Tool for hard to reach Aiptasias?

[hardimanm]

Hello all,

I have some aiptasia growing in the back of the tank where i cannot get to them without taking apart my aquascape. I have been able to kill any/all of the little pest that were popping up along the front of the rock work. But the problem is i have some really large aiptasias growing in the back and they appear to be what is causing all the little ones to pop up all around the tank.

I have been using lime paste (kalk) squirted directly onto the oral dics and have had good luck but i cannot seem to be able to reach the ones in the back.

I would like to find a long slender glass/plastic pipette that i could control and deliver the kalk paste directly to the pests. Something like this would allow me to reach them via the back of the tank without taking apart my rocks. Not sure where to get something like this though. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I would be open to any suggestions. Anyone have any other ideas on how to reach large aiptasias in hard to reach locations?

 

[Dave3112]

I have never had luck with chemically killing aptasia in any of my tanks. Peppermint shrimp are what I have always ended up using and they have always worked. Good luck in your fight. I know how frustrating it is.

 

[KJAG]

I have never had luck with chemically killing aptasia in any of my tanks. Peppermint shrimp are what I have always ended up using and they have always worked. Good luck in your fight. I know how frustrating it is.

Pep Shrimps are the best at mowing them down. They're also the best at running out and stealing any mysis etc you may want to feed to your LPS & polyps.

 

[hardimanm]

I have always had a few pop up here and there and have been able to kill them without much difficulty. But in the last few months i have noticed they are reproducing like crazy. I only noticed the other day that i have 3 or 4 in the back of the tank that are at least 2" diameter. I have always thought that was way too big for peppermint shrimp to handle. Am i wrong in thinking this?

 

[Dave3112]

I have had some fairly large ones in my tank and after the peppermint shrimp were added they disappeared...So i just assume they ate them. I have never actually seen them eat one though as mentioned above they will steal food from your corals if you feed them. I never spot feed anything in my tank so I don't worry about that aspect. If the corals eat they eat fish poop or the stray pellet the fish don't get.

 

[H@rry]

Here's what I made. It's a wooden dowel, length of rubber airline tubing, syringe, and tape. Mix kalkwasser with water to the consistency of pancake batter, suck it up, and squirt the aptasia. The tubing has a natural curl on the end from having been rolled up so you can aim it. It will get in tight places. You can watch what you doing and don't even have to get your hands wet.

Excuse the stock chart. I uploaded it trying to figure out why I couldn't get my pic to upload and now I can't delete it.

 

[hardimanm]

Harry,

That is a great idea. Thanks,

 

[Downbeach]

My peppermint's keep any aiptaisia in my tank in check. I don't know how bad your problem is, but you might also consider getting some Berghia Nudibranchs.