killing aptasias for good

BrownPoseidon · 05/04/2012, 11:18 AM

I got a one zoanthid/aptasia rock that is half zoa half fat *** aptasias. In total i probably got 10-15 aptasia, most of which are on this rock. I've bought 2 peppermint which died after few days. I've white vinegared one but it didnt work so great.

Berghia nudibranch time?
Any suggestions?
What has worked and what hasn't for ya'll?

20 gallon long, 2 aquaclear powerheads, aquaclear filter, Coralife lunarlight

Raceimage · 05/04/2012, 11:42 AM

What do you have in your tank? Copperbanded butterfly fish and berghis are the best preditors against aptasia; however, the butterfly may also go after LPS corals once the aptasia is gone. If you don't want to purchase the fish and your rock isn't too big, a local pet store or fellow reefer may let you put the rock in with their butterfly to get rid of the pests.

muskiewade · 05/04/2012, 11:50 AM

I've also had good luck with the Klein's butterfly ridding a tank full of aiptasia.

8-ball · 05/04/2012, 11:55 AM

squirt some kalk in their face, pretty neat way of melting them imo lol. Everytime one pops up (dont know how all base rock) i just get a nice kalk slurry mixed up and feed it to the aiptasia!

Red_Blenny · 05/04/2012, 11:59 AM

I use aptasia x, though it takes like a couple of tries for me...

Ron Reefman · 05/04/2012, 02:21 PM

Copper Banded Butterfly works, but they are VERY fussy eaters. They like live food (some can be weened to frozen) and are slow eaters (not good in a tank with lots of fish). Aiptasia-X worked pretty good for me too. But now I use a 1.3w blue laser. It's so cool it's almost fun. You can hear them sizzle even under water! But probably not practical for just a handful.

SevenStars07 · 05/04/2012, 07:52 PM

Lemon juice and a syringe

Tazz11 · 05/04/2012, 08:39 PM

+1 to th Kalk slurrie mix. I have used this method many times myself with a syringe and they were gone almost immediately

agruetz · 05/04/2012, 08:41 PM

1 pepermint shrimp and aptasia-x.

pstank1 · 05/09/2012, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SevenStars07

Lemon juice and a syringe

This is a great solution. Inject a tiny amount of lemon juice into the aptasia and watch them melt away.

Frantz · 05/09/2012, 09:04 AM

I use peppermint shrimp and aptasiaX on occation. I don't kill the ones down in my sump, but thats a controversial practice as it just gives them a place to grow/breed, but they also are good filters

phender · 05/09/2012, 06:49 PM

Aptasia-X hasn't worked worth a darn for me. "Aptasia Solution" from Precision Solutions worked waaay better. If you are having any trouble finding it and are from SoCal, send me a pm and I will give you a source.

I can't use peppermint shrimp because my sunset pseudochromis kills them. My kleins butterflys started going after my corals after they were done with the aptasias and in a reef with clowns and tangs, the couple copperbands I have tried ended up starving.

galoot · 05/11/2012, 09:49 PM

i had some hitchhike on a zoo rock too. i made a kalk mix nice and thick. then i covered them with it. i didn't inject them. just a nice full coat over them. looked like a glob of white frosting. they never came back!

05/04/2012, 11:18 AM	#1
BrownPoseidon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sunny California Baby!! Posts: 92	killing aptasias for good I got a one zoanthid/aptasia rock that is half zoa half fat *** aptasias. In total i probably got 10-15 aptasia, most of which are on this rock. I've bought 2 peppermint which died after few days. I've white vinegared one but it didnt work so great. Berghia nudibranch time? Any suggestions? What has worked and what hasn't for ya'll? 20 gallon long, 2 aquaclear powerheads, aquaclear filter, Coralife lunarlight

05/04/2012, 11:42 AM	#2
Raceimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sarver, Pa Posts: 260	What do you have in your tank? Copperbanded butterfly fish and berghis are the best preditors against aptasia; however, the butterfly may also go after LPS corals once the aptasia is gone. If you don't want to purchase the fish and your rock isn't too big, a local pet store or fellow reefer may let you put the rock in with their butterfly to get rid of the pests. __________________ Gary Current Tank Info: 120 gal reef with 50 gal breeder sump, Reeflow Wahoo pump, Sea Swirl for motion in the mini ocean, AGM G2 skimmer, 8 Lamp TEK T-5 fixture, 90 Gal discus tank with fluval 404 and 4 lamp T5 fixture

05/04/2012, 11:55 AM	#4
8-ball Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: W. Virginia Posts: 98	squirt some kalk in their face, pretty neat way of melting them imo lol. Everytime one pops up (dont know how all base rock) i just get a nice kalk slurry mixed up and feed it to the aiptasia! __________________ A posituve attitude will not solve your problems but it will annoy enough people to make it worth your effort! Current Tank Info: 40B 2xKessil a150 Mixed Reef

05/04/2012, 02:21 PM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 3,664	Copper Banded Butterfly works, but they are VERY fussy eaters. They like live food (some can be weened to frozen) and are slow eaters (not good in a tank with lots of fish). Aiptasia-X worked pretty good for me too. But now I use a 1.3w blue laser. It's so cool it's almost fun. You can hear them sizzle even under water! But probably not practical for just a handful. __________________ 180g DT, 200 lbs LR, 2 EG IT2080 leds 70g nem tank, 1 EG IT2040 led 150g sump/refugium with cheap Chinese led, AquaMedic 5000 Shorty skimmer, DIY nitrate reactor, 2400gph Reeflo & OM4 CL, 3200gph su

05/04/2012, 07:52 PM	#7
SevenStars07 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 100	Lemon juice and a syringe __________________ James--- Current Tank Info: 40 & 120gallon mixed reefs 250 watt 20k Radiums,PC's and Purp VHO's

05/04/2012, 11:50 AM	#3
muskiewade Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 57	I've also had good luck with the Klein's butterfly ridding a tank full of aiptasia.

05/04/2012, 11:59 AM	#5
Red_Blenny Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 268	I use aptasia x, though it takes like a couple of tries for me...

05/04/2012, 08:39 PM	#8
Tazz11 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lewes,De. Posts: 114	+1 to th Kalk slurrie mix. I have used this method many times myself with a syringe and they were gone almost immediately __________________ Scott Current Tank Info: 125 Gal Reef setup 65 Gal. Reef , 20 Gal Nano

05/04/2012, 08:41 PM	#9
agruetz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 499	1 pepermint shrimp and aptasia-x. __________________ 27 Gallon Cube w/ 15 Gallon Fuge - 2 Black Clowns, 1 Red Scooter, 1 Queen Conch, 1 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 Clam, Faviva, Galixia, Green Star Polyps, Assorted Zoa's and some hermits running around.

05/09/2012, 09:04 AM	#11
Frantz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pennsylvanian stuck in Atlanta Ga Posts: 47	I use peppermint shrimp and aptasiaX on occation. I don't kill the ones down in my sump, but thats a controversial practice as it just gives them a place to grow/breed, but they also are good filters

05/09/2012, 06:49 PM	#12
phender Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 4,182	Aptasia-X hasn't worked worth a darn for me. "Aptasia Solution" from Precision Solutions worked waaay better. If you are having any trouble finding it and are from SoCal, send me a pm and I will give you a source. I can't use peppermint shrimp because my sunset pseudochromis kills them. My kleins butterflys started going after my corals after they were done with the aptasias and in a reef with clowns and tangs, the couple copperbands I have tried ended up starving. __________________ Phil Current Tank Info: 50 gal reef, 60 gal reef, 40 gal reef, 2-20 gal clownfish tanks which are also reefs.

05/11/2012, 09:49 PM	#13
galoot Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Carlos Posts: 505	i had some hitchhike on a zoo rock too. i made a kalk mix nice and thick. then i covered them with it. i didn't inject them. just a nice full coat over them. looked like a glob of white frosting. they never came back!