At my wit's end...

Stray32 · Mar 1, 2010

I have a serious Aiptasia problem, and I have come to realize that the only solution at this point is probably to remove all of my rock and boiling it. I have tried Aip X, lemon juice, boiling water, peppermint shrimp, Aip Nudis, and they keep coming back.

So what are the steps to removing, treating, and re-introducing rock into my tank?

How long should I boil the rock?

Will the tank cycle when the dead rock is re-introduced back into the tank?

Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

jaytizzle · Mar 1, 2010

I had a heavy infestation and got a matted filefish. Great addition! I had aiptasia all over a maxima clam and he cleaned the whole shell and didn't take a nip out of the mantle. Before you break down your whole tank you should try one. My tank still has a couple of them but they stay tucked in the rocks. He has thinned the population and they aren't bothering my corals anymore!

Stray32 · Mar 1, 2010

jaytizzle said:
I had a heavy infestation and got a matted filefish. Great addition! I had aiptasia all over a maxima clam and he cleaned the whole shell and didn't take a nip out of the mantle. Before you break down your whole tank you should try one. My tank still has a couple of them but they stay tucked in the rocks. He has thinned the population and they aren't bothering my corals anymore!

Thanks for the suggestion. I would much rather try another method before breaking down my tank, but it seems inevitable.

I will look into that, thanks.

nater · Mar 1, 2010

i would say removing and boiling the rock would definitely mean going through a cycle all over again since you would be killing all the beneficial bacteria in the rock. how large is your tank? i had some really bad aptasia. i put three peppermint shrimp in and the took pretty much all of it out. when you had them in the tank did you or do you over feed? if you feed them too much food , let say while feeding fish r coral , they will ignore the aptasia IMO. i would only feed a tiny bit to my fish every other day to make sure they would eat the aptasia. once they cleared it up i removed them.

returnofsid · Mar 1, 2010

Boiling your rock will be like starting your tank all over again. Yes, it will get rid of the Aiptasia, but you're going to experience a total cycle, which could kill anything alive in your tank.

What size tank do you have? You could try a Copperband Butterfly. I recently used one in my 200, to eradicate a really bad Aiptasia problem. It didn't touch any of my corals or clams. It did take it a few weeks, but I'm now Aiptasia free.

Nicks387 · Mar 1, 2010

Yeah, its a pain in the butt I have 3 copperband butterflies that dont eat it either.
I got one, when he wouldnt eat it I got another and now I have 3 useless copperbands that only eat pods...............

foxhuntr · Mar 1, 2010

get yourself a copperband butterfly...... they are hit or miss that they will pick at your coral but i think they are worth it.... i had two of them ....the first one cleaned up all my aptasia and began picking at my acans so i took him out and sold him and got another one that has not touched a coral yet...(knock on wood)...really good on the aptasia

KT 325 · Mar 1, 2010

I had a copperband that ate all the aptasia he could get at. He died, but that's another story. Aptasia is back now a few months later. I have been through 2 more copperbands and both died. Tangs would harrass them terribly, to the point they were so stressed they would not eat at all and died. I just bought another one and added it with 5 other new fish so hopefully he won't get bullied. If you get one, just make sure the LFS feeds it in front of you so you can see if it is eating in captivity.

Murfman · Mar 1, 2010

If you do pull the rock, I wouldn't waste time boiling it. I'd just throw it outside for a week and kill everything off, then power wash it.

peel · Mar 1, 2010

I'll be trying this over spring break BEST Aiptasia Treatment I have Ever Used. - Atlanta Reef Club Forums.(I hope its ok to link from another forum here)

Josh

MikeB · Mar 1, 2010

2 peppermint shrimp in my tank kept them at bay.

Stray32 · Mar 1, 2010

I may try a combination of a few peppermint shrimp and a Copperband, though I have a Yellow Tang that rules my tank and a grumpy Tomato Clown, so that's why I haven't tried a Copperband in the past.

Oh and the last time a tried Peppermints, my Sixline made short work of them lol.

jaytizzle · Mar 1, 2010

I'm telling ya... matted filefish will be a better bet. I have peps in my tank and didn't touch the aiptasia. It is very hit or miss with them and cbb's as well, especially with the dominance issues you claim.

Stray32 · Mar 1, 2010

jaytizzle said:
I'm telling ya... matted filefish will be a better bet. I have peps in my tank and didn't touch the aiptasia. It is very hit or miss with them and cbb's as well, especially with the dominance issues you claim.

Any problems with him nipping at coral?

Troylee · Mar 1, 2010

great thread thus far....not to hijack or anything but i have a aptasia free tank due to starting with marco rock but i aquired a clam and it has 2 of them on the side of the shell rite next to the mantle....any ideas what to do with out hurting the clam????
my last ank i had a few and i found the only way i could rid them was pull the rock and superglue the crap out of them or hit that area with a blow torch and fry them suckers..they never seemed to come back lol...

BHAMR6 · Mar 1, 2010

Give some Berghia Nudi's a try thats all they eat are Aiptasia so when there done they will die if you dont get them out.. They will go down in the rock and eat it from the inside out. My buddy had a bad problem w/th them he got 5 Berghia and it took about a month or two but now he is aiptasia free

stedfast82 · Mar 1, 2010

stray32 i have some filefish in my sump after the took out all of it so if you want to fix it get a couple but as soon as it's gone get them out or you will be sorry if you want to pay for shiping i will send them to you all i ask is when there done send them to the next guy and after they eat all of it put them in the sump for control then when all is good just let some one have for help give them a good life or send them back to me!!

jaytizzle · Mar 1, 2010

Stray - mine has yet to touch a coral and, like I said, he delicately removed them from the clam without nipping the mantle once. He has been in for almost a month now.

spsfreak · Mar 1, 2010

Lysmata wurdemanni, or peppermint shrimp helped my nano. Just be sure to get those and not the camleback (camel, or line backed shrimp).. common mistake in LFS' now days. Better to order online and order by Scientific name.