I have aiptasia issues.

[Eienna]

I don't know what to do. I wanted to move my live rock from the 20g to the 50g with inverts, bacteria, pods, etc intact...but the aiptasia I thought I almost had beat is apparently multiplying. I do NOT want this pest in the 50 but I don't want to kill off anything else. Is there a way I can remove them from the rock before moving it without damaging the other life?

Maybe a majano wand? I think one of the forum members invented it - who was that, so I could pm them about it?

 

[tulipgirl]

You can buy a Majano wand online, Majanowand.com- The Best Way to Remove Majano Anemones - Majano Wand kills Majanos Anemones & unwanted corals.. Also can check ebay for one. Otherwise squirt lemon juice with a needle into its mouth, they should die, OR you can get a critter who possibly will eat them like a berghia nudibranch, but then after the aiptasia is gone, you would need to rehome it before it starves.

 

[Eienna]

Thanks. I've been attacking it as hard as I can with Aiptasia-X but they're only multiplying. I don't think I'm doing it right because my hand shakes and makes them retract. I think I started with, like, 2, but I must have hit 30 today. @-@;;

 

[tulipgirl]

Try the lemon juice, or the majano wand/berghia. The berghia if it's guaranteed to eat aiptasia, would be better as it can get what you can't reach.

 

[Eienna]

The wand is $114. OUCH. I gotta find the nudi, I guess.

 

[tulipgirl]

Nudi would be a good choice. Then you can resell it locally, or sell it to your LFS.

 

[FL_Reefer]

Had some in my tank at one time. Got some peppermint shrimp and haven't ever seen them pop up again. They are one of the only things that will eat them. Worked good for me, gone within a couple of days.

 

[Eienna]

Had some in my tank at one time. Got some peppermint shrimp and haven't ever seen them pop up again. They are one of the only things that will eat them. Worked good for me, gone within a couple of days.

I was just reading about them...apparently peppermint shrimp are a major predator of berghia.

 

[Eienna]

Maybe I'll get peppermint shrimp instead. They're locally available so I won't be paying $50 for shipping. :/

 

[cpsbooks]

Aiptasia laser! (if you have two hundred bucks to spend)

 

[Eienna]

Maybe I'll just get peppermint shrimp. They're locally available so I won't be paying $50 just for shipping. :/

 

[Eienna]

Good news. My LFS can special-order berghias. Gotta call back tomorrow for pricing, etc because the owner's not in today, but God willing....

I'm so tired of dealing with these nems I could cry from frustration. I SO hope these work.

I'll go ahead and set up the 50 with the dried rock and see if I can't get it cycled, but I'm not moving any rock until the aiptasia is gone. Hopefully the Coral RX I ordered will take care of any planulae on the corals.

It, uh...doesn't travel on fish...does it?

 

[socal619]

aptasia x and peppermint shrimp did it for me. aptasia only works if there fully expanded and you put it in their mouth

 

[cpsbooks]

From what I've heard peppermint shrimp are more likely to eat aiptasia when you reduce or even stop feeding for a little bit.

 

[socal619]

if i get a frag with aptasia, i just put it by his little hole, in the morning itll be gone

 

[Eienna]

Gonna try the berghias. A lot of my aiptasia are in small holes.

 

[miyags]

After so many years in this hobby, I don't think you can get rid of them, With out starting over. I have a copper banded butterfly, that I thought wiped them out 8 months ago.????. I mean for 8 months I did not see one. When I put the fish in a hospital tank, about 3 weeks later I noticed baby aiptasia every where in display tank. Don't worry about pods. there not as important as people think. But some one trying to sell you some will disagree with me!!!!!

 

[Eienna]

After so many years in this hobby, I don't think you can get rid of them, With out starting over. I have a copper banded butterfly, that I thought wiped them out 8 months ago.????. I mean for 8 months I did not see one. When I put the fish in a hospital tank, about 3 weeks later I noticed baby aiptasia every where in display tank. Don't worry about pods. there not as important as people think. But some one trying to sell you some will disagree with me!!!!!

Mostly concerned about the pods because of my mandarin. He's eating non-lives pretty well now, though.

It bothers me 1, Because I'd be sacrificing a tube worm I like, and 2, I'd have to start over with a tank that's not established...and be putting corals in it.

I also have sponges and coralline algae growing on those rocks. :(

I'll just have to get some predators and try to pretend it's not there. As long as the numbers are kept low, I'm sure there's a limit to the damage the nems can do. I may get a majano wand at some point and "help out" my predators, but....

 

[Jdodson11]

I too am fighting Aiptasia I bought the wand $115 but they are tricky and will retreat into tiny holes in the live rock before you can zap them. Even when you zap them they release spores and for every one you destroy you get ten new ones!

 

[Eienna]

I too am fighting Aiptasia I bought the wand $115 but they are tricky and will retreat into tiny holes in the live rock before you can zap them. Even when you zap them they release spores and for every one you destroy you get ten new ones!

You know what...
I may start over, as much as I hate it. Just gotta come up with a viable plan...which doesn't seem to be happening >.< if I had a reefer friend nearby to hold my frags for me for a couple months it'd be easy, but I don't.