Aptasia questions

[FixIt]

My LFS has a few frags I would like to buy BUT that have a large Aptasia issue in just about every one of their tanks. Is it possible to purchase the frags I want and then dip them real well so that I do not end up with the nuisance in my tank? Should I just avoid buying any frags from them at all ?

 

[Crabs McJones]

My LFS has a few frags I would like to buy BUT that have a large Aptasia issue in just about every one of their tanks. Is it possible to purchase the frags I want and then dip them real well so that I do not end up with the nuisance in my tank? Should I just avoid buying any frags from them at all ?

Dip doesn't usually kill aptasia. The best way is to take the coral off the suspected frag plug and re-glue it to a new plug, or take it off the frag plug and mount it right into your tank.

 

[FixIt]

Dip doesn't usually kill aptasia. The best way is to take the coral off the suspected frag plug and re-glue it to a new plug, or take it off the frag plug and mount it right into your tank.

So Aptasia will not attach itself to the coral then?

 

[mcarroll]

My LFS has a few frags I would like to buy BUT that have a large Aptasia issue in just about every one of their tanks. Is it possible to purchase the frags I want and then dip them real well so that I do not end up with the nuisance in my tank? Should I just avoid buying any frags from them at all ?

These things only get out of control if you let em.

If you're still stocking corals, you really should have some Aiptasia X (or equivalent) on hand to deal with contingencies.

Having said that, you should be able to ask THE STORE to shoot them with X for you and then hold the coral for a day so you can see if it worked. It's a reasonable request, but it's possible they might not be able to.

As long as your tank is stable and not overfed, they won't spread at a significant rate. Shoot them as soon as you get home. If you can rig a holding or QT tank up for the corals to keep them happy and do it outside the tank that's ideal, but you can do it inside the tank almost as easily. Shut off ALL your flow. Watching the Red Sea youtube video on it may help if you've never done it.

An aiptasia shouldn't stop you from getting a coral you really want, IMO. (OTOH, if it's not one you really want I doubt it's worth the effort.)

 

[Crabs McJones]

So Aptasia will not attach itself to the coral then?

Not that I've ever observed

 

[WVNed]

Aiptasia will not attach to coral tissue but can to stony coral skeletons.

 

[FixIt]

These things only get out of control if you let em.

If you're still stocking corals, you really should have some Aiptasia X (or equivalent) on hand to deal with contingencies.

Having said that, you should be able to ask THE STORE to shoot them with X for you and then hold the coral for a day so you can see if it worked. It's a reasonable request, but it's possible they might not be able to.

As long as your tank is stable and not overfed, they won't spread at a significant rate. Shoot them as soon as you get home. If you can rig a holding or QT tank up for the corals to keep them happy and do it outside the tank that's ideal, but you can do it inside the tank almost as easily. Shut off ALL your flow. Watching the Red Sea youtube video on it may help if you've never done it.

An aiptasia shouldn't stop you from getting a coral you really want, IMO. (OTOH, if it's not one you really want I doubt it's worth the effort.)

So I watched the video you mentioned and man that stuff is crazy effective. I almost felt bad for the pest.