How did you rid of your Aiptasia? Poll

[xiongsy]

What would you have done differently?

 

[KrisReef]

What would you have done differently?

Careful QT to avoid the introduction.

Kleine or Copperband buttterflies have kept them in check but there are Aiptasia refugia in the system that prevents complete victory. It’s like the war on drugs, there is always more showing up no matter how many cartels are eliminated.

 

[DHK-BHWNJ]

Australian Stripey

 

[mjszos]

I've never fully won the battle against them, but I've been able to keep them under control with a combination of careful introduction, nudibranches, and when necessary aiptasia x

Careful QT to avoid the introduction.

Kleine or Copperband buttterflies have kept them in check but there are Aiptasia refugia in the system that prevents complete victory. It’s like the war on drugs, there is always more showing up no matter how many cartels are eliminated.

 

[Scoob]

I haven't seen any in my system for years. Used some nudibranches

 

[Patx]

When i see one...
Rock out, crazy glue gel, activant...
Repeat in "some week/months".

 

[xiongsy]

If filefish/butterfly/peppermint shrimp have you witnessed them nipping or eating your nems such as bta, ritteri, carpet, etc?

 

[mikebusc]

Joes Juice and lemon juice. Joes when they are flat on something and can be fully covered and lemon juice when they are on the side of something. Have an occasional one pop up here or there but nothing crazy. I have peppermint shrimp also but never seen them eating. Unless they work after lights out. But I have to actually ID them better because I’m not 100% sure they are peppermints. The LFS sold them to me as peppermint but I’m not so sure. As soon as they come out of the rockwork again I’ll try to ID them.

 

[Uncle99]

If filefish/butterfly/peppermint shrimp have you witnessed them nipping or eating your nems such as bta, ritteri, carpet, etc?

Never touched anything except foods, Aptasia, and what it’s picking out of the rockwork.

This guy, my hero, wiped them out in about 30 days

 

[KrisReef]

If filefish/butterfly/peppermint shrimp have you witnessed them nipping or eating your nems such as bta, ritteri, carpet, etc?

I suspect peppermints of midnight snacking upon acans but I have not witnessed what the bass’s did at night .

Same for a few of the matted filefish, some individuals seem to have a different understanding of why they were introduced into the system. The one I have now finially is keeping the Aps in check but the Mojanos are thriving. The bubbletips don’t appear to be getting eaten, but only the fish knows.

The Berghia are also cryptic assassin but they seem to focus specifically upon Aiptasia, and they can get into the nooks that the fish can’t.

 

[UMALUM]

If filefish/butterfly/peppermint shrimp have you witnessed them nipping or eating your nems such as bta, ritteri, carpet, etc?

XL peps from reeftopia and a cbb. The cbb doesn't mind the higher flow areas that the peps avoided. The peps did start in on the acans and pectina after the aiptasia was gone so be prepared to trap and sump.

 

[xiongsy]

Thanks everyone. I decided to go with the Berghia via Reeftown. If I leave a pvc pipe in the back chamber (aio) where I believe they're base is hidden will they continue to grow on the pipe where I can reintroduce to the main tank to ensure the Berghia doesn't starve?

 

[rockdiver]

These 2 took care of all mine. Always had issues and would use AiptasiaX but they always came back. 3 months ago i got these 2 guys and never see any, any more since.

 

[FernBluffReef]

I had a small infestation back in January. I bought 5 nudibranches first week of January.

A few days later a group of nearby Aptasia were gone. Awesome

Four weeks later, Aptasia are all over now with no signs :-(. And then one aptasia is ‘mostly’ gone - foot remained. Couple weeks later aptisia continue to multiply. One more Aptasia disappears.

At this rate I will have a jillion Aptasia. Not sure if the nudibranches or something else killed the last couple Aptasia as I’ve never seen any and if so they sure are taking their time. I was hoping at least to see a nudibranch

Next step will start looking for a copper band as soon as far I’m failing

 

[xiongsy]

I had a small infestation back in January. I bought 5 nudibranches first week of January.

A few days later a group of nearby Aptasia were gone. Awesome

Four weeks later, Aptasia are all over now with no signs :-(. And then one aptasia is ‘mostly’ gone - foot remained. Couple weeks later aptisia continue to multiply. One more Aptasia disappears.

At this rate I will have a jillion Aptasia. Not sure if the nudibranches or something else killed the last couple Aptasia as I’ve never seen any and if so they sure are taking their time. I was hoping at least to see a nudibranch

Next step will start looking for a copper band as soon as far I’m failing

So, portions die and comes back and you don't known if it's the nudibranch ridding of them or not because you don't ever see them? You've given up hope (nudibranch experiment is a failure) and is looking to other solutions, i.e. copperband?

 

[FernBluffReef]

So, portions die and comes back and you don't known if it's the nudibranch ridding of them or not because you don't ever see them? You've given up hope (nudibranch experiment is a failure) and is looking to other solutions, i.e. copperband?

Yep. My next step is to see if I can find a nice health copperband that is already trained to eat

 

[flyweed]

I never had a very serious case of them, but I did have maybe a dozen or so in my tank years ago. I did have a peppermint shrimp and he would occasionally pick at them, but never did much, what worked for me was making a slurry of hot water and kalkwasser(pickling lime) just thin enough to suck up into a fine needle and syringe, I'd stick it into the mouth of the Aiptasia and inject a bit and then at the base of the aiptasia where it was attached, I'd squirt a little circle around it....that took care of them. I never had any issue after that.

 

[Terry Le]

I have Copper band, filefish that doesn’t touch aiptasians at all. So with a little of Kawasser with ro/di water shoots them with a cyrinde

 

[UMALUM]

Yep. My next step is to see if I can find a nice health copperband that is already trained to eat

Personally I think the trick is to find a specimen that's not excepting prepared food. Many times you'll find once they do that they won't bother with the aiptasia. I've even seen reports of them refusing their usual food after shipment and or transfer. Double edge sword with these guys but I think those who've had the best success have trained them in house.

 

[BryanM]

Joes Juice. I think I have 4 left.