only help you get the ones you can see, not the ones between the rocks. Peppermint Shrimp seem to be hit or miss, same with Copperbands.

Otherwise, you can always tear down, soak the rocks in vinegar or bleach and RODI, or use muriatic acid...rinse out the tank or soak with bleach or vinegar mixed and water (kill the ones stuck on the glass), then use new sand, your clean rocks, and cycle again. Seems a bit extreme to do that though.