Purchasing frags from LFS with visible issues

[Shua71]

Hello. Was checking out a LFS and wanted to grab a few frags of zoanthids. The only thing was I noticed a good amount of bubble algae and aptasia. They were embedded in some frags. Would you purchase from them?

I don’t have a QT tank or the space to set one up

 

[20gallonreefer000]

Not worth risking the aiptasia imo

 

[Shua71]

Not worth risking the aiptasia imo

That was my exact thought. Sucks because all of his tanks had aptasia and bubble algae

 

[mcarroll]

I'd have to ask if they would mind cleaning up for you the specific frags you're looking at. Strange IMO if their whole inventory is like that. Tells me someone isn't paying enough attention to the livestock for some reason. Anyway, seems worth asking IMO.

It's also true that hobby fear-mongering has exaggerated the problem. If you had a little time it wouldn't take much effort at all to clean off a couple frags you brought home. The real problem is leaving your fear of the issue aside – that's not so easy. And naturally "according to the internet" both will spread if you even think of trying to remove them....which is BS of the first order. :)

Do you have another local place you can shop?

 

[slingfox]

I personally would try to avoid purchasing coral from any system with aptasia. Those can be challenging to deal with especially if you have a smaller tank which can’t fit the fish which eat aptasia.

 

[edsbeaker]

Hello. Was checking out a LFS and wanted to grab a few frags of zoanthids. The only thing was I noticed a good amount of bubble algae and aptasia. They were embedded in some frags. Would you purchase from them?

I don’t have a QT tank or the space to set one up

Like the others, I would not buy if there is the possibility of aiptasia. It’s difficult to see them when they close up around the zoas. Bubble algae wouldn’t bother me as much since it is always visible on a frag, and easy to remove.

Better yet, if you have other options for LFS near you without these pests, I would probably opt for that rather than take a chance at all.

 

[TikiGreg]

pfft my emerald crab and peppermint shrimp would have it clean in a week

 

[exnisstech]

If the price and quality of the coral frags is too good to pass up I would probably risk it and clean them up or remove all the zoas from from the plug and put just the coral in a bowl of rubble and they should reattach. I'm not too paranoid about aiptasia or bubble algae and have or have had both but I wouldn't knowingly add either willingly.

 

[Subsea]

I'd have to ask if they would mind cleaning up for you the specific frags you're looking at. Strange IMO if their whole inventory is like that. Tells me someone isn't paying enough attention to the livestock for some reason. Anyway, seems worth asking IMO.

It's also true that hobby fear-mongering has exaggerated the problem. If you had a little time it wouldn't take much effort at all to clean off a couple frags you brought home. The real problem is leaving your fear of the issue aside – that's not so easy. And naturally "according to the internet" both will spread if you even think of trying to remove them....which is BS of the first order. :)

Do you have another local place you can shop?

Kudoes to this post. I also agree with too much pest fear mongering. In larger displays, Butterfly fish deal with Aptasia. In smaller tanks a toothbrush dipped in peroxide or a syringe full of peroxide. Peroxide is a powerful oxidizer; I use 12%.

 

[Tahoe61]

I would never consider spending money on a product that I have to spend more money on to correct an issue.
I don't have any aipitasia and haven't for years because I don't buy from vendors with aipitasia in their system.
It seems counter intuitive to knowingly add a pest to your investment.
You simply can't say you can rid the frags of aipitasia, just because you can't currently see one.

 

[mfinn]

It depends on what the frags are for me.
If they were something I had been looking for, I would definitely consider buying them with the idea of dealing with the issues.
If they were just run of the mill frags, probably not.
If they were something I wanted and I didn't have a qt tank, I would run to a box store and pick up a couple plastic storage containers. The square or rectangle ones that are 12" x 12" x 6". Those little ones with the lids.
That and a small bristle brush. Tooth brush. This is a extra expense, but are very handy to have around for future chores. Add tank water and you have a work platform, space.
Use one to hold the frags in and one to scrub and rinse the frags off after brushing away the debris.

 

[Uncle99]

Hello. Was checking out a LFS and wanted to grab a few frags of zoanthids. The only thing was I noticed a good amount of bubble algae and aptasia. They were embedded in some frags. Would you purchase from them?

I don’t have a QT tank or the space to set one up

When I see those pests, Iam out of there.
It tells me a lot.
Would you buy a fish from a tank with ick?
Same difference in my mind.

I take the “fear” as real.

5 years ago I bought 1 zoa frag with I thought was 1 Aptasia, which I glued. Found out later that this pest starts as a tiny dot, like a grain of sugar. Must have missed that.

That started a three year journey to remove Aptasia.

I tried Aptasia-x for a year. Killed some but new ones popped up.

I tried Peps but after a year, still new ones popping up and they bothered my LPS.

I finally bought a copperband which cleared all in 30 days….BUT…..limits the types of corals to mostly sticks, the LPS stuff he’ll pick, and BTA’s and Clams are dinner.

So chose carefully.

Why look for trouble?

 

[Shua71]

I'd have to ask if they would mind cleaning up for you the specific frags you're looking at. Strange IMO if their whole inventory is like that. Tells me someone isn't paying enough attention to the livestock for some reason. Anyway, seems worth asking IMO.

It's also true that hobby fear-mongering has exaggerated the problem. If you had a little time it wouldn't take much effort at all to clean off a couple frags you brought home. The real problem is leaving your fear of the issue aside – that's not so easy. And naturally "according to the internet" both will spread if you even think of trying to remove them....which is BS of the first order. :)

Do you have another local place you can shop?

Yeah definitely will go to other stores!! Plenty in the area as I’m in SoCal