Get rid of bubble tips!!

[Sophie"s mom]

Hey everyone, some will not like me for this request, and I am sorry. I have a huge bubble tip invasion. I have just 2 that I can see, but not access. I know about the PVC pipe and sponge idea, that will not work here. They are at the entrance to my YWG cave, he can’t come out because of them. I have been injecting food into the cave for him, but this is a huge annoyance to me, and the goby! So my question is, is there something I can inject into them to kill them? Will aptasia x work on them? They are not very big, maybe 1 inch to 1 1/2 in diameter. Don’t hate me please, I just need help with these 2 only. I have over 50 in my tank, and while I am trying to thin the herd here and there, these 2 are my nemesis, and MUST GO by whatever means necessary.

 

[exnisstech]

I've never tried kill them but I have been able to work a few out from inside rock holes using a tool like the one below.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

That looks cool. I may have to try something like that. But given the space they are in, and the proximity to tank glass, I doubt this would work. Thank you though, I may try it.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I am hoping @Randy Holmes-Farley can comment on this. I absolutely trust his knowledge.

 

[Red_Beard]

Can you get scissors near it? I've cleared a few like that. Cut as closes to the foot as you can get. Sometimes killing flow for an hour or so beforehand makes them reach a bit making it easier to snip cleanly. If the foot gets light, it will regrow though is the only problem. May have to do it twice.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Can you get scissors near it? I've cleared a few like that. Cut as closes to the foot as you can get. Sometimes killing flow for an hour or so beforehand makes them reach a bit making it easier to snip cleanly. If the foot gets light, it will regrow though is the only problem. May have to do it twice.

I do like this idea. I may even try an exacto knife. I just don’t want them to then fall into the gobies cave

 

[EnterName]

AiptasiaX works on small anemones if you get them to actually eat it in sufficient amounts. Sometimes they require a second treatment though.
The issue is that they tend to retract after a while and spit out a lot of it. This can cause the solution to float around and possibly hurt other corals, so... be careful and keep the flow off just like you would with treating Aiptasia.

Some people use citric acid or boiling water for Aiptasia, which should also work for normal BTAs if you inject it with a needle. I wouldn't recommend it for Aiptasia, but BTAs won't release planula larvae. As you are only treating one or two anemones it shouldn't cause any trouble.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

AiptasiaX works on small anemones if you get them to actually eat it in sufficient amounts. Sometimes they require a second treatment though.
The issue is that they tend to retract after a while and spit out a lot of it. This can cause the solution to float around and possibly hurt other corals, so... be careful and keep the flow off just like you would with treating Aiptasia.

Some people use citric acid or boiling water for Aiptasia, which should also work for normal BTAs if you inject it with a needle. I wouldn't recommend it for Aiptasia, but BTAs won't release planula larvae. As you are only treating one or two anemones it shouldn't cause any trouble.

Ohh, you have my attention for sure! So are you saying that if I inject them with boiling water in a syringe it will kill them? And that because they are relatively small it should not cause any tank problems? I like the sound of this a lot. So it needs to be an actual needle right? Not just a small syringe? Thank you for the input.

 

[EnterName]

Ohh, you have my attention for sure! So are you saying that if I inject them with boiling water in a syringe it will kill them? And that because they are relatively small it should not cause any tank problems? I like the sound of this a lot. So it needs to be an actual needle right? Not just a small syringe? Thank you for the input.

I personally have not tried boiling water or citric acid on aiptasia or BTAs. I use AiptasiaX which can be fed and doesn't need to be injected. (Boiling water can exit the syringe on its own due to the building up pressure, be careful to not accidentally burn yourself )

For Boiling water and citric acid you might need an actual needle to inject it properly. Low amounts of acid won't cause issues as you will only be using a few milliliters. Some people dose acetic acid regularly to provide a carbon source for bacteria, so you could also try acetic acid with the peace of mint that it can be fully metabolized by bacteria. Citric acid might not be fully metabolized (I'm not sure, though) but if you use like 6mL it won't matter.

 

[areefer01]

Can you place a powerhead so that flow is directed at the bta full time? Not 100% but a steady stream that is pushing it if that makes sense. Not ripping it apart.

Another thing is if you can just reach in and remove the rock(s) they are attached to. Once out you can get a bucket with some saltwater and using a credit card gently pry a edge of the foot and then using a finger start to lift around the edges working in until it pops off.

The fact that you have some many, and I understand having a similar although smaller scale issue with mine, it is a never ending problem. I would do direct flow first but if it is urgent then I would remove the rocks and replace scape after.

No need to cut, stab, slice, and dice as that will just foul up your water and stress the others. You don't need more.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Can you place a powerhead so that flow is directed at the bta full time? Not 100% but a steady stream that is pushing it if that makes sense. Not ripping it apart.

Another thing is if you can just reach in and remove the rock(s) they are attached to. Once out you can get a bucket with some saltwater and using a credit card gently pry a edge of the foot and then using a finger start to lift around the edges working in until it pops off.

The fact that you have some many, and I understand having a similar although smaller scale issue with mine, it is a never ending problem. I would do direct flow first but if it is urgent then I would remove the rocks and replace scape after.

No need to cut, stab, slice, and dice as that will just foul up your water and stress the others. You don't need more.

Let me show you the problem with removing either the rock, or the anemones in question. One picture is a close up, the other is a full view of the rock work.

 

[areefer01]

Let me show you the problem with removing either the rock, or the anemones in question. One picture is a close up, the other is a full view of the rock work.

It is the base for the rest or part of the reef structure? I think that is what I'm seeing. If so, maybe try some direct flow and see if that gets them to move. I am surprised they are there due to the area being darker. Mine will stay in the shade for a bit then find there way to light.

If you have a spare rock you could always try and cover it. The goby in question should have moved on by now or bullied the nem to move.

 

[KrisReef]

Those look like mojano nems, which I have found one certain way to eliminate.

But before I tell you that, let me also say that I have been witness to acid injections (pure muriatic, and others) and these nems would bubble, spit, retract for a few days and then pop back up and ask for another shot. They are amazing at what they can tolerate. They do repond well to removal by scraping, using a stainless steel chemical spoon or durable metal object that you can scrape at the base attachment site, with prejudice removing pieces or the whole polyp if it decides to surrender?

But the sure fire way to kill these on a rock, in 24 hours, is to put the rock inside a ziplock bag and put that next to the icecream in the freezer, the nems will die. YOu can scrape off the ice and the frozen chunks of nem flesh, or just drop the rock back in the tank and let the fish nibble on the slushies. This is more reliable than chemical treatments for eradication. GL

 

[areefer01]

Forgot to add, the last ditch, nuclear option, is to get a pair of 8" or larger forceps, reach in, clamp on, gently pull. If you can get a light in there with some help to clamp lower to the rock you may have luck. It will be messy though.

 

[hobie61]

Following. Been trying to get rid them for a long time. Have a dozen or so. Kill other corals. Nothing really works. thanks

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Forgot to add, the last ditch, nuclear option, is to get a pair of 8" or larger forceps, reach in, clamp on, gently pull. If you can get a light in there with some help to clamp lower to the rock you may have luck. It will be messy though.

I am considering this actually .

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Those look like mojano nems, which I have found one certain way to eliminate.

But before I tell you that, let me also say that I have been witness to acid injections (pure muriatic, and others) and these nems would bubble, spit, retract for a few days and then pop back up and ask for another shot. They are amazing at what they can tolerate. They do repond well to removal by scraping, using a stainless steel chemical spoon or durable metal object that you can scrape at the base attachment site, with prejudice removing pieces or the whole polyp if it decides to surrender?

But the sure fire way to kill these on a rock, in 24 hours, is to put the rock inside a ziplock bag and put that next to the icecream in the freezer, the nems will die. YOu can scrape off the ice and the frozen chunks of nem flesh, or just drop the rock back in the tank and let the fish nibble on the slushies. This is more reliable than chemical treatments for eradication. GL

They are most definitely BTA’s. Rainbow BTA’s to be exact. But I really don’t care. I just want them out of my gobies cave and my tank

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Those look like mojano nems, which I have found one certain way to eliminate.

But before I tell you that, let me also say that I have been witness to acid injections (pure muriatic, and others) and these nems would bubble, spit, retract for a few days and then pop back up and ask for another shot. They are amazing at what they can tolerate. They do repond well to removal by scraping, using a stainless steel chemical spoon or durable metal object that you can scrape at the base attachment site, with prejudice removing pieces or the whole polyp if it decides to surrender?

But the sure fire way to kill these on a rock, in 24 hours, is to put the rock inside a ziplock bag and put that next to the icecream in the freezer, the nems will die. YOu can scrape off the ice and the frozen chunks of nem flesh, or just drop the rock back in the tank and let the fish nibble on the slushies. This is more reliable than chemical treatments for eradication. GL

Also, can’t do the whole freezer thing my Goni is on the same rock.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Following. Been trying to get rid them for a long time. Have a dozen or so. Kill other corals. Nothing really works. thanks

Yep! They are so bad in my tank ! Getting close to many of my corals. During my next water change I plan to fill a bucket with out going water, put some rock work that is removable in the bucket, and just go to work removing as many as possible. I had no idea they would become such a pest anemone.

 

[areefer01]

Yep! They are so bad in my tank ! Getting close to many of my corals. During my next water change I plan to fill a bucket with out going water, put some rock work that is removable in the bucket, and just go to work removing as many as possible. I had no idea they would become such a pest anemone.

Things that so readily self propagate in our tanks when happy need a dedicated species tank. Or so I have found. We started with one bta years ago in my sons 29 gallon biocube. One was lonely so it split and we had two. That wasn't too bad but the whole even number thing and before you know it we had 3. Purchased another 29 gallon biocube, mistake, moved one, back to the lonely number and consolidated them to a 40 breeder. Gave a bunch away to LFS and though I had them under control. Well, that they decided they wanted peace so upgraded to a 210 gallon system when all heck broke loose.

I have them in the display, the refugium, gave some away, and even one in my sump. Going to do one last upgrade and will remove every one of them. Son wants a couple and will dedicate a tank to them with a harem of clowns. I think that will look nice.

Never again will I add those :D

Wish you the best of luck with them. They are very cool creatures. Beautiful. But wow can they be a pain.