Aiptasia on LFS Seeded Bio-Block

[BPC10001]

Hi All,

I've been working over the past few months on setting up a brand new reef tank (check my build thread). I wanted to do everything by the book so I started the tank from dry rock, did a fishless cycle, am in the process of setting up two QT tanks (one coral / one fish) and reading everything I can to minimize any chance of issues in my display tank.

On friday, I added a few snails & hermits to my display tank to keep the cycle going and picked up a bioblock I had been seeding in my LFS' display tank. The bioblack had a ton of life on it when I brought it home including some nice macroalgae and a few little brittle stars. I dropped it into the tank and everything has been humming along nicely.

This morning, I went to do some work on the sump and realized I got a little Aiptasia attached to the bioblock (see photo below). As luck would have it, I guess this is what I get for using store seeded biomaterial .

My question to you all is - what do I do? I really don't want to throw the whole block out, but at the same time, I don't want to infect my pristine new tank. I've inspected the whole block thoroughly and this is the only one I can see, but of course, I don't trust that. I've thought about boiling the whole block, but that will kill off everything and defeat the purpose of having it. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[davidcalgary29]

Kalk the polyp and put it in quarantine. You can kill off anything else (like plague macro) that pops up on it.

 

[BPC10001]

Kalk the polyp and put it in quarantine. You can kill off anything else (like plague macro) that pops up on it.

I don't have the quarantine set up yet. Should I just take the whole block out or try to kalk it in the sump?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Super glue. Encapsulate it in super glue gel. Problem solved.

 

[ScottB]

Kalk paste or superglue. Unless the sump has super high flow, using kalk paste is fine to do in the sump.

I am pretty careful about introducing stuff to my systems and I've still had every pest in the book. Now I just keep predators around at all times.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I don't have the quarantine set up yet. Should I just take the whole block out or try to kalk it in the sump?

If it's just a drop on the polyp, then yes. If want to bathe the entire block, I'd put it in a bucket.

And, yes, superglue (gel, please) works too.

 

[BPC10001]

Thanks all - i'm going to run out and grab some glue + kalk paste. Any recommendations on the glue?

I'll turn the pumps off so there is 0 flow in the sump when I do it

 

[davidcalgary29]

Make sure it's a cyanoacrylate gel.

 

[BPC10001]

Little guy moved up onto the top of the block before I could glue him...I was actually able to just cut a 1" x 1" cube (with him on it) out and threw that little chunk away. Hopefully that's the end of it!

 

[davidcalgary29]

To tell you the truth, I'd quarantine the remaining block. Aiptasia can reproduce asexually, and it's certainly wouldn't be unheard of to see polyps popping up on the remainder even if you can't see any evidence of them right now.

 

[BPC10001]

To tell you the truth, I'd quarantine the remaining block. Aiptasia can reproduce asexually, and it's certainly wouldn't be unheard of to see polyps popping up on the remainder even if you can't see any evidence of them right now.

I guess i'll just throw it in a bucket - I don't had a dedicated QT set up unfortunately.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I guess i'll just throw it in a bucket - I don't had a dedicated QT set up unfortunately.

Sounds like a dedicated QT to me.

 

[BPC10001]

Sounds like a dedicated QT to me.

Against your great suggestion, I left the block in the sump. Was just winding down for the night and decided to shine a quick flashlight on it to see if I was clear.

Block was covered in even smaller aiptasia....I counted at lest 6 of them across the top and i'm sure there were more down the sides.

Needless to say the block is now out of the tank. Really hope I didnt screw this up and start my brand new tank off with an Aiptasia implosion....

 

[davidcalgary29]

Against your great suggestion, I left the block in the sump. Was just winding down for the night and decided to shine a quick flashlight on it to see if I was clear.

Block was covered in even smaller aiptasia....I counted at lest 6 of them across the top and i'm sure there were more down the sides.

Needless to say the block is now out of the tank. Really hope I didnt screw this up and start my brand new tank off with an Aiptasia implosion....

On the plus side, you can kalk any survivors and watch them implode with a satisfying pop. It's better than that Dr. Pimple-popper lady.

 

[sfin52]

Its bound to happen. Snails and such can bring them along with coral.

 

[ScottB]

Its bound to happen. Snails and such can bring them along with coral.

My sentiments exactly. Nature finds a way.

 

[BPC10001]

Totally get it. Just trying to do everything I can to stop or limit my exposure to these things.

Brand new tank started from scratch and I already feel like i'm fighting the tide...and I'm not going to win

 

[Uncle99]

When you find 1 Aptasia there’s 2, find 2 there’s four……..

 

[ScottB]

Totally get it. Just trying to do everything I can to stop or limit my exposure to these things.

Brand new tank started from scratch and I already feel like i'm fighting the tide...and I'm not going to win

Remain vigilant and do what you can. Just don't beat yourself up if/when they get through. The good news is, almost all of these nuisance pests have predators. Some predators have more downside than others, but they are worth researching over time.