Pest nems 😡

[reefernc02]

So I have quite a few aptasia nems in my tank I’ve considered adding a peppermint shrimp but heard they can develop a taste for zoas as well.Copperbands are a thought as I’ve kept them successfully before. didn’t know if anyone had any other non-chemical suggestions.

 

[Fish Fan]

You could try Berghia nudibranchs, that are another natural predator of Aptasia. And many of the "chemical" approaches are nothing more than something like vinegar, lemon juice or Kalkwasser that need to be used carefully so they don't affect the pH of the tank too much, but they are not (typically) some crazy harmful chemical I personally have had good luck loading a needle and syringe with lemon juice and sticking then injecting the little 'nemes. If you have a whole lot of them, you may be better off with the Bhergia nudibranchs.



Good luck!

 

[exnisstech]

Peppermint shrimp in small tanks and CBBs in my large tank keep aiptasia confined to the overflows and sumps. I've not had any trouble with peppermints and coral but mine come out to eat when I feed the tank so maybe they don't feel the need to eat coral.
One of my peppermints after feeding some flake.

 

[OrionN]

So I have quite a few aptasia nems in my tank I’ve considered adding a peppermint shrimp but heard they can develop a taste for zoas as well.Copperbands are a thought as I’ve kept them successfully before. didn’t know if anyone had any other non-chemical suggestions.

How big is your tank? What kind of tank,( what coral and fish?)

 

[redfishbluefish]

I used aiptasia eating filefish.....not a one aiptasia can be found in my tank. Had one in the sump and the other in the DT. When going on vacation, I didn't have two fish feeders, so reluctantly put both in the DT, not knowing if they'd get along. Now they're the best buddies, and hang out together. My wife likes their unusual look with their little fins.

 

[reefernc02]

So I have quite a few aptasia nems in my tank I’ve considered adding a peppermint shrimp but heard they can develop a taste for zoas as well.Copperbands are a thought as I’ve kept them successfully before. didn’t know if anyone had any other non-chemical suggestions.

How big is your tank? What kind of tank,( what coral and fish?)

220 and mostly tangs and clowns right now as far as corals some sps some softies and a couple large lps

 

[reefernc02]

May try the nudibranch route if the use of one of the liquids mentioned above don’t work.I love file fish and really love copper band butterfly’s but with four large tangs I would be hesitant to add the copper band and would be nervous that the file fish might take a liking to my og stratosphere colony

 

[kevgib67]

I’ve used both, Berghia and peppermint shrimp. Both got the job done but the peppermints were quicker. I still have one peppermint in my tank for about a year and have not had a problem with it and corals. I recently came across the Australian Stripy that looks very promising.

 

[OrionN]

The best way is to have a CBB or CBB pair. Given a littel time, they will clear your tank of aiptasia

 

[reefernc02]

No problems with zoas with the peppermint

 

[Aquarist76]

So I have quite a few aptasia nems in my tank I’ve considered adding a peppermint shrimp but heard they can develop a taste for zoas as well.Copperbands are a thought as I’ve kept them successfully before. didn’t know if anyone had any other non-chemical suggestions.

Dynamite!!! Seriously, might just want to start over. I've had this problem. Once you've gotten more than a couple of dozen and can no longer spot treat them, it's pretty much game over. I've tried everything, except Berghia, without any success. I plan on just doing a terminal tear-down and cleaning.

Peppermint shrimp are very hit in miss. Not everything sold as PS are actually PS and don't necessarily eat aiptasia. They're also small and make a good meal for any fish that is inclined to try them. Fish that eat aiptiasia are also unreliable and usually can't keep up with the rate of spread. I've had countless aiptasia "eating" fish that did nothing. The various white goops work well, but again once you have more than a couple of dozen the cat's out of the bag.

 

[TX_REEF]

Dynamite!!! Seriously, might just want to start over. I've had this problem. Once you've gotten more than a couple of dozen and can no longer spot treat them, it's pretty much game over. I've tried everything, except Berghia, without any success. I plan on just doing a terminal tear-down and cleaning.

Peppermint shrimp are very hit in miss. Not everything sold as PS are actually PS and don't necessarily eat aiptasia. They're also small and make a good meal for any fish that is inclined to try them. Fish that eat aiptiasia are also unreliable and usually can't keep up with the rate of spread. I've had countless aiptasia "eating" fish that did nothing. The various white goops work well, but again once you have more than a couple of dozen the cat's out of the bag.

I'd use a klein's butterfly before starting over.

 

[PRB83]

I used 5 berghia in a 20 gallon that had over 100 aptasia. It took them about a month to eradicate the aptasia. The berghia breed and multiply in that time, so you don't need to start with too many. After that, the berghia died off.

In the 3 months since the berghia have disappeared, I've seen 3 aptasia that I've been able to spot treat with Joe's Juice.

 

[Aquarist76]

I'd use a klein's butterfly before starting over.

Haven't heard of them before for aiptasia. Maybe. At this point I kinda just want to go nuclear. Tank could use a good terminal cleaning anyways. There's ich in the tank that comes back every now and then I'd like to eradicate.

 

[TX_REEF]

I'd use a klein's butterfly before starting over.

Haven't heard of them before for aiptasia. Maybe. At this point I kinda just want to go nuclear. Tank could use a good terminal cleaning anyways. There's ich in the tank that comes back every now and then I'd like to eradicate.

I got one for my frag tank and it completely eradicated the aiptasia population in about a month