Hep with Aiptasia removal

[PetePin15]

Hello everyone,

A few days ago I found an aiptasia on a zoa frag that I’ve had in my tank for a few weeks. When I noticed it, it was very open and clearly visible. After I found it, I removed the frag and rock it was on and put it in a small quarantine container. While I was waiting for aiptasia eliminator to arrive I noticed that the aiptasia closed up and I couldn’t see it all. I had a few people on reddit point it out to me, but it didn’t look like anything to me. Finally, the eliminator arrived and I applied it to the frag. The aiptasia never reopened and I can’t tell exactly where it is, so I just applied it to the entire area.

I’m going to attach a photo of the open aiptasia, the aiptasia when it closed and then the area after I applied the aiptasia eliminator.

Can you guys let me know if the aiptasia was still there, if it was did I apply the eliminator correctly and how long to I leave it on there? Also, how long should I quarantine to make sure it’s gone?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

only time will tell if you got it or if its still there. These things are extremely resilient, the aptaisia removers only have 50/50 chance in my experience.

 

[exnisstech]

Looks like maybe some bubble algae too. Not sure if the aiptasia stuff kills algae or not.

 

[PetePin15]

only time will tell if you got it or if its still there. These things are extremely resilient, the aptaisia removers only have 50/50 chance in my experience.

I think I'm going to leave it quarantined for a while and see if it comes back. It's probably already in my tank but hopefully I'll get lucky.

 

[PetePin15]

Looks like maybe some bubble algae too. Not sure if the aiptasia stuff kills algae or not.

Someone recommended I do a peroxide dip to kill the algae. I've never done one before, but I was going to try 50% peroxide 50% water for 4 minutes.

 

[exnisstech]

You could scrape it off first then hit it with peroxide. I've used peroxide on plugs before and used it strait out of of the bottle. I used the 3% stuff that's most common.

 

[Lavey29]

If you got one there are dozens more ready to hit the ground running in the tank. Just an inevitable reef pest but there are natural options available to keep them in check.

 

[PetePin15]

You could scrape it off first then hit it with peroxide. I've used peroxide on plugs before and used it strait out of of the bottle. I used the 3% stuff that's most common.

That's what I bought the 3%. When you say hit it with peroxide, do you mean submerge or just pour some on? I was told to actually dip it.

 

[PetePin15]

If you got one there are dozens more ready to hit the ground running in the tank. Just an inevitable reef pest but there are natural options available to keep them in check.

That's what I figured. I really tried to avoid them. I used dry rock and dipped everything before putting them in the tank. The coral dips don't work on aiptasia and I can't spot them if my life depended on it (unless they are open).

 

[Coral Memere]

Hello everyone,

A few days ago I found an aiptasia on a zoa frag that I’ve had in my tank for a few weeks. When I noticed it, it was very open and clearly visible. After I found it, I removed the frag and rock it was on and put it in a small quarantine container. While I was waiting for aiptasia eliminator to arrive I noticed that the aiptasia closed up and I couldn’t see it all. I had a few people on reddit point it out to me, but it didn’t look like anything to me. Finally, the eliminator arrived and I applied it to the frag. The aiptasia never reopened and I can’t tell exactly where it is, so I just applied it to the entire area.

I’m going to attach a photo of the open aiptasia, the aiptasia when it closed and then the area after I applied the aiptasia eliminator.

Can you guys let me know if the aiptasia was still there, if it was did I apply the eliminator correctly and how long to I leave it on there? Also, how long should I quarantine to make sure it’s gone?

Thanks for your help!

Do you see in the first (nem open) pic where the foot goes down into the sand on the frag? In the second pic, there is a dark brown area in that sand? That's the nem, hiding. I've just had to take a knife to some aiptasia in zoa frags, too.

Turkey baster the sand out from between the zoa stalks. Then, look for a blob that's chocolate brown, in between the zoa stalks. The usually aiptasia killer stuff work by dissolving the nem, so if it worked, there shouldn't be any dark brown there. If there is, or if you just want to be sure, take the tip of a knife and scrape out anything in that area that is not the color of the zoa body. Wiped off the stuff on a paper towel and you can probe around and look for a gooey hairy gelatinous blob- being the nem.

Make sure to wash your hands after for both the nem and the zoa goo.

 

[Lavey29]

That's what I figured. I really tried to avoid them. I used dry rock and dipped everything before putting them in the tank. The coral dips don't work on aiptasia and I can't spot them if my life depended on it (unless they are open).

Just a normal part of reefing. Peppermint shrimp are probably the first line of defense but aptasia X works good on small ones too.

 

[Coral Memere]

That's what I figured. I really tried to avoid them. I used dry rock and dipped everything before putting them in the tank. The coral dips don't work on aiptasia and I can't spot them if my life depended on it (unless they are open).

And then, no matter how careful you are, the next one you see is a monster and you think, "how did I miss THAT one?!?!?"

 

[PetePin15]

Do you see in the first (nem open) pic where the foot goes down into the sand on the frag? In the second pic, there is a dark brown area in that sand? That's the nem, hiding. I've just had to take a knife to some aiptasia in zoa frags, too.

Turkey baster the sand out from between the zoa stalks. Then, look for a blob that's chocolate brown, in between the zoa stalks. The usually aiptasia killer stuff work by dissolving the nem, so if it worked, there shouldn't be any dark brown there. If there is, or if you just want to be sure, take the tip of a knife and scrape out anything in that area that is not the color of the zoa body. Wiped off the stuff on a paper towel and you can probe around and look for a gooey hairy gelatinous blob- being the nem.

Make sure to wash your hands after for both the nem and the zoa goo.

I think I see what you're talking about, but could you circle the area in the picture? I want to make sure I'm looking at the same thing.

 

[Lavey29]

I think I see what you're talking about, but could you circle the area in the picture? I want to make sure I'm looking at the same thing.

Keep in mind too like any nem they can move so maybe you see him in one spot on one day and overnight he moves to another spot.

 

[exnisstech]

That's what I bought the 3%. When you say hit it with peroxide, do you mean submerge or just pour some on? I was told to actually dip it.

I like to squirt it on with a pipette. I have dipped plugs and have heard of others doing it as well. Your plug looks like it may have other types of algae so I would probably dip the plug.

 

[Coral Memere]

I think I see what you're talking about, but could you circle the area in the picture? I want to make sure I'm looking at the same thing.

But blow out the sand from between all the stalks. Zoa get irritated when their bums are buried.

 

[PetePin15]

Keep in mind too like any nem they can move so maybe you see him in one spot on one day and overnight he moves to another spot.

Yea, I was looking everywhere just in case he moved. I didn't see him anywhere. I wish he would open so I could get him.

 

[PetePin15]

Perfect, thanks! That's what I was looking at and that's where I put the aiptasia eliminator. I put it on last night so hopefully he's dead by now.

 

[Coral Memere]

I think I see what you're talking about, but could you circle the area in the picture? I want to make sure I'm looking at the same thing.

Yea, I was looking everywhere just in case he moved. I didn't see him anywhere. I wish he would open so I could get him.

Part of the problem is they have to invest some of the aitlptasia-x, so they say to apply it by having the tentacles grab onto the nozzle and start to draw it in. They, if you don't inject to cover the entire oral disk, it spits out babies. That's why, when it doesn't involve taking out entire rock, I've started the removal with knife process. (Plus I'm out of X)

 

[Coral Memere]

As for peroxide- 3% is what they sell for consumer use. I have used it 50/50 and I've used it straight. When using it straight, I only leave it in for a minute or so. Then your zoas will pout for a day or so. Leave it in too long and your zoas' outer skin layer will also peel off. Then they pout for a very long time.