Aiptasia...Avoidable or Inevitable?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Is Aiptasia the worst thing that could find its way into your reef? Maybe not. But do you want it there? Definitely not. Unfortunately, it is a common hitchhiker and can set up camp in your reef pretty quickly if you're not on your guard. But is Aiptasia a "right of passage" in reefing? Can its invasion be avoided, or is its introduction into our home reefs not "if" but "when"? Let's discuss!

• Is Aiptasia invasion avoidable, or is its presence in a home reef inevitable?
• What are some tips on how to do our best keep Aiptasia out of our reefs?
• If/When Aiptasia does appear, what is the best method of removal?

 

[ColorMeGone]

Luckily I never had it in my little nano but Bubble algae was a different story!
(all Gone now) lol

 

[Sm1nts2escape]

I've been very frugal inspecting my corals and dipping them etc. The only thing I do not do is a seperate observation/quarantine tank. I had one frag that popped up an aptasia in the middle of some zoas 3 weeks after putting it on my frag rack. I had another rock from my previous tank that never had aptasia for 6 months all of a sudden pop one out. I think they are unavoidable unless you have a long quarantine process/tank. Same with bubble algae. I had a torch that I have had for 6 months and just last week I noticed bubble algae on the base of the plug.

 

[PointerReefs]

Seems like it could be avoidable but only with a bit of luck. Careful inspection and a true quarantine can likely prevent aiptasia ever reaching your Display but like I said only with a bit of luck.

 

[Pntbll687]

I think it is avoidable with proper qt. You would need to replug all frags you buy, and scrape the bottoms of lps like acan lords (aptasia love to hide in the little nooks where the coral meets the plug). Then after replugging and scraping, qt for 60 days to make sure you got everything.

I have aptasia in all my tanks, and it's not a big deal to me. Here's how I deal with them
1. Kalk paste, simple and effective, I go in once a month and get as many as I can.
2. Stay away from powdered coral foods if possible, aptasia populations seem to explode after using these on a regular basis
3. Natural control, I have a file fish that I rotate between the three tanks. He does a great job of aptasia control, BUT when aptasia is gone, he starts nipping at coral

The problem I see is people identify the aptasia, then do nothing about it, then the population spreads and is out of control when they finally do something.

One thing that people forget is that aptasia move just like bubble tip anemones. They want to be in the light. If you take say a dark color specemin cup and cut a small hole in the bottom, then place it upside down over the aptasia, it will start crawling up the cup and towards the light. This works REALLY WELL for that aptasia that end up on the sand bed and retract to to where you cant see them.

 

[BryanM]

Truth is I don;t know, but I think it is avoidable or more accurately clean up - able.

My tank doesn't grow hundreds, but it does grow big ones.

 

[56longroof]

Aptasia and bubble alge will always be present. Especially if using real live rock. If you stay on top of them its really a not a big deal. But you have to stay diligent.

 

[Tahoe61]

Knock on wood, I have no Aipitasia. The reason why is because I use observation tanks. I inspect my purchases upon arrival. I will not buy from on line vendors if that vendor has sent me pest on their products in the past. It's an unacceptable practice to send out frags with Apitasia on them. If the LFS has any Apitasia in their tanks it's pass.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

It is almost like they appear out of thin air.

 

[JGT]

While avoidable, most of us don’t follow the same regimented protocol as Tahoe61 so we will experience Aptasia. For those people, say hello to my little friend….

 

[Evil1]

I believe sooner or later they will come. My tank has them I just keep on top of killing the ones I can. No big deal as far as I’m concerned. I do a monthly search and destroy for anything close to corals.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Inevitable, though very manageable. I want to hear from the 20+ year reefers if there are any outliers to the majority opinion here.

 

[exnisstech]

Its avoidable but I find it easier to control vs totally avoiding or trying to eradicate it. I won't willing toss a frag in with aiptasia on it but I have some in every sump and overflow. Natural predators keep the displays clear.

 

[Reeferbadness]

I have/had it in both of my 200g tanks... then i got an Australian Stripey for each - they are great fish and I no longer have to spot treat with Kalk - something i did weekly for 2 years before this solution. Also had Berghia - but once most is gone, they die off and it always comes back. Mostly reef safe - one of them has an occasional appetite for a lps hammer head - but for me it's worth it since this only happens every few months.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Id say avoidable with the proper precautions. Dry rock, removing coral from plugs and dipping before adding to the tank. Ive never had aiptasia before and knock on wood

I never do

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

inevitable 100%​

 

[Privateye]

I've eradicated them from many tanks. They aren't so bad. A few peppermint shrimp always does the trick for me, whether I buy them or collect them.

They work best when you don't directly feed your corals. Otherwise the shrimp will have way too much food to steal instead of going after the aiptasia.

 

[Crabs McJones]

inevitable 100%​

 

[Popeye]

if they're never introduced to the system you will never have them. dip your corals. 100% they can be avoided

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Had it in my pico tank, but it never bothered anything, so I just let it be.