Reef/Clam Safe aiptasia control

[micl10]

I've been using aiptasia-x to some degree of success, but i'm worried i'm harming my corals with it.

Can anyone recommend a good reef/clam safe fish that consumes aiptasia. I already have 2 shrimps, so I'm not sure i want to go the peppermint route.

I'm really interested in the copperband, but i'm not sure it's clam safe. I don't have SPSs (atm) so I don't have to worry about that.

I would prefer one that can eat frozen foods as well, so it doesn't starve once the aiptasia is gone.

 

[bios]

Acreichthis tomentosus

 

[LandenB]

I have yet to see any negative effects using aiptasia x in my reef tank

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have yet to see any negative effects using aiptasia x in my reef tank

Although, I get more within a week, but this is my method as shrimp and berhgia are not an option and butterflies are just iffy. Want to try a filefish, but may also be not good for my system.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Every single aiptasia eating filefish I have had in various tanks ended up eating coral.

As long as you don't do too much at any single time, aiptasia-x is safe.

 

[micl10]

Can anyone explain how aiptasia-x work? The reason i worry is that i my duncan's are suddenly closed up for the last few days (maybe 2 weeks). It's mouth is tightly shut. Did they accidentally eat the aiptasia-x? I know that x is some fast drying glue meant to glue shut the mouths of aiptasia...right?

Some aiptasia is starting to grow around my zoas, and i don't even want to try and squirt x around that area. They're defo irritating the zoas tho.

 

[SamsReef]

My two cents - while there are several methods of controlling aiptesia, in my opinion, nothing beats peppermint. They have long term aipetesia control track record. In the past, I train my peppermint to eat aiptesia in the frag tank. Keep them unfed and put rocks with aiptesia and then transfer to DT in a week.

You should not have problems with cleaner shrimp or blood red shrimp or harlequin. I personally do not care about others.

Sam

 

[SamsReef]

BTW, by keeping in frag tank, I also check for any predatory nature towards other corals.

Sam

 

[micl10]

thanks. i might consider peppermint. i have a cleaner and a harlequin already. i'm not afraid of them fighting, but i only have a 60g, and 3 shrimps seem to be one too many. but last resort, i think i'll go that route.

any opinions on copperband and clams?

 

[SamsReef]

Depends on how risk averse you are when it comes to your tank. I generally do not put anything in my tank which has high chance of being coral snacker. In a 60 gallon, you might be able to catch it later on.

Sam

 

[eatbreakfast]

thanks. i might consider peppermint. i have a cleaner and a harlequin already. i'm not afraid of them fighting, but i only have a 60g, and 3 shrimps seem to be one too many. but last resort, i think i'll go that route.

any opinions on copperband and clams?

Copperbands may or may not pich on clams, as well as picking at the mouths of acans, not all will, but it's a possibility.

Peppermint shrimp may also nip at clams, they don't always do it, but they may.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

My two cents - while there are several methods of controlling aiptesia, in my opinion, nothing beats peppermint. They have long term aipetesia control track record. In the past, I train my peppermint to eat aiptesia in the frag tank. Keep them unfed and put rocks with aiptesia and then transfer to DT in a week.

You should not have problems with cleaner shrimp or blood red shrimp or harlequin. I personally do not care about others.

Sam

BTW, by keeping in frag tank, I also check for any predatory nature towards other corals.

Sam

+1 to the above. Also, depending on how bad your outbreak is, I'd recommend at least 3 peppermint for a tank your size. Those guys are hit and miss to start with (not all of them eat aiptasia), so I'd pick up 3 or 4 of em to be sure. I bought mine from @uniquecorals and had great success.

Btw, if you don't want that many shrimp longterm, you can always by them to take care of the aiptasia and then rehome them after. If they take care of your aiptasia problem, you'll have no trouble selling them to someone else and getting your money back out of them.

 

[mort]

+1 to the above. Also, depending on how bad your outbreak is, I'd recommend at least 3 peppermint for a tank your size. Those guys are hit and miss to start with (not all of them eat aiptasia), so I'd pick up 3 or 4 of em to be sure. I bought mine from @uniquecorals and had great success.

Btw, if you don't want that many shrimp longterm, you can always by them to take care of the aiptasia and then rehome them after. If they take care of your aiptasia problem, you'll have no trouble selling them to someone else and getting your money back out of them.

I'm not sure if removing them will just let the aiptasia grow back. There was a video on youtube (just seen it's no longer available) that shows peppermint destroying an aiptasia and you can see it sending out masses of spores in a last ditch attempt to multiply. So your solution is only as good as the length of time you have it in there with peppermint imo, whereas I've seen butterflies simply suck them of the rockwork (we're talking non reefsafe butterflies) so less of a problem with them coming back.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I'm not sure if removing them will just let the aiptasia grow back. There was a video on youtube (just seen it's no longer available) that shows peppermint destroying an aiptasia and you can see it sending out masses of spores in a last ditch attempt to multiply. So your solution is only as good as the length of time you have it in there with peppermint imo, whereas I've seen butterflies simply suck them of the rockwork (we're talking non reefsafe butterflies) so less of a problem with them coming back.

I should clarify. I was thinking if the OP bought more than he wanted in his tank, he could rehome the extras once the visible aiptasia were gone. I'd absolutely recommend keeping 1 or 2 in there to hold off any new ones.

 

[Aqua 59]

I've been using aiptasia-x to some degree of success, but i'm worried i'm harming my corals with it.

Can anyone recommend a good reef/clam safe fish that consumes aiptasia. I already have 2 shrimps, so I'm not sure i want to go the peppermint route.

I'm really interested in the copperband, but i'm not sure it's clam safe. I don't have SPSs (atm) so I don't have to worry about that.

I would prefer one that can eat frozen foods as well, so it doesn't starve once the aiptasia is gone.

Berghia nudibranchs might be good. They eat only aiptasia and won't bother anything else.
Once they finish clearing out the aiptasia in your tank, you can sell them to other people with aiptasia problems. I have also heard of using aiptasia-eating file fish for aiptasia eradication, but i'm not sure if they are clam/coral safe.

Good luck!