Severe Aiptasia problem in small tank (Evo 13.5)

[Elise_]

Hi everyone, it’s been a while since I’ve been active here. Life got a little crazy there for a while and sadly my tank got neglected.
I’m back and trying to get things taken care of but my poor little tank has a severe aiptasia problem. Like every surface is covered in the stuff!
My 2 clownfish and a few of the snails are ok. There are 2 rock flower anemones and a single mushroom that are still also doing ok.

I have no idea how to tackle this in a small tank. As it seems like lots of the fixes are too big for a small tank.

Do I just take everything out and try and keep the livestock alive for a day while I completely tear down the tank and dry everything then start fresh with new sand and rock and hope that I can restart without a horrible shock to the livestock?
If I do this will I need new pumps etc?

I realize I may not get rid of the problem so maybe doing a tear down of the main tank and knowing that there will still be some in the pipes/pump etc and try to start fresh with something like a peppermint shrimp to deal with them as they come back?

I’m so lost and feel so embarrassed that it got to be like this but I need help so I can try and get back on track now I can be working on it.

 

[Lavey29]

Without seeing the tank, add a couple peppermint shrimp and 6 to 10 nudibranch. You can also hit the small ones with aptasia X.

 

[FishRN]

Had the same problem in my Fluval evo added 3 berghia nudibranchs and was Aiptasia free for around 9 months just saw where two popped up probably from not cleaning out to rear chamber. If I could re do it I would probably clean everything in the back out before adding the nudis to make it easier for them to get em all.

 

[lil sumpin]

I saw a couple heads of aiptasia start to appear after adding a single zoa plug. Weeks later there were several scattered throughout my 14gal nano. Got 2 peppermint shrimp from reefcleaners. The aiptasia appeared to be gone overnight

 

[Elise_]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. It’s hard to even get a picture it’s so bad right now after being neglected. I’m grateful I was able to have help feeding the fish but feel so awful it’s like this and don’t know what to do.

 

[rongy]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. It’s hard to even get a picture it’s so bad right now after being neglected. I’m grateful I was able to have help feeding the fish but feel so awful it’s like this and don’t know what to do.

That looks really bad! You can turn your tank into Nudibranch breeding tank

 

[Elise_]

Without seeing the tank, add a couple peppermint shrimp and 6 to 10 nudibranch. You can also hit the small ones with aptasia X.

Thanks I am ashamed but have now posted a photo of some of it. My poor tank may be done.

 

[Elise_]

That looks really bad! You can turn your tank into Nudibranch breeding tank

What I was worried about. Maybe it’s done for.

 

[rongy]

What I was worried about. Maybe it’s done for.

Seriously, buy some nudibranchs, let them breed in your tank, and sell them. I knew a few local breeders are actively looking for aiptasia infected rocks.

 

[Elise_]

Seriously, buy some nudibranchs, let them breed in your tank, and sell them. I knew a few local breeders are actively looking for aiptasia infected rocks.

So how many of them should I buy to get them started in there.
Eventually they may get it down to a tank I don’t have to be embarrassed by?

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

Get some Peppermint shrimp, I had just one in 10 gallons and it wiped out every single one of my Aiptasias in less than a month. I currently have another one in a small breeding box as he arrived too small to handle my CBS.

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

Without seeing the tank, add a couple peppermint shrimp and 6 to 10 nudibranch. You can also hit the small ones with aptasia X.

Nudibranchs die once they run out of Aiptasias to eat.

 

[Lavey29]

Nudibranchs die once they run out of Aiptasias to eat.

Yes they do