Aptasia

[Minifoot77]

May or may not be a chemistry question but which would nuke the aptasia and bubble algae off the back of my power heads faster? Bleach, citric acid, or 12% hydrogen peroxide?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

All will do it, and speed depends on concentration.

Why is speed the issue? To keep them out of the tank the least time?

 

[Minifoot77]

Yup I don't wanna kill the pumps either so I guess getting the flow back and being nice to the plastic is more important

 

[Dom]

If you have Aiptasia on your power head, you likely have it all over your tank.

I just dealt with an Aiptasia outbreak. There is no way to eradicate it from a tank.

I chose to strip down and sterilize the entire tank. Ditched my corals and everything.

Now its FOWLR.

I used 10% bleach right in the system itself so I could be sure I sterilized all the plumbing and pumps.

I used H2O2 on some live rock with corals when I labored under the misconception that I would be able to eradicate the Aiptasia without killing off corals.

 

[Minifoot77]

I have a few gallons of 12% peroxide that fell off a culligan truck

 

[Minifoot77]

If you have Aiptasia on your power head, you likely have it all over your tank.

I just dealt with an Aiptasia outbreak. There is no way to eradicate it from a tank.

I chose to strip down and sterilize the entire tank. Ditched my corals and everything.

Now its FOWLR.

Never tried burgia?

 

[Dom]

Never tried burgia?

This happened when it was cold out, so I was concerned that they wouldn't survive the trip.

I was going to try peppermint shrimp and Nudibranch, but there was still a chance it would get into the rebuilt tank.

I'm in the hobby 20 years and this was the first time I ever picked up Aiptasia. I'm told I've been lucky.

 

[Minifoot77]

This happened when it was cold out, so I was concerned that they wouldn't survive the trip.

I was going to try peppermint shrimp and Nudibranch, but there was still a chance it would get into the rebuilt tank.

I'm in the hobby 20 years and this was the first time I ever picked up Aiptasia. I'm told I've been lucky.

Yup Ive only been in 5 years and this is the second time or flair up if you will... I was breeding nudis but ran out of food for them and they died out/sold out so I may have to do it again. My need now is just the back of the power heads and not trying to make more of them

 

[IceNein]

This happened when it was cold out, so I was concerned that they wouldn't survive the trip.

I was going to try peppermint shrimp and Nudibranch, but there was still a chance it would get into the rebuilt tank.

I'm in the hobby 20 years and this was the first time I ever picked up Aiptasia. I'm told I've been lucky.

My understanding is that you cannot do both peppermint shrimp and berghia, as peppermint shrimp also eat berghia.

 

[Minifoot77]

My understanding is that you cannot do both peppermint shrimp and berghia, as peppermint shrimp also eat berghia.

 

[Minifoot77]

All will do it, and speed depends on concentration.

Why is speed the issue? To keep them out of the tank the least time?

What is your thoughts on being detrimental to plastics?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Why do do you need any of that? Just take them out and scrub them off and rinse in fresh water. You aren’t dealing with Ebola.

 

[Dom]

My understanding is that you cannot do both peppermint shrimp and berghia, as peppermint shrimp also eat berghia.

Wow... that would have been a waste. I could see Peppermint's making a meal out of Nudis.

 

[Minifoot77]

Why do do you need any of that? Just take them out and scrub them off and rinse in fresh water. You aren’t dealing with Ebola.

It feels like it every time I look at them they multiply

 

[Gone Reefin’]

I had it on a heater probe. Took probe out, scraped it with a razor and then dipped in household peroxide for 2 minutes. Came back in exactly same place in a week. As stated, concentration matters and I personally don’t believe 3% does it, unless the dwell time is much longer.

 

[Minifoot77]

I had it on a heater probe. Took probe out, scraped it with a razor and then dipped in household peroxide for 2 minutes. Came back in exactly same place in a week. As stated, concentration matters and I personally don’t believe 3% does it, unless the dwell time is much longer.

Think 12% would make a difference?

 

[Gone Reefin’]

I think it may, but have no evidence. I think it’s worth a shot.

 

[Minifoot77]

All will do it, and speed depends on concentration.

Why is speed the issue? To keep them out of the tank the least time?

What would be your suggestion out of the three options sir?

 

[BeanAnimal]

I am still not understanding. Take the power head out and scrub it off. While an aiptasia can regrow from tissue, it is not going to replicate itself from a single cell or spawn millions of babies if you miss a piece and it does regrow. It is not rooted in the plastic or immortal. If it were to regrow because you missed a bit it’s not going to take over the tank in a day. Just scrub the power head off. Use some bleach or peroxide if you wish or just use hot water. Use soap if you want.

12% peroxide can be hard on some plastics and synthetic rubber materials. The PH could be pvc, abs, styrene, etc. who knows. You can find a table for reactivity if you know the plastic.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

I am still not understanding. Take the power head out and scrub it off. While an aiptasia can regrow from tissue, it is not going to replicate itself from a single cell or spawn millions of babies if you miss a piece and it does regrow. It is not rooted in the plastic or immortal. If it were to regrow because you missed a bit it’s not going to take over the tank in a day. Just scrub the power head off. Use some bleach or peroxide if you wish or just use hot water. Use soap if you want.

12% peroxide can be hard on some plastics and synthetic rubber materials. The PH could be pvc, abs, styrene, etc. who knows. You can find a table for reactivity if you know the plastic.

Immortal LOL, I love it. I think the concern is that so many of us have seen the population explode after attempting to eradicate a few. This is purely anecdotal, but I believe there is a concern that small parts of tissue may be dislodged and grow new organisms during scrubbing. Thus, for some of us, overkill is preferred.