Aiptasia?

[apstreck]

Just brought home a frag of zoas and noticed this guy clinging to the bottom of the frag once I got him in the tank. I didn't notice it at the store because the coral wasn't so ****ed off, but now that he's closed up I found it.

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y467/astreck827/20140726_190352_zps416b238d.jpg

Aiptasia?

[Rensmif]

Some people use chemical methods to get rid of them, I always have had good luck with peppermint shrimp.

[whiteshark]

Certainly looks like one.

[hilgert]

For one or two, if I see them, I use Red Sea Aiptasia-X (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-aiptasia-x-1.html).

http://aquarium.bulkreefsupply.com/thumb.php?s=135&f=http://cdn.bulkreefsupply.com/media/catalog/product/2/0/205235-red-sea-aiptasia-x-grouped-a_2.jpg

If I get a bunch of them (happens every few years when I don't see them growing behind rocks, then then suddenly take over) I drop in a few Berghia Nudibranchs...they ONLY each aiptasia (and will die once all the aiptasia is gone). I told my local LFS about them, and he always keeps a few in stock. I used to actually breed them for a bit, but the problem is finding supplies of aiptasia (it's what we all "ironic").

http://www.saltyunderground.com/images/Single%20Berghia%20Eating%202%20Final%20Salty.jpg

[Steveabg]

Peppermint shrimp does the job for me.

[billdogg]

for just that one, don't waste your money on anything. A syringe with boiling water in it will allow you to selectively target that one little bugger without harming the zoas.

[GroktheCube]

I agree with billdogg. Lemon juice or vinegar directly injected would also be an option. I'd suggest killing it quickly. If possible, I'd suggest killing it out of the water to be extra sure no planulae are expelled.

[jamie1981]

If the tank is big enough a copperband butterfly will take care of them! I had a ton of them that came with some rock. I got A copperband from LA Divers Den and a couple weeks later they were all eradicated.

YES get rid of it fast they multiply even faster!

[usingthejohn]

If the tank is big enough a copperband butterfly will take care of them! I had a ton of them that came with some rock. I got A copperband from LA Divers Den and a couple weeks later they were all eradicated.

YES get rid of it fast they multiply even faster!

Relatively speaking, is a CBB "guaranteed" to go after Aiptasia? Or will I need to find one from another reefer who had it doing well in their tank?

Also, will peppermint shrimp eat corals? Do I need to "starve" the tank first to ensure they go after aiptasia, and not uneaten food?

[fishstick3]

Certainly looks like a aphasia. As far as the peppermint shrimp goes there are different views on whether they eat any coral or not. Mostly I have found people who have not had a problem with them, but I know a few people who have had them eat their zoa's so if you have a lot its something you might want to look into. I have a nano tank so its easy for me, but when i see them i take out the rock and pull them off, then rinse the rock off with tank water into a bucket. Hope this helps.

[CoralsAddiction]

I tried Aiptasia X...was a temp solution. Tried a butterflyfish...it are my brain coral...then I tried peppermint shrimp and Aiptasia was gone.

[jamie1981]

Relatively speaking, is a CBB "guaranteed" to go after Aiptasia? Or will I need to find one from another reefer who had it doing well in their tank?

Also, will peppermint shrimp eat corals? Do I need to "starve" the tank first to ensure they go after aiptasia, and not uneaten food?

Every animal is unique and has it own tastes for what it likes to eat just like people. The copperbands you get from Divers Den (not the regular fish section) are weaned onto frozen foods before they will sell them so you know that you get one that is eating and healthy. Every one that I have had from there has ate the pests in my tank and others...and yes some have been know to pick at certain corals... but so have other fish.

[hilgert]

Berghia Nudibranchs ALWAYS and ONLY eat aiptasia...period (that's really all they will eat, and will starve otherwise).

The other critters I've tried (Copperbands, Peppermint Shrimp, etc.) never seem to work for me (but they love the other food I drop in).

When I get one or two aiptasia I zap them with Aiptasia-X (works like a charm)...I do this maybe 2 or 3 times a year (but only when I get new livestock that has the little bastards as hidden hitch hikers). Every 3 or 4 years I might see some I did not get start to grow into the underbellies of the rocks and such (places I cannot get to), and I let them grow for a few months until they just start to make the tank look ugly. At that point I drop in a few Berghia Nudibranchs, and in a few weeks the tank is emptied of Aiptasia (and the Berghia Nudibranchs die).

[wildman926]

Try a Majano Wand from Marine Depot. It is the safest most fun thing to do.

[Panta rhei]

Peppermint shrimp canceled aiptasia from my tank, one year+ free by now