Zoa frag overrun with aptasia

[Buckeye Ken]

11 days ago I purchased a zoa frag and put it in my frag tank. Since then it has become overrun with aptasia. I've read many threads on dealing with aptasia, but at this point since it is isolated to one frag, is scraping the aptasia off in a separate container and rinsing well an option?

 

[Dburr1014]

Could you remove the frag and save a couple zoa instead? I wouldn't want that plug in my system if you are zero aptasia. Scraping won't rid you of them and likely to spread them.

 

[EricR]

Are products like Aptasia-X safe for zoas and, if so, how long do they take to work?

I wonder about setting up a small/dedicated hospital tank with Aptasia-X or similar,,, scrape as much off the frag as possible and stick it in the treatment tank (depending on if that's a viable solution and how long it would take to work).

Newbie so just thinking aloud -- I know nothing!

 

[GK3]

Are products like Aptasia-X safe for zoas and, if so, how long do they take to work?

I wonder about setting up a small/dedicated hospital tank with Aptasia-X or similar,,, scrape as much off the frag as possible and stick it in the treatment tank (depending on if that's a viable solution and how long it would take to work).

Newbie so just thinking aloud -- I know nothing!

I had this happen, unfortunately the best hope is to get a single zoa polyp and abandon the rest. I tried to fix this in my system with aptasia X and all I got was an empty plug, free of all life.

 

[Buckeye Ken]

I had this happen, unfortunately the best hope is to get a single zoa polyp and abandon the rest. I tried to fix this in my system with aptasia X and all I got was an empty plug, free of all life.

I might try scraping all of the aptasia first. If that doesn't work I'll do what you suggest and save one polyp.

 

[Buckeye Ken]

Could you remove the frag and save a couple zoa instead? I wouldn't want that plug in my system if you are zero aptasia. Scraping won't rid you of them and likely to spread them.

I'm at zero aptasia in my DT, but this frag is in my frag tank. It seems like saving a few zoa polyps is the thing to do, but I might try scraping first. Scraping done in a separate container.

 

[GK3]

I might try scraping all of the aptasia first. If that doesn't work I'll do what you suggest and save one polyp.

Remove from water and scrape. If you scrape in your tank you’ll spread them everywhere. Careful Use gloves and safety goggles

 

[Pkunk35]

So very hard to tell from that pic, but are we sure it’s aiptasia, it looks like some sort of clove polyp to me from the feathery tips in the bottom pic.
Can you provide a better lit pic?

 

[MaxTremors]

Those are not aiptasia, looks like maybe anthelia or clove polyps. But definitely not aiptasia.

 

[Buckeye Ken]

OK, that's good to hear! Are anthelia and clove polys desirable? If you can answer great, but I'll start looking into that.

 

[G Santana]

I just went through the exact same thing, on my stargazer zoa, the plug which is about a 2.5" plug had several aiptasia which had gone unnoticed for several months, then as they outgrew the zoa the started to sting the zoas and that's when I saw them. I treated with Aiptasia X and killed several, then a few weeks past I saw two smaller ones and I killed those and then two weeks later I saw two more.
I treated heavy and killed all the aiptasia but I must have lost close to 10 Stargazers in the process. Now several weeks after the last treatment I am finally pest free. Aiptasia X works but it may kill a few of your zoas in the process.
Good luck.

 

[Cell]

Not aptasia, but need a better pic for positive ID. You could remount the zoas onto a clean plug or pick off whatever it is manually but it may come back.

 

[Buckeye Ken]

Not aptasia, but need a better pic for positive ID. You could remount the zoas onto a clean plug or pick off whatever it is manually but it may come back.

Yes, thanks. I'm very glad to hear it's not aptasia.

 

[JohnnyH]

Yeah those do not look like aptasia. However, as for aptasia, Aptasia-X will work but it may raise alk if you are doing too much. I got alot in my tank before. I was tired doing it, so I bought 2x Peppermint Shrimp from reefcleaners, and they wiped out all aptasia first week in the tank.

 

[MaxTremors]

Anthelia and clove polyps are both somewhat desirable (not everyone likes them), they can provide movement but they are very fast growing and can take over if you don’t manage them. People usually keep them on their own rock away from the main rock structure so they can’t take over. You can just pull them out (though any tissue left behind will continue to grow) or use the same methods used to remove aiptasia. I’m thinking it’s not anthelia and not cloves (cloves usually have some color to them, green or orange, or there is a smaller blue variety), anthelia is more sort of flesh colored. I saw this on FB earlier:

This is what anthelia can look like when it’s let loose.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I have had success with scraping off the aptasia and then covering the spot with reef safe superglue. Whatever it is, I would try that.

 

[Buckeye Ken]

Anthelia and clove polyps are both somewhat desirable (not everyone likes them), they can provide movement but they are very fast growing and can take over if you don’t manage them. People usually keep them on their own rock away from the main rock structure so they can’t take over. You can just pull them out (though any tissue left behind will continue to grow) or use the same methods used to remove aiptasia. I’m thinking it’s not anthelia and not cloves (cloves usually have some color to them, green or orange, or there is a smaller blue variety), anthelia is more sort of flesh colored. I saw this on FB earlier:

This is what anthelia can look like when it’s let loose.

Doesn't look like something I would want in my tank. If it was slow growing then I guess it would be fine. Thanks for the info.

 

[Buckeye Ken]

I have had success with scraping off the aptasia and then covering the spot with reef safe superglue. Whatever it is, I would try that.

Covering the spot with reef safe superglue is a great idea. Thanks

 

[Cheeze]

I just yesterday saw what I believe to be aiptasia off the side of one of my zoa frags (hence how I found this thread), and all my research says to (1) NOT use Aiptasia X as it will harm the zoa but instead (2) scrape it off outside the tank and add a dab of Krazy Glue or Reef Superglue, and finally (3) pray it doesn't come back lol

But if yours isn't this pest, you may have dodged a bullet!

 

[Buckeye Ken]

I just yesterday saw what I believe to be aiptasia off the side of one of my zoa frags (hence how I found this thread), and all my research says to (1) NOT use Aiptasia X as it will harm the zoa but instead (2) scrape it off outside the tank and add a dab of Krazy Glue or Reef Superglue, and finally (3) pray it doesn't come back lol

But if yours isn't this pest, you may have dodged a bullet!

Yes, what I had was apparently anthelia, not aptasia. But I did exactly what you posted because I don't want that in my tank either.